Ron Wilson was fired as coach of the Toronto Maple Leafs Friday and will be replaced by former Leafs player Randy Carlyle.
In 64 games this season, the Maple Leafs boasted a 29-28-7 record under Wilson.
The Leafs, who have lost 10 of their last 11 games, have seen themselves quickly slip out of playoff contention and currently sit in 11th place in the Eastern Conference.
In almost four seasons with Toronto, Wilson compiled a 130-135-45 record and leaves the team sitting fourth on the NHL's all-time list for games coached.
The 56-year-old signed a contract extension in December and will be paid through the end of next season.
The move followed chants of "Fire Wilson" from the Toronto fans during a loss to the Florida Panthers on Tuesday.
Sources said the team's president and general manager Brian Burke flew to Montreal where the Leafs were preparing to take on the Canadiens on Saturday to deliver the news to his long-time friend.
"This was not an easy decision for me to make," Burke said in a release. "I want to thank Ron for all of his hard work and dedication to our organization over the past four seasons."
Even though Wilson and Burke shared a long history dating back to their time at Providence College in Rhode Island, Wilson was hired for the job in 2008 by interim GM Cliff Fletcher.
In 1,401 career games with Anaheim, Washington, San Jose and Toronto, he has a 648-561-91 record with 101 ties.
Carlyle is expected to be behind the bench on Saturday evening when the Leafs play the Montreal Canadiens.
Carlyle has a history with Burke, as the two were together during Anaheim's Stanley Cup win in 2007. Carlyle had been out of work since being fired by the Anaheim Ducks in late November.
