The Scolumn

The New Look Habs
By Sconn
-For NRS

With nearly the entire roster coming up for free agency, you knew the Montreal Canadiens were going to be a different looking squad come the beginning of the 2009-10 season. We all held our collective breath for the Vincent Lecavalier deal that never came and was ultimately put to bed when GM Bob Gainey sent out forward Chris Higgins, defenseman Doug Janik, high end prospect Ryan McDouagh and Russian Pavel Valentanko for big money centre Scott Gomez (and winger Tom Pyatt). The trade wasn't quite the blockbuster most expected, but it did give the Habs a new centre going forward with the looming free agent exodus. Gainey let almost all of his unrestrictred free agents go, most of whom were handed modest raises (Alex Kovalev, Mike Komisarek, Tom Kostopoulos) or took pay cuts (Saku Koivu) from other teams while others are still floating around in the free agent pool (Alex Tanguay, Robert Lang). What you can take from that was that the GM could've easily retained these guys should he wanted to. Instead, he elected to change the culture of the club, first with the Gomez trade and then by throwing around the big bucks on July 1.
What the Habs look like now is a team with plenty of potential to score goals (see Mike Cammalleri, Brian Gionta) and make noise offensively. What the teams front three of Gomez, Gionta and Cammalleri lack in size, they make up for in potential (at least if they can match their previous stat sheet accolades). Secondary scoring should come in the form of Tomas Plekanec, and the brothers Kostitsyn (Andrei and Sergei) - all of which should rebound after poor campaigns. Rough and tumble types Maxim Lapierre and Travis Moen add a sandpaper component to the mix while homegrown Montreal boy Georges Laraque can throw the fists as good or better than any other heavyweight in the league - though few choose to oblige him.
The defense has a new look, but the production should at worst be similar to last season and at best be moderately improved. Jaroslav Spacek is a decent powerplay quarterback coming off a season where he led Sabres defesemen in points with 45. Hal Gill and Paul Mara are big bodies for the blueline, both of whom possess moderate offensive ability (Mara moreso) who could chip in. These additions were brought in to replace Komisarek and Francis Boullion, and Gainey could do a lot worse. Andrei Markov and Roman Hamrlik return to lead the blueline corps, as does developing d-men Ryan O'Byrne and Josh Gorges.
In between the pipes Carey Price is still the man even though he hasn't looked good since the 2007-08 regular season - and those short-lived red ju-jube pads from last season didn't help! It looks as though Gainey will ride the Price train until it gets him fired, but its hard to blame him with Price's obvious ability and his full trophy case (see: gold medal, Calder Cup). Jaroslav Halak returns in the backup role, and unless Price struggles (he can't be as bad as last year), he will be dealt early in the season because: A. They signed Curtis Sanford, who's shown he can be a competent backup, B. He has salary arbitration rights at the end of the season (both he and Price are RFA's at the end of the season but only Halak has those rights).
Ultimately, it will be a question of chemistry and how this group plays as a unit on the ice. How fast the team gels will determine where it finishes, if they bond immediately, the team will get out to a fast start and a fourth or fifth place finish (behind Pittsburgh, Washington, Boston, Philadelphia) isn't out of the question, whereas if they come out sluggish and have to develop said chemistry, they could end up the 8th seed again. I do believe the Canadiens will make the playoffs again this season, but I think it's hard to pick where. For interest's sake, I'm going to say they finish sixth just a hair above the 7th and 8th place teams in another race that goes until games 81 and 82.
What the team has in potential on paper, it makes up for in uncertainty. If you are a Habs fan, it's an exhilerating time - 90% excited and 10% scared!
Numbers of note for the new guys:
Scott Gomez- best season: 2005-06 (New Jersey) 33 goals, 51 assists, 84 points, +8, 13.5 shooting percentage- has been a plus player in the six seasons prior to last
Mike Cammalleri- best seasons - 2008-09 (Calgary) 39 goals, 43 assists, 82 points,-2, 15.2 shooting percentage - 2006-07 (Los Angeles) 34 goals, 46 assists, 80 points, +5* both contract years! *- has taken at least 206 shots the last four seasons
Brian Gionta- best season 2005-06 (New Jersey) 48 goals, 41 assists, 89 points, +18, 16.4 shooting percentage * with Scott Gomez! *- has played at least 81 games three of the last four season
Jaroslav Spacek- Best seasons - 45 points with Buffalo (08-09) and Columbus (02-03)
Hal Gill- Has been even or a plus player each of the last five seasons (including 3 with the Maple Leafs!)