In Bob we Trust(?)

A friend of mine is as big a Habs fan as I know. He entertains me with his Hab puns. For example, he has nicknames for most players, such as Greek Lightning for Tom Kostopoulos and the Tenderness for Guillaum Latendresse. I once lamented Bob Gainey's choice of forcing Guy Carbonneau to start Carey Price so early in the young goaltender's career and my friend said "In Bob we trust". The Canadiens went on to finish first in the eastern conference and made it to the second round of the playoffs. It seemed everything Bob Gainey did worked. In Bob I trusted.

But now, I'm starting to have some doubts. Here's why:

• Giving Price the starter's role didn't look like the greatest decision last year.
  
  
• The Habs were falling in the standings last season and just as they started to turn things around with a few wins, Bob Gainey fires head coach Guy Carbonneau. Bob took over behind the bench and didn't fare much better as the Habs snuck into the playoffs and were swept by the hated Bruins.
  


• Last month Bob hired Jacques Martin as head coach (I've lamented on this already here) and informed the assistant coaches and media that they'll have a full staff in place by June 15th, 2009. Bob has yet to announce the hiring of the full coaching staff, though it has been announced that Roland Melanson, Don Lever, Ron Wilson, and Doug Jarvis will not be returning and that Kirk Muller will remain as an assistant. Bob failed to meet his self-imposed deadline.
  


• The Habs had 10 players due to become unrestricted free agents during the last season and Bob signed a total of 0 to an extension. Bob missed out on signing the potential UFAs during the season.
  


• The Habs had 4 players due to become restricted free agents during the last season and Bob signed a total of 0 to an extension. Bob missed out on signing the potential RFAs during the season.
  


• The Habs still have 10 players that are due to become UFAs and 4 players due to become RFAs with less than a week to go to the beginning of the free agency period. Bob is running out of time to deal with the 14 UFA and RFAs and, according to Pat Hickey, Bob has no plans to sign any UFAs or RFAs until after the draft.
  

• The Habs are heavily rumoured to acquire Vincent Lecavalier in a trade with Tampa Bay, but Bob publicly chastised the Lightning's GM, calling his actions "disgraceful". Bob's comments can't be good for his relationship with Tampa's GM Brian Lawton and his chances of acquiring Lecavalier.

I doubted Bob before and he reaffirmed my trust. He stalked the cupboards full of young talent through the draft, he turned Kovalev's season around at the end of this year and he proved that starting Price early was a good move (2 years ago anyway). I also know that Bob keeps his cards pretty close to the vest, but I'm having a hard time trusting Bob now. Here's hoping that Bob will prove me wrong, but he's got a tough road ahead of him.