Roy Suspended, Awaits A Trade By Canadiens

Patrick Roy, the star Montreal goalie who argued with the team’s coach and president during an 11-1 rout on Saturday, was suspended indefinitely Sunday by the Canadiens and placed on the trading block.

General manager Rejean Houle said he had no choice.

“For the credibility of our coach and our organization, we had to split between our organization and Patrick,” Houle said. “It was a point of no return.”

The suspension is without pay. Houle said Roy, 30, in the third year of a four-year, $16 million contract, is to stay away from the team.

The general manager said he will begin shopping the past decade’s dominant goaltender in the NHL.

On Saturday night, Roy was lifted in favor of backup Pat Jablonski at 11:57 of the second period of an 11-1 defeat to the Detroit Red Wings after allowing nine goals on 26 shots.

When the Forum crowd mocked him with cheers for a save on a long shot, Roy raised his arms in mock triumph. When he reached the bench, he twice brushed past coach Mario Tremblay. Then he leaned over to say something to club president Ronald Corey, who was sitting behind the bench.

Houle said Roy told Corey: “That’s my last game in Montreal.”

“I asked him today if he still felt that way and he said yes,” Houle said. “We concluded that it was time to separate.”

Roy, apparently angry at being left in a game so long while being shelled, couldn’t be reached.