Prospective Look at Montreal

The look at teams before the real off-season continues with a look at the Montreal Canadiens. A couple moves at the trade deadline had fans and critics scratching their heads, but the long-term plan for the team looks bright and well. There was evidence of the how well the long-term looks with the team's run into and through to the second round of the playoffs. There is much to be pleased about if you are a Habs fan.

It isn't all great news in Montreal, however. The team was ousted in the second round of the playoffs, so things could be a lot better. GM Bob Gainey has already come out saying that he'll be shopping for some help up front with a couple (or a few) new wingers. Fortunately for Gainey, the Canadiens are in great shape to make these sort of changes and with the core already in place, they have a lot ot build around.

Forwards	Defense	Goaltenders
Alexei Kovalev	Andrei Markov	Carey Price
Tomas Plekanec	Roman Hamrlik
Saku Koivu	Mike Komisarek
Christopher Higgins	Mathieu Dandenault
Guilliaume Latendresse	Francis Bouillon
Sergei Kostitsyn
Tom Kostopoulos
Steve Begin

The Canadiens have 14 players signed and ready for next season at an approximate rate of $34.9 million and they already have their top scoring forward, their best defenseman and their number one goalie signed on. Also having four other defensemen signed on, their captain is still part of the organization and then a bunch of muckers gives the team a great core to build out from.

The Habs have some free agency issues to work on this summer. Mark Streit will become an unrestricted free agent and will likely be a priority as the days count down to the frenzy. Patrice Brisebois, Bryan Smolinski and Michael Ryder also become unrestricted free agents and won't likely return for another season; especially Ryder, who had a healthy scratch-laden season with the Habs.

On the restricted free agent side of the ledger, you'll find some key players looking for a new deal and/or a raise. Andrei Kostitsyn, Jaroslav Halak, Josh Gorges, Maxim Lapierre and Ryan O'Byrne are all seeking some new deals this summer. Both Kostitsyn and Halak are the most important free agents on the list and should not find much resistance there.

The team may also be looking at some of their own grown talent to fill some of the roster spots next season. Kyle Chipchura played in 36 games for the Habs this past season and may get himself a full-time job, taking Smolinski's spot. The Habs also have some decent looking d-men coming up the ranks from junior: Ryan McDonagh and P.K. Subban will get some looks at camp this coming fall.

The Canadiens will be picking pretty late in the Draft this season, thanks to their division win. They currently hold the 25th spot in the Draft and will be doing some shopping around to improve their team in Ottawa in June. If they could parlay their pick for some quality talent to help them out now, that sounds like a good possibility, but a team would have to be looking at a particular player late in the first round.