Monday, April 26, 2010

NHL:Montreal Canadiens Have Reportedly Bought Out Haitian-Canadian Georges Laraque's Contract


MONTREAL – RDS reports are confirmed: Georges Laraque is no longer a Canadien, his salary to be paid through the rest of this season before he is bought out at season's end.

Laraque has told TSN's Darren Dreger that the move is "classless." Blunt words from Laraque, and no one can blame him.

The Gazette's Pat Hickey says the club will pay Laraque two-thirds of his contracted salary in 2010-11, that is, $1 million of the $1.5 million on his contract. The club can spread the cap hit over two years, thus $500,000 next season and again in 2011-12.

Clearly, the writing was on the wall Wednesday night when Laraque was a healthy scratch with St. Louis muscleman Cam Janssen in the Blues' lineup, and running Habs goalie Carey Price.

Canadiens GM Bob Gainey Thursday morning spoke to the media in Brossard during the team’s practice on the decision to release forward Georges Laraque.

Gainey said Laraque was a distraction and was unproductive, and that the team could better pursue its goals without him.

The decision was made to let him go about a week ago, but because of the catastrophe in Haiti, where Laraque has relatives, it was postponed.

Laraque remains on the payroll this season and probably will be bought out at season's end, though that's unclear.

He was not put on waivers because he had a no-movement clause in his contract.

Details to come.

From Habs Inside/Out/Photograph by: John Mahoney, Gazette file photo

Source: VancouverSun

No comments:

Post a Comment