MONTREAL -- The Montreal Canadiens added more experience to their hockey brain trust yesterday, hiring former NHL executive Pierre Gauthier to be their new pro scout. Gauthier, who helped build talent-rich teams in Colorado/Quebec, Ottawa and Anaheim, replaced pro scout Pierre Mondou, who retired at the end of last season.

Gauthier and Gordie Roberts, who returns for a second season, will share pro scouting duties for the Canadiens.

"It's something I thought I'd do one day -- work for the Club de Hockey Canadien," Gauthier, a Montreal native, said on the phone from Philadelphia. "I'm joining a bunch of friends.

"It will be a different job, but I hope to contribute."

Since missing the playoffs for the fourth time in five years in 2002-03, the Canadiens have hired Bob Gainey as GM and bumped Andre Savard to assistant GM, where he can work to his strengths in scouting and player development.

Gauthier, Gainey -- then GM of the Dallas Stars -- and Philadelphia Flyers GM Bob Clarke worked together in assembling Canada's team at the 1998 Winter Olympics in Nagano, Japan. Gauthier worked with Savard in Quebec and Ottawa.

Gauthier, whose NHL career began in 1981 in the scouting department of the former Quebec Nordiques, strengthens one of Montreal's weakest areas in recent years -- evaluating players around the league for trades or free-agent signings.

Yzerman and Wings close to new contract

Captain Steve Yzerman and the Detroit Red Wings are close to a new deal.

"We're making progress, but agreement on a contract has not been completed," team spokesperson John Hahn said yesterday.

The 38-year-old centre's contract expired this summer, making him an unrestricted free agent. But it is widely believed Yzerman will return to the team he joined in 1983 and helped win three Stanley Cups.

Yzerman missed much of last season, rejoining the Red Wings in February, six months after reconstructive knee surgery in London. Messages seeking comment were left yesterday with Yzerman and his agent.