MONTREAL - The Montreal Canadiens are showing enforcer Georges Laraque the door and the emotional tough guy says it was a classless move given the emotional toll of everything that's going on in Haiti.

The NHL team said Thursday it intends to buy out the final year of Laraque's contract at the end of the season and has sent him home for the rest of the campaign.

A very unhappy Laraque told TSN on Thursday that general manager Bob Gainey broke the news to him in a telephone call.

Gainey later told a news conference Laraque was no longer productive and that he was becoming a distraction for the team.

Gainey says he tried to trade Laraque but couldn't find a taker and, given his no-movement clause in his contract, the decision was made to cut him.

The 13-year NHL veteran says the Canadiens' move was classless given what is happening in Haiti.

Laraque, a Montreal native of Haitian descent, has family members who have been devastated by the earthquake there.

"To do this in the midst of all I'm dealing with in Haiti, the timing is awful," Laraque said angrily.

He later cooled down and tried to explain his frustration in context.

"I was very emotional and I'm very hurt by this decision," he told TSN. "I'm a proud guy and I may have let my emotions get the better of me.

"Needless to say, I'm very disappointed."

Laraque says Gainey told him that coach Jacques Martin no longer had confidence in him and that the team has a better chance of winning without him in the lineup.

The club will pay his salary for the rest of the season.

He signed a three-year contract worth US$4.5 million in July 2008, but his time in Montreal has been plagued by injuries.

He had one year left on that deal, which the club will buy out in July.

Laraque has played just 61 games over the last two seasons and scored his only goal as a Hab last week in a win over the Dallas Stars.

Laraque said he's been a good team player and that he didn't have any issues with Martin, who he insisted was ultimately behind the decision.

"Jacques Martin doesn't like me and doesn't believe in toughness," Laraque said.