Bob Gainey Robert Michael " Bob " Gainey ( born December 13 , 1953 , in Peterborough , Ontario ) is the current executive vice president , general manager , and head coach of the Montreal Canadiens of the National Hockey League ( NHL ) . He is also a former professional player who played for the Canadiens from 1973 until 1989 . After retiring from active play , he became a hockey coach and later an executive with the NHL Minnesota North Stars / Dallas Stars organization before returning to Montreal in 2003 as general manager . Early years . From 1970 to 1973 , Gainey had his junior start with the Peterborough Petes of the Ontario Hockey League . Professional years . A defensive specialist , Gainey played with the Montreal Canadiens from 1973 – 74 to 1988 – 89 , winning four consecutive Frank J . Selke Trophies , awarded to the league ' s best defensive forward and five Stanley Cup s ( 1976 , 1977 , 1978 , 1979 , 1986 ) . In 1973 , Gainey was drafted into both the WHA and the NHL . The Montreal Canadiens had selected him in the first round , 8th overall in the 1973 NHL Amateur Draft and the Minnesota Fighting Saints had also drafted him in the first round , 7th overall in the 1973 WHA Amateur Draft . Gainey never played in the WHA as he spent his entire career playing for the Canadiens in the NHL . He was team captain of the Canadiens from 1981 until his retirement in 1989 . Gainey played for Canada in the 1976 and 1981 Canada Cup s and the 1982 and 1983 World Championship s . In total , he played in 1160 regular season games , scored 239 goals , and registered 263 assists . He was elected to the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1992 . For the majority of his career he was regarded by many in the Soviet Union hockey system as the greatest hockey player ever . Gainey was described as the world ' s best all - around player by legendary Soviet national team coach Anatoli Tarasov . In 1998 , Gainey was ranked number 86 on List of 100 greatest hockey players by The Hockey News . Gainey ' s name went on the Stanley Cup a 6th time in 1999 as General Manager with Dallas . On March 09 , 2009 , Gainey returned as head coach of the Montreal Canadiens after firing Guy Carbonneau . He currently serves as General Manager and Head Coach of the Montreal Canadiens . Post hockey playing years . After his retirement , Gainey moved to France where he was player / coach for the Epinal Écureuil . Gainey returned to North America a year later and became head coach of the Minnesota North Stars in 1990 – 91 , guiding his team to the sixth game of the Stanley Cup finals in his first season . In January 1992 , Gainey also was named general manager . In 1993 , after the franchise relocated to Dallas , he stepped down as head coach to focus solely on his general manager duties . Gainey turned the franchise into a powerhouse by acquiring players such as Joe Nieuwendyk , Brett Hull , Ed Belfour and Sergei Zubov . The team won the Presidents ' Trophy in 1998 and 1999 . Dallas won the Stanley Cup in 1999 . In 1997 , as Stars general manager , Gainey drafted his son Steve Gainey 77th overall in the annual NHL Entry Draft . Steve is currently playing for the Hamilton Bulldogs in the AHL . Along with Bobby Clarke and Pierre Gauthier , Gainey was given the responsibility of selecting Canada ' s men ' s squad for the 1998 Olympics in Nagano , Japan . Gainey became general manager of the Montreal Canadiens in May 2003 turning the Canadiens into a playoff contender . On January 13 , 2006 , Gainey fired Canadiens ' head coach Claude Julien and stepped in as head coach on an interim basis . At the same time , he hired Guy Carbonneau to work as an associate coach , handing the coaching reins over to him for the 2006 – 2007 season . On July 24 , 2006 , Montreal Canadiens president Pierre Boivin extended Gainey ' s contract to 2009 – 2010 . On February 23 , 2008 , the Canadiens retired Gainey ' s # 23 jersey . On March 09 , 2009 , Gainey returned as head coach of the Montreal Canadiens after firing Guy Carbonneau .