DENVER - The Colorado Avalanche have fired general manager Francois Giguere after the team finished last in the Western Conference.

Team president Pierre Lacroix on Monday called the season "unacceptable." He will oversee the Avalanche until a replacement is hired.

This is the first time the team has come in last in the conference since the franchise relocated to Denver in 1995. The Avalanche had a 32-45-5 record and were 28th in the league, in front of only the New York Islanders and Tampa Bay.

Giguere was appointed executive vice president and GM in 2006.

A service of the Associated Press(AP)