The Montreal Canadiens seem to be one of the most active players on this year's market - after acquiring Scott Gomez, they have signed Travis Moen, Paul Mara, Jaroslav Spacek, Hal Gill, Brian Gionta and Mike Cammalleri. They also parted ways with Alexei Kovalev, Chris Higgins, Alex Tanguay, Robert Lang, Tom Kostopoulos, Mathieu Schneider, Patrice Brisebois, Saku Koivu, Mathieu Dandenault and Francis Bouillon. The result? A completely new line-up.
Gomez will be the new top center - he might play with both Gionta and Cammalleri on his wings, but it is also possible that one of them gets moved to the second line and one of the Kostitsyn brothers gets promoted. Despite Gionta and Cammalleri both being right wingers, the option of switching one of them to the left side seems to be the best - Gomez is the best playmaker on the team, so he should play with the best scorer - Cammalleri, but also with Gionta, because they have chemistry together after playing in New Jersey.
The Kostitsyns should form the second line with Tomas Plekanec (a RFA still to be signed), unless top prospect Max Pacioretty has a camp strong enough to jump up a line. Maxim Lapierre should be the center for the third line with the defensive forward Moen and Pacioretty, Matt D'Agostini (RFA) or Guillaume Latendresse (RFA), Glen Metropolit and Georges Laraque shouldn't play higher than on the fourth line.
The defense is as overcrowded as Tampa's - Andrei Markov and Roman Hamrlik are returning to be the top pair, while newcomers Spacek and Gill seem to be destined to be the second pairing. Paul Mara, looking to rebound after a subpar stint with the Rangers, should be challenging them for playing time. This leaves Josh Gorges and Ryan O'Byrne fighting for the sixth spot with the loser sitting in the pressbox. Unfortunately it also means that prospect P.K. Subban will probably not showcase his shot in the NHL this year.
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