added 1:56pm, from Frank Seravalli of TSN,

Amid the worst run of any Montreal Canadiens team in 76 years, general manager Marc Bergevin said head coach Michel Therrien will not be fired.

Bergevin expressed confidence in Therrien at a press conference Thursday, saying Therrien’s job is safe for the remainder of the season.

“It’s been a hard time for all of us, but I believe in Michel Therrien and his coaching staff,” Bergevin told reporters. “Nobody is going anywhere. Michel knows he has to make the players better and he works at it every day. That’s what I love about Michel Therrien.”

Thursday’s statement isn’t exactly a surprise, considering Bergevin signed Therrien to a four-year contract extension less than two years ago, locking him up through the 2018-19 season. Bergevin doubled down on Therrien with that extension, so firing him now would put a stain on Bergevin’s record.

The Canadiens have been in absolute free-fall since Hart Trophy-winning goaltender Carey Price went down with injury on Nov. 25. Montreal held a seven-point lead in the Atlantic Division on the morning on his injury.

continue for more on Bergevin's meeting with the media...