CBC-Sports

Laraque's exit awkward yet expected

January 21, 2010 07:01 PM | Posted by   Scott Morrison  

At first glance, the optics definitely were not good.

Georges Laraque is sent packing by the Montreal Canadiens at a time when his heart is undoubtedly its heaviest because of the devastation in Haiti, from which his parents came and in which many relatives still live.

Letting him go when there is so much else happening in his mind and in his world seems, if not cruel, then definitely not right and certainly that is how Laraque feels, having been quoted calling the Canadiens "classless."

But maybe the timing was right.

Maybe it was the best thing for Laraque.

And if there is anyone sensitive and understanding to tragedy and suffering it is Canadiens general manager Bob Gainey, who has endured more than anyone should ever have to endure in his own life.

Clearly, Laraque did not fit into the Canadiens plans moving forward. Whatever the reason, whether Jacques Martin doesn't want an enforcer or whether he was underperforming and had become a distraction, he was not going to play in Montreal even though he has this year and next on his contract.

The Canadiens, by the way, will pay Laraque his salary in full this season and give him a two-thirds buyout for the remaining year, so they were very fair in that regard.

But just as disappointing as it is for Laraque to be let go, would it have been any more satisfying to have remained on the "official" roster and not playing, not even dressing for games? Most likely not.

And what benefit is there for the Canadiens to have a malcontent around?

Gainey even offered Laraque a leave of absence while he dealt with his emotions and the Haiti situation, allowing for a more graceful exit as well, but there was no promise of ever playing again.

Some close to the Canadiens scene believe Laraque did indeed underperform, that he didn't play an abrasive style often enough and fought only when it was absolutely necessary. Overall, he wasn't the player they had hoped he would be.

So, yes, given the backdrop of Haiti and human emotion, there is an awkward feel to the Canadiens letting Laraque go on Thursday. But this process was well on its way prior to that and the Canadiens tried to make his exit as painless as possible.

In the end, given all the circumstances, they might have done him a favour. He leaves with his money, he will be able to pursue another team in the off-season and he can focus on his raising funds for the earthquake relief in Haiti.

Under the circumstances, there was not going to be an easy way to let him go, but the Canadiens handled it well.

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