NHL's Avalanche fire general manager

DENVER, April 13 (UPI) -- The Colorado Avalanche fired General Manager Francois Giguere Monday, one day after the NHL team finished with the worst record in the Western Conference.

Colorado completed its season Sunday with a 1-0 loss to the St. Louis Blues that left the Avalanche with a 32-45-5 record. The team's 69 point total was third-worst in the league.

"The results of this season are unacceptable," Avalanche President Pierre Lacroix said. "We feel a new direction is needed which re-emphasizes those standards of excellence our fans have grown accustomed to since 1995. We will work diligently toward reclaiming our identity that made our brand so special and unique."

Giguere had been the Colorado general manager since May 2006 but the Avalanche missed the playoffs in two of his three seasons with the team. Prior to his tenure, Colorado had made the playoffs each season since moving from Quebec City for the 1995-96 season and hadn't been last in the conference since 1991-92.

Lacroix said he would oversee daily team operations until a new general manager is hired.