Top 10 Offensive Forward Hab UFA Targets

Last Friday, I pointed out three areas where I felt the Canadiens need additions this summer in order to bounce back from a very difficult season.  Today and the next two Tuesdays I will look at the UFA class, suggesting the 10 best free agents fits for each of these three weaknesses.  We start today with the need for a top 6 player up front - someone ideally with some size and scoring punch.

Before we get to the names I did include on the list below, I have to preface it with three big names I left out.  First there's Teemu Selanne, for whom it is abundantly clear the choice is just between Anaheim and retirement.  Next there's Shane Doan who may be unlikely to leave Phoenix, but even if he does, it won't be for Montreal.  I'm quite confident that his alleged linguistic slur run-in with Denis Coderre who accused him of uttering anti-Francophone sentiments towards referees will keep him out of La Belle Province.  Finally, and perhaps most debate-ably, I didn't include Alexander Semin as a candidate.  Sure, he has the frame the Habs are looking for at 6'2" and 208 lbs, and yes, even in an off-year last season, he scored 54 points in 77 games.  But his attitude off the ice just doesn't strike me as the kind of player Marc Bergevin - a guy who fully endorses a team-first strategy - would be interested in signing.  He seems like a typical Pierre Gauthier / Bob Gainey acquisition.  A Sergei Samsonov UFA signing.  I don't see Bergevin biting.

Also note that you may consider some of my proposed contract offers to be on the low end.  This is because the list as a whole doesn't really impress me, so I'd rather see Montreal strikeout in this category than overpay for a guy they'll be stuck with when other names may be available in a future off-season or via trade.

With that said, let's get on to 10 players I think Bergevin might consider in a "wish list" of sorts.

10) Brad Boyes, C - Buffalo Sabres
6'1", 195 lbs - 2011-12: 65 GP, 8 G, 15 A, 23 PTS
Age 30

Boyes had phenomenal seasons in 2007-08 and 2008-09, with 43 and 33 goals respectively, but then his game mysteriously went south.  The Sabres thought a change of scenery might do him good when they dealt for him last season, but his first full year in Buffalo produced only 23 points - the lowest total of his career.  Is now the time to take a chance on a possible reclamation project?  He isn't a particularly top notch skater, nor does he always use his frame as well as he should, but he's adapted his game to be a hard-working two-way forward, and perhaps if the NHL goes back to a post-lockout obstruction and interference standard, he'll find the kind of success he once knew.

Contract offer: 1 year, $2M cap hit


9) Kristian Huselius, LW - Columbus Blue Jackets
6'1", 185 lbs - 2011-12: 2 GP, 0 G, 0 A, 0 PTS
Age 33

After being limited to 39 games in 2010-11, Huselius managed only 2 games last season, so any possible suitor will have his health as a primary concern.  In those 39 games, the large and speedy winger impressively potted 14 goals, while in his last near-full season in 2009-10, he totaled 63 points to rank third on the Blue Jackets.  If - and it's a big if - he's given a clean bill of health, he could be one of the better fits on the market, likely seeking a short-term contract to prove himself which would be rather low-risk from a Habs' perspective.

Contract offer: 1 Year, $2.5M cap hit


8) Jiri Hudler, C - Detroit Red Wings
5'10", 186 lbs - 2011-12: 81 GP, 25 G, 25 A, 50 PTS
Age 28

The Red Wings have plenty of cap space available to keep any of their players they'd like, so for Hudler to leave it would likely be the player himself seeking a new challenge.  Hudler is the smallest guy on this list, but with such a limited talent pool, it would be impossible to leave a 28-year old 25-goal scorer off of it.  He lacks in strength and consistency, but has slick hands and is a countrymate of Tomas Plekanec, with the two having played on the same World Junior Championship club in 2001-02.  Like Boyes, in addition to center, Hudler is comfortable at either wing position, so perhaps a line of he, Plekanec, and Erik Cole might have potential to balance Montreal's offense aside from the Max Pacioretty - David Desharnais duo.

Contract offer: 3 years, $4M cap hit


7) David Jones, RW - Colorado Avalanche
6'2", 220 lbs - 2011-12: 72 GP, 20 G, 17 A, 37 PTS
Age 27

Jones was unable to replicate his 27 goals and 45 points of a year ago, but did manage a second consecutive 20-goal season, proving that he can score in the right situation.  He's a bit more of an off-the-radar candidate than the other names on this list, but has one of the more imposing physiques and at 27 likely still has better days ahead of him.  He can bring a physical element to the game, moves well enough for a big man, and has a quick release.  Not a textbook top 6 forward, but might not look out of place beside David Desharnais so that the Canadiens could experiment pairing Erik Cole with Tomas Plekanec.

Contract offer: 3 years, $3M cap hit


6) Ryan Smyth, LW - Edmonton Oilers
6'1", 192 lbs - 2011-12: 82 GP, 19 G, 27 A, 46 PTS
Age 36

After requesting a trade from the Kings so he could return to Edmonton (based on on-ice reasons, this certainly looks a little silly right now), one would think it was a foregone conclusion that Smyth would re-sign with the Oilers.  And yet, there is talk that even though the team could use a veteran presence around its group of promising youngsters, that they may opt to part ways from Smyth and look in a different direction.  Smyth isn't an Erik Cole; he's nearing the end of his career and after a red hot start to last season, went out with a whimper.  But he is a big body capable of putting up some points, and if he's willing to leave Alberta, like Jones, could give the Canadiens some flexibility in perhaps freeing Max Pacioretty or Erik Cole from David Desharnais's hips by providing another big option and thus giving Tomas Plekanec some better linemates.

Contract offer: 1 year, $4M cap hit


5) Olli Jokinen, C - Calgary Flames
6'3", 210 lbs - 2011-12: 82 GP, 23 G, 38 A, 61 PTS
Age 33

At 33, Jokinen's heydays with the Florida Panthers are a thing of the past.  But the Finnish forward has had a bit of a resurgence in Calgary the last two seasons, recording 54 and 61 points respectively.  He's not the #1 center the team needs and isn't particularly gritty, but he brings a 6'3", 210 lbs frame, and is capable of filling a second line role.  If the team is interested in him - and I do think they should be at the right price - it would likely mean Lars Eller shifting to the wing on a second or third line.  Eller most recently played and starred there for Team Denmark at the World Hockey Championship.

Contract offer: 2 years, $4M cap hit


4) Andrei Kostitsyn, RW - Nashville Predators
6'0", 205 lbs - 2011-12: 72 GP, 16 G, 20 A, 36 PTS
Age 27

That Kostitsyn ranks so highly on this list is a testament to the lack of talent in the free agent pool this summer, but in truth, it is his departure which - in part - creates this need in Montreal's line-up.  If people will stop holding where he was drafted against him, they would see a thick forward with one heck of a release.  He can play physical when the mood strikes him, but certainly he adds to the club's goal-scoring potential.  Does he want to come back to Montreal?  That may be a moot point, as his post-season team suspension for violating curfew may stand in too much of a contrast with Bergevin's team ahead of anyone player philosophy.  But on the ice, he would undoubtedly improve the roster, and he's still well in his prime.

Contract offer: 4 years, $3.8M cap hit


3) Jaromir Jagr, RW - Philadelphia Flyers
6'3", 240 lbs - 2011-12: 73 GP, 19 G, 35 A, 54 PTS
Age 40

One year ago, at this time, Jaromir Jagr was the #1 name on my free agent wish list, just ahead of one Erik Cole.  Jagr performed pretty well as I had expected him to, but falls two spots as another year of strain on his body doesn't help the situation, and the Habs look a little further from contention today than they did last June.  Still, if the Canadiens lack scoring and want to add a powerplay threat, then Jagr is a fit, especially considering they won't have to commit big dollars over long-term to bring him in.  His role would have to be monitored carefully, playing with Tomas Plekanec at 5-on-5, but not taking every shift on that line, swapping for a defensive forward when Pleks is out there in a more shutdown capacity.  This would keep Jagr fresher for the PP and other offensive situations, while limiting his minutes to prevent late-season fatigue that we saw notably in this year's playoffs.

Contract offer: 1 year, $4M cap hit


2) Pierre-Alexandre Parenteau, RW - New York Islanders
6'0", 193 lbs - 2011-12: 80 GP, 18 G, 49 A, 67 PTS
Age 29

Parenteau gets instant consideration as a French-speaking native of Hull, Quebec, with Bergevin indicating that he sees it important to try to increase the local content on the Canadiens over time.  But he's earned being among the more interesting names in a shallow pool this summer with his late-blooming production.  He began his first complete NHL season at the late age of 27 after a successful AHL career and immediately put up 53 points when gifted with talented linemates in Long Island.  He improved to 67 points last year, and would be another flexible option who could move up and down the Montreal line-up depending on the play of Rene Bourque and Brian Gionta.

Contract offer: 3 years, $3.75M cap hit


1) Zach Parise, LW - New Jersey Devils
5'11", 185 lbs - 2011-12: 82 GP, 31 G, 38 A, 69 PTS
Age 27

Parise will undoubtedly be the most-coveted forwards this summer if he makes it to July 1st without re-signing.  The New Jersey Devils's captain currently playing in the Stanley Cup Final doesn't have the size Montreal is looking for - one of only two names on this list under six feet - but is a big-time scorer with four 30-goal seasons and one 40-goal season over the past six years.  At 27, Parise is likely looking for a long-term contract, which would mean he'd be around long enough to play with the big center Montreal hopefully picks up in the first round of this year's draft.  Until then, he can play with Tomas Plekanec and a bigger winger, allowing Brian Gionta to line up next to Lars Eller in creating three solid scoring lines.

Contract offer: 7 years, $6.75M cap hit

Habs Sign Nathan Beaulieu to Entry-Level Deal

The Montreal Canadiens announced today the signing of defenseman Nathan Beaulieu to a 3-year entry-level contract.  While it was a matter of time / a formality, since Beaulieu will certainly be making his pro debut in the Fall rather than returning to the QMJHL as an overager, the signing is notable as he becomes the first player given a deal by new GM Marc Bergevin.  Official release: http://canadiens.nhl.com/club/news.htm?id=633263

Beaulieu, Montreal's first round selection last June, had an up-and-down year, but one full of good experiences.  His Saint John Sea Dogs won the QMJHL championship for a second year in a row, and thus returned to the Memorial Cup, where they were unable to repeat as winners, falling in the semi-final to host Shawinigan.  Beaulieu also got to represent Team Canada at this past winter's World Junior Championship, though he spent much of his time as a powerplay specialist / 7th defenseman.

Beaulieu will join the Hamilton Bulldogs in the Fall as part of a strong in-coming class of rookie pros that includes Jarred Tinordi, Morgan Ellis, Michael Bournival, Brendan Gallagher, Patrick Holland, and Greg Pateryn, all already under contract with the team.  Fans should temper their expectations in his regard, as while he has good size, amazing skating ability, slick passing, and good offensive instincts, he still has a lot to work out in his game, notably in his own end and in maturity.  But he has time.  He'll be one of the youngest players in the AHL when the season begins at age 19, eligible to play because of his December birthday.

Congrats Nathan!  Feel free to send him your best wishes via Twitter, @n8theggr8.

Habs Sign Josh Gorges to 6-year Extension

The Montreal Canadiens today announced the signing of defenseman Josh Gorges to a 6-year contract extension. The deal will pay him an average of $3.9M per season.

Gorges, 27, could have become an unrestricted free agent on July 1st. General Manager Pierre Gauthier wasted no time getting this deal done, making the announcement on the first day it was possible to do so (January 1st). This is a great move to lock in an important part of the team's future. The team must make decisions on other UFAs Andrei Kostitsyn, Hal Gill, and Travis Moen in the coming months. Two important RFA dockets are on Gauthier's table as well, with Carey Price and P.K. Subban's contracts ending after the season.

The Habs chose to play it "safe" with Gorges last summer, offering him only a one-year deal as he was returning from major knee surgery. Certainly, the team could have signed him for less had they offered him a multi-year contract back then (perhaps in the neighborhood of $3M-$3.25M). But he has been the team's top blueliner since game one this year and is a valuable leader in the dressing room, earning him this long-term extension.

Gorges was never drafted, but signed as a free agent with the San Jose Sharks. The Habs acquired him during the 2006-07 season along with a first round draft pick that turned into Max Pacioretty in return for defenseman Craig Rivet.

One big positive to the signing is it puts to rest a concern that I and others share, being that the team's struggles this season might discourage the core players the team MUST hold on to from staying in Montreal. With Gorges staying long-term, hopefully the likes of Price, Subban, and Pacioretty won't get too discouraged the media pressures and on and off-ice issues currently plaguing the organization.

Gorges is primarily a defensive defenseman, but with 10 points in 39 games this season, he is on pace to finish near his career high of 23, set with Montreal in 2008-09. For a defense-first player, some Habs fans may find the $3.9M number high, but if you look around the league, it's actually pretty solid value for the Canadiens. Some comparables:

Brayden Coburn, Philadelphia, 4 years, $4.5M per year

Victor Hedman, Tampa Bay, 5 years, $4M per year

Nick Schultz, Minnesota, 6 years, $3.5M per year (signed in 2008)

Cory Sarich, Calgary, 5 years, $3.6M per year (signed in 2007)

Habs Sign Michael Bournival to 3-year Entry Level Contract

The Montreal Canadiens announced this evening that they have signed center Michael Bournival to a 3-year entry level contract. Bournival, 19, was a 3rd round draft pick of the Colorado Avalanche in 2010. The Habs acquired his rights early last season in exchange for defenseman Ryan O'Byrne.

Bournival, 6'0" and 179 lbs, has dealt with a few injuries in his young career, but when healthy has been on near a goal-a-game pace this season, notching 15 goals and 24 points in just 16 games with the Shawinigan Cataractes of the QMJHL.

Bournival is currently playing with Team Canada in preparation for the upcoming World Junior Championships, where he is skating on a line with fellow Canadiens prospect Brendan Gallagher.

Bournival should be part of a strong incoming class to the Hamilton Bulldogs next year - unless he sticks with the Canadiens, that is, which is not out of the question. Already signed are Gallagher and Jarred Tinordi, with Morgan Ellis, Greg Pateryn, Nathan Beaulieu, and Danny Kristo expected to also make AHL debuts in 2012.

A Great Day to be a Habs Fan

In an early season that has had plenty of ups and downs for diehard Montreal Canadiens fans, last night was certainly one where we could all sit back and smile.

Not only did the Habs put up a dominating 4-0 win, giving Carey Price his first shutout (and assist!) of the season and P.K. Subban his first goal (a culmination of greatly improved play over the past few games), but for the first time in the 2011-12 regular season, the team is now above the .500 winning percentage mark. They've battled their way to that point with an impressive 7-2-1 record over the past 10 games. And if even that isn't enough to please you... at long last, Mathieu Darche did NOT receive any powerplay time yesterday!

I recently saw it suggested that Erik Cole might be one of the more disappointing off-season signings league-wide. If you had only watched the first 7 Montreal Canadiens games this year, I could see how you would think that. Cole took his time finding his zone in Montreal. But over the last 11 contests, night in, night out, Cole has been one of the team's most dangerous forwards, playing physically and driving the net hard. Over the last 11 games, Cole has picked up 4 goals and 4 assists, a rate which would project to 60 points on an 82-game season. Sixty is just one less than Cole's career high of 61 set in 2006-07, so it would be unrealistic for Habs fans to expect anything more from him. I, for one, am loving Cole, and feel every bit as happy about the signing as when it was first announced (or when I was clamouring for it prior to July 1).

Shifting over to other good news which made it a great day to be a Habs fan...

- Yesterday evening, the Montreal Canadiens announced the signing of Brendan Gallagher to a 3-year entry level contract. Gallagher is in his final season with the Vancouver Giants, where he currently has 18 goals and 31 points in 18 games. He is well on pace to better his last season's totals of 44 goals and 91 points in 66 games and seems a near-lock to represent Canada in the upcoming World Junior Championship. Last night, he captained the WHL Team that defeated Russia 5-2 in the penultimate Subway Super Series match, though he was held off the scoresheet.

Gallagher is the second highly touted prospect to be signed to join the Hamilton Bulldogs (if he doesn't make the Habs outright) for 2012-13 after Jarred Tinordi. They will form part of a strong incoming pro class that should also include Michael Bournival, Morgan Ellis, Nathan Beaulieu, Greg Pateryn, and Danny Kristo.

- Speaking of Ellis and Beaulieu, both were in action for their QMJHL clubs last night, and each recorded 2 assists in respective 4-3 victories. After a bit of an up-and-down start offensively, Beaulieu is now on a 5-game point streak, over which he has 2 goals and 6 assists. It will be interesting to see if he is invited to Canada's December camp for the World Juniors and if he can lock down a spot amidst tough competition.

Habs Sign Jarred Tinordi to ELC

The Montreal Canadiens announced today that the club has signed 2010 1st round pick Jarred Tinordi to a 3-year entry level contract. The deal will pay him a signing bonus of $270,000, plus $810,000 per year, for a cap hit of $900,000 annually.

Tinordi, 19, was named captain of the London Knights at the start of this season. He has missed the last couple of weeks with cuts to his eye area suffered during a fight but is expected back in the line-up shortly.

In 63 games last year, the 6'7" rearguard scored 14 points, earned 140 PIMs, and was a -8, while logging big minutes (sometimes as much as 30 a game) for the Knights. Prior to his injury, Tinordi had 2 assists and was a +7 in 6 games this year.

Both this year and last, Tinordi looked good during Montreal's training camp, and he has a shot at being one of the defenders for the U.S. World Junior Championship squad over the Christmas holidays.

Tinordi should join the Hamilton Bulldogs (at least for practice) once the Knights season is up (if it ends before that of the Dogs), and should play full-time in the AHL next year (either way, his contract will only start ticking next season, and he won't count against the 50 contract limit until that point either). He will be part of a very strong incoming class of talent at the American League level next season, alongside Nathan Beaulieu, Brendan Gallagher, Michael Bournival, Morgan Ellis, Greg Pateryn, and likely Danny Kristo.

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In other Habs prospect news, forward Brendan Gallagher snapped a 2-game pointless skid last night in a big way. He scored his team's first 3 goals before assisting on an empty netter in a 4-2 win. Gallagher now has 14 goals and 23 points in just 13 games. He is tied for second in the WHL in goals despite having played at least 3 fewer games than all other leaders.

Canadiens Sign D Joe Callahan to 1-Year, 2-Way Deal

Pierre Gauthier announced today the signing of defenseman Joe Callahan to a one-year, two-way contract.

With Jeff Woywitka being claimed off waivers by the New York Rangers, and a subsequent injury to Chris Campoli, Callahan provides extra depth and toughness to the Habs organization's blueline.

Callahan, 28, was a third round pick of the Phoenix Coyotes in 2002. He is a defensive defenseman who, at 6'3" and 221 lbs, adds size and physicality to Montreal's back end. He has played 46 NHL games all between 2008-09 and last season, split amongst the New York Islanders, San Jose Sharks, and Florida Panthers, while spending most of those seasons in the American Hockey League.

It isn't immediately clear whether Callahan will get a look in Montreal or start out with the Hamilton Bulldogs, but yesterday's Campoli injury may open up a spot for him. A solid depth signing to replace Woywitka in the AHL, but hopefully he isn't another roadblock ahead of Alexei Emelin. As much as the Russian blueliner hasn't been overly impressive, a fringe NHL'er like Callahan shouldn't be getting ice time over developing a high potential prospect.

The Habs now have 49 players under contract for this season with the league maximum being 50 per team. Their hands are thus somewhat tied when it comes to acquisitions, though it isn't necessarily difficult to dump contracts of American League youth.

Canadiens sign D Chris Campoli to 1 year Deal

The Montreal Canadiens announced today that the club has signed defenseman Chris Campoli to a 1-year, $1.75M contract.

With all the injuries the team has suffered this month, Campoli reinforces the group of d-men. However, it definitely raises some suspicion.

What does this mean about Andrei Markov and P.K. Subban's health? We speculated this morning that the silence around P.K.'s condition could only be a bad omen. However, both Jacques Martin and Pierre Gauthier spoke out, denying this was a reactionary move to anyone's health. Subban skated this morning with David Desharnais, which is a positive sign, and Gauthier repeated that IF Markov is to miss games, it won't be many.

In this case, what does this mean about Yannick Weber's future in Montreal? The young defenseman has had a disappointing training camp to say the least. The Habs have 8 NHL d-men on the roster now in Markov, Subban, Campoli, Weber, Alexei Yemelin, Josh Gorges, Hal Gill, and Jaroslav Spacek.

As for Campoli, if Habs fans don't expect too much, they may be pleasantly surprised. Once seen as a promising young player for the New York Islanders, his career took a downturn in Ottawa and then in Chicago, but he's still only 27 years of age - well in his prime for a defenseman.

Campoli is a mobile two-way player who scored 21 points in 67 games last season. He is a fine third pairing guy who can play 2nd unit powerplay minutes. He does have a bit of a bad reputation for turnovers, including the one that led to the overtime winner in round 1 of last year's playoffs against the Vancouver Canucks.

Just last season, his trade value was considered a 2nd round pick, so it's not like he should be considered "washed up." He adds more depth on the blueline, saving Gauthier from having to give up picks of his own to replace injured d-men during the course of the season. I had avocated during the summer for the signing of Scott Hannan, which I would have preferred, but as a depth d-man, this is not a bad move. We had Campoli at #6 on our list of remaining UFA in August.

The dollar amount feels like a lot given that we're just 2 weeks away from the season openers, and Campoli remained without a contract. It is a raise on the $1.4M he made last year, but in his defense, it is less than the $2.5M an arbitrator awarded him this summer (an amount that the Chicago Blackhawks walked away from).

Habs sign Zack Fitzgerald to AHL Deal

The Hamilton Bulldogs today announced the signing of defenseman Zack Fitzgerald to a one-year contract.

http://www.hamiltonbulldogs.com/article/bulldogs-sign-defenceman-zack-fitzgerald-to-a-one-year-contract

Fitzgerald, 26, is a 6'1", 215 lbs d-man drafted in the 3rd round in 2003 by the St. Louis Blues. He has played only 1 NHL game (with the Vancouver Canucks in 2007-08) but brings a wealth of AHL experience, giving the Bulldogs a much-needed 7th member of their blueline corps. The 'Dogs D projects to something like the following:

Alex Henry - Rafael Diaz

Brendon Nash - Zack Fitzgerald

Frederic St-Denis - Jeff Woywitka

Mark Mitera, Joe Stejskal

Fitzgerald fills the role of team enforcer with forward Jimmy Bonneau not being retained by Hamilton. Last season with the AHL's Charlotte Checkers, Fitzgerald racked up 229 PIMs, down from 311 the year prior.

A couple of his bouts:

Canadiens Sign Jeff Woywitka to 2-Way Deal

We've mentioned a couple of times on this site that Pierre Gauthier needed to add at least one more defenseman for the Hamilton Bulldogs, and today he decided to not make us out to be liars. The Habs signed veteran Jeff Woywitka to a one-year, two-way contract.

http://canadiens.nhl.com/club/news.htm?id=586080&navid=DL|MTL|home

Woywitka is a very solid depth addition, having played 63 games for the Dallas Stars a year ago, and with over 250 NHL games under his belt. He brings good size and physicality at 6'3", 215 lbs, but is also an adept puck-mover.

Woywitka was formerly a first round selection in 2001 by the Philadelphia Flyers, and has made NHL stops in St. Louis and Dallas.

It seems evident that Gauthier doesn't want to have to deal for depth like he did last year by bringing in Brent Sopel and Paul Mara. With signings like Woywitka and Rafael Diaz, the Canadiens have a solid number of potential fill-ins should the injury bug bite the team's back end. The 'Dogs defense also looks a lot better, now with Alex Henry, Mark Mitera, Frederic St-Denis, Brendon Nash, Joe Stejskal, Diaz, and Woywitka all under contract.

Though far from a heaveyweight (think Tom Kostopoulos... feisty but somewhat of a punching bag), Woywitka is also capable of dropping the gloves when called upon to defend a teammate. Below are a couple of his fight clips.

Canadiens sign Josh Gorges to 1 Year Deal

The Montreal Canadiens announced this evening the signing of defenseman Josh Gorges to a 1 year, $2.5M deal.

Pierre Gauthier has now completed all internal dossiers for the coming season, and any further moves would be additional outside acquisitions.

Gorges had filed for arbitration with a hearing scheduled for July 28th. One would have to think with comparables like Marc Methot ($3M) and Roman Polak ($2.75M), an arbitrator might have awarded a little more than Gorges settled for, but given his injury last year, the short term gives him a new opportunity to prove his worth. So good deal money-wise, but the term is a little scary because...

In fact, he will have great leverage next summer, as he may opt to become an unrestricted free agent next July 1st. The Canadiens are not likely to let it come to that, as Gorges has been an important part of the back end, but the team is starting to amass significant organizational depth on the back end for the future, so they will be able to reassess their plans in just under one year's time.

Per Renaud Lavoie, Gauthier opted for a short term due to concerns over Gorges' recovery from surgery and wants to ensure he will be healthy this season before making a longer commitment.

http://canadiens.nhl.com/club/news.htm?id=569258&navid=DL|MTL|home

The Habs now have 12 forwards, 7 defensemen, and 2 goaltenders under NHL contract for 2011-12, with $5,179,490 in cap space remaining. They will need to add at least one more forward, but may decide to leave it opening for a training camp battle between the likes of Andreas Engqvist and Michael Blunden.

Around the League: 10 UFA Signings who will Outperform their Contract

The general consensus on July 1 was that with a very average talent pool available, many General Managers went overboard, awarding far too generous contracts to only marginal talent. However, there were some deals handed out that day and beyond that we would categorize as belonging to the bargain bin. Thus, today we'll give our picks for 10 UFA contracts around the league that will show to be bargains over the course of this season. Note that this doesn't mean we feel these are the 10 most impactful/best signings, just that they will bring the most value per dollar earned.

10) Sheldon Souray, D, Dallas Stars

1 year, $1.65M

After being bought out by the Edmonton Oilers, it didn't take Sheldon Souray long to find new employment. Now at age 35, certainly Souray's game isn't what it was in Montreal (and even then it had its deficiencies), but comparing it to contracts given out to other aging defensemen, this deal will pay major dividends to the Stars organization. A poor fit in Edmonton led to his playing all of 2010-11 in the AHL, but Souray can bring a lot to an NHL club with his toughness, leadership, and booming point shot. It will be interesting to see how he is used in Dallas, with Stephane Robidas and Alex Goligoski already manning the blueline on the powerplay. Look for a bounce back year from Sheldon to prove that he isn't washed up and his time in Edmonton was simply a bad situation.

9) Zenon Konopka, C, Ottawa Senators

1 year, $700K

Many wanted Konopka with the Habs, myself included, and at this price, he should be a good deal for the Ottawa Senators. Not hugely impactful considering he'll play roughly 10 minutes a night on a fourth line, but an important player who can hit, fight, take face-offs, and kill penalties if needed. If he has a good year in Ottawa, the Sens should be able to draw quite a bit of interest in his services at the trade deadline given that they project to be a non-playoff team this season, and thus the signing should give them a "free" extra draft pick next summer for just $700K. Good value.

8) Matt Gilroy, D, Tampa Bay Lightning

1 year, $1M

It was just 2 years ago in the summer of 2009 that Gilroy was considered a prize college UFA signing by the New York Rangers. New York bench boss John Tortorella is a polarizing character, and playing in the Rangers system may have just been a poor fit for the 6'1" two-way blueliner. Look for a breakout season under Guy Boucher in Tampa as part of a very underrated defense corps on a talented club.

7) Jason Arnott, C, St. Louis Blues

1 year, $2.8M

Like Souray, Arnott's best days are well behind him, but at 36, he is still a far better player than his 24 points in 62 games with the New Jersey Devils last year indicated. For under $3M, depending on the ice and powerplay time he receives on a Blues club filled with offensive forwards, Arnott should top the 50 point mark, making him a great bargain. In St. Louis, he will provide leadership and experience to a young Blues team, but if the youth should struggle, the club should be able to obtain a reasonable asset from a playoff team wanting a 6'5" center with a Stanley Cup ring.

6) Sami Lepisto, D, Chicago Blackhawks

1 year, $750K

I advocated for Montreal to pick up Lepisto after he became a UFA, but in the end one can't fault him for joining a well-restocked Chicago Blackhawks team that had room to spend following the dumping of Brian Campbell's contract on the Florida Panthers. The Finnish defenseman is entering his prime at 26 years of age and while his offensive game hasn't translate at the NHL level, he can play solid minutes with sound play in his own end. While he will be surrounded with other quality defensemen in Chicago, he may surprise and earn a top 4 spot on the blueline if pressed into service, as he is capable of playing upwards of 20 minutes a night.

5) Nicklas Bergfors, RW, Nashville Predators

1 year, $575K

A classic very low risk, potential high reward signing, Bergfors has bounced around the league over the past 2 seasons, with stops in New Jersey, Atlanta, Florida, and now Nashville. Bergfors has shown he's capable of putting up points at the professional level, and the Predators aren't deep in talented offensive forwards (see: last year's team leading scorer, Sergei Kostitsyn) so he will be given a great opportunity to earn an important spot. Plus, as long as he gets powerplay time, he's sure to rack up quite a few helpers with the "pass it to Shea Weber" plan.

4) Jaromir Jagr, RW, Philadelphia Flyers

1 year, $3.3M

A controversial inclusion on the list, no doubt, as many thought the Flyers overpaid in going up to $3.3M to woo Jagr. I will go on record as being a believer that his doubters will be eating crow later this season and that Jagr will have a successful year of 60 or more points. Philadelphia has a lot to justify in terms of their off-season transactions, so they are sure to give Jagr every chance to succeed in trying to prove they made the right decisions. It may also prove to be a great fit since the Flyers have shown they won't tolerate complaining players and off-ice issues, even waiving forward Nikolai Zherdev towards the end of a 16-goal campaign.

3) Simon Gagne, LW, Los Angeles Kings

2 years, $7M

Yes, he's a bit of a risk due to health concerns, but Gagne is a talented sniper who found his game in the playoffs last year scoring 12 points in 15 contests. Twice a 40-goal scorer in Philadelphia, Gagne will be reunited with former Flyer Mike Richards on a Kings team with what has become a scary-looking top 6 up front (Richards, Gagne, Anze Kopitar, Dustin Penner, Dustin Brown, and Justin Williams). Getting back over the 20 goal mark should be a given, and if he can play a full season (which he hasn't since 2008-09, however), 30 is not out of the question, which would make this an awesome steal for Los Angeles.

2) Steve Sullivan, RW, Pittsburgh Penguins

1 year, $1.5M

The diminutive Sullivan has been proving doubters wrong his entire career and after the injury bug struck him again last season, he decided to end his 6 year stint with the Nashville Predators to sign with the Penguins. The 5'9" winger has had success in every city he's played, and which ever center he lines up with in Pittsburgh (Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin, or Jordan Staal), he should produce beyond the .5 PPG clip he had going last year. At just $1.5M for one season, the Penguins might have added a 20+ goal scorer to give them the offensive depth they sorely lacked when Crosby and Malkin went down last year.

1) Tomas Vokoun, G, Washington Capitals

1 year, $1.5M

The obvious choice as everyone's top signing, Vokoun took well below his true market value to sign with the Washington Capitals in hopes of winning a Stanley Cup. At 35 years of age, the former Habs draft pick has proven he's a top netminder in the league posting save percentages of .920 or better anually on poor Florida Panthers teams. Even after trading Semyon Varlamov, the Capitals will have a logjam in nets this year, and the competition with the young Braden Holtby and Michal Neuvirth will push Vokoun to be at his best to retain starting duties. While they may have to make a move at some point to manage their salary cap situation, Washington has a deep team and has shored up both their blueline and goaltending, making them an early favourite for a deep playoff run.

St. Denis Signed to 1 Year Deal

Another name to scratch off Pierre Gauthier's summer "To-Do" list today, as the Canadiens announced the signing of defenseman Frederic St. Denis to a 1-year, 2-way contract.

http://canadiens.nhl.com/club/news.htm?id=569459

St. Denis, 25, developed nicely last season becoming an important member of the Hamilton Bulldogs back end. He showed reliable play at both ends of the ice, notching 23 points, and while he is likely a career AHL'er, is still quality organizational depth.

This leaves defensemen Josh Gorges and Mathieu Carle as the only two must-signs within the organization.

Ryan White Signs 1-Year Deal

The Montreal Canadiens announced this morning that they have re-signed forward Ryan White to a one year contract. White has demonstrated his value in bringing sandpaper and sound defensive play to a fourth line over the last two seasons and has earned a one-way contract and regular spot in the line-up at a salary of $625,000.

http://canadiens.nhl.com/club/news.htm?id=569198&navid=DL|MTL|home

Of the RFAs expected to make the team's opening night roster, only Josh Gorges remains to be signed. The contracts of Mathieu Carle and Frederic St. Denis must also be renewed for the Hamilton Bulldogs.

White, 23, played 27 regular season and 6 playoff games for the team last year, contributing just 5 points but most importantly delivering hard hits and stepping in to defend teammates. The 6'0" Manitoba native can play all 3 forward positions which should ensure he will have a 4th line spot throughout the season regardless of others.

Habs sign B. Willsie, trade for M. Blunden

For a second consecutive day, Montreal Canadiens General Manager Pierre Gauthier was busy in preparing the roster of the Hamilton Bulldogs for the 2011-12 season. Today he announced the signing of forward Brian Wilsie to a 2-way contract, and announced the team has traded forward Ryan Russell to the Columbus Blue Jackets for forward Michael Blunden.

Wilsie, 33, has played 381 NHL games. Though few may remember, he did the Habs a huge favour on April 17, 2006. He scored the game-winning goal in a 6-4 Capitals victory over the Atlanta Thrashers - a win that clinched a playoff spot for the Canadiens in the 2005-06 season. That was a career year for Wilsie, who topped the 40 point mark for the only time in the National League. The 6'1", 202 lbs forward is nearing the end of his career, appearing in only 5 NHL contests in total over the last 2 years, but being a dominant AHL scorer, with 57 points last season. He will be a great replacement for the likes of Dustin Boyd who moved from the AHL to the KHL.

Blunden, 24, is an intriguing acquisition at a minimal cost (Russell had no future in Montreal) and on a 1-year, 2-way deal. A 2nd round pick in 2005, the 6'3", 207 lbs winger has 51 NHL games to his name between the Chicago Blackhawks and Columbus Blue Jackets, but has shown little offensive upside at that level. Still, like Wilsie, he is productive in the American League and will add size and experience to a young Bulldogs team. Most notably, as a big body who can drop the gloves to defend teammates, Blunden fills a bigger organizational need than 5'10" Russell, providing fourth line depth in case of future injuries.

Player Spotlight: Josh Gorges

Though our previous two Player Spotlights (Berger, Yemelin) looked at Habs prospects, this weekly feature can spotlight anyone in the organization, and the most appropriate member this week is Josh Gorges – a hot topic of conversation recently amongst Montreal Canadiens fans.

Born in Kelowna, B.C., Gorges was fortunate to play his junior hockey for his hometown team, the Kelowna Rockets of the WHL. Gorges spent 4 years there, captaining his team to a Memorial Cup Championship in his final season in 2004. The fact that Gorges was a captain in juniors has led to a popular internet meme on hockey discussion board HFBoards which has users reply to poor questions or irrelevant threads by asking “Did you know Josh Gorges was the captain of the Kelowna Rockets?”

At 6’1”, 202 lbs, Gorges doesn’t have a particularly imposing physique, but he makes up for it with sound defensive coverage and strong work ethic. A tremendous penalty killer, Gorges found a home as a partner to Hal Gill in forming a top-notch shutdown pair during the team’s Cinderella 2010 playoff run. Over the course of his time in Montreal, he has also played alongside Andrei Markov, and so one of Markov or Gill will in all likelihood begin 2011-12 on his left side.

On the negative side, #26 has little offensive upside, with a career high of 23 points (though he’ll still be just 27 years old in a month’s time), and has at times been linked with balancing his “work hard” attitude with a “party hard” mentality. Now entering his prime as a blueliner, he’ll need to be disciplined as he matures both on and off the ice to fill out and reach his full potential.

Gorges was acquired in the undisputed best trade Bob Gainey made during his tenure as Habs’ general manager. Just prior to the 2006-07 trade deadline, he dealt an aging Craig Rivet to the San Jose Sharks for Gorges and a first round pick. The Habs used that pick to select Max Pacioretty, so while Rivet was never a true impact player and has long moved on, the two assets Montreal acquired now form young cornerstones of the franchise.

Having just completed a cap friendly 3-year, $3.3M contract, Gorges will be looking to cash in this summer. His raise may have been tempered by an ACL injury that cut his campaign short, but it also gives Habs fans reason to be optimistic, as the fact that he had been playing essentially without an ACL for the last 8 years came to light. This means that the Josh Gorges we see in the Fall will be the healthiest that we have ever seen in a Canadiens’ uniform.

Slight panic spread through Habs nation as Pierre Gauthier cleared one dossier after another with regards to his RFAs this summer, but there remained little news of Gorges’ status. Gorges received a qualifying offer so the Habs would retain his rights, and some media pundits spun the lack of a signing as a “rejection” of the offer. It should be clear this should have been no cause for worry – Gorges qualifying offer of $1.1M is far below the salary expectations of either side, and the Canadiens would like to lock him up well beyond the 1 year term of a Q.O. (if he does sign a 1-year deal, Gorges will be an unrestricted free agent next summer).

News broke earlier this week that Gorges has opted to take the team to player-elected salary arbitration this summer, at a hearing date to-be-determined. The process of arbitration is not a positive for player-team relations, as the player and his agent must hype his play and potential beyond the reality of the situation, while the club does what they can to degrade his worth in their eyes, in hopes the arbitrator will find a middle ground. It is very likely it will never come to that between Gorges and the Canadiens, as the two will continue to negotiate in hoping to reach an agreement beforehand. Similar players are often used as a gauge for determining salary, and comparable defensive d-men for Gorges might be Columbus’s Marc Methot (4 years, $12M, $3M cap hit) or St. Louis’s Roman Polak (5 years, $13.75M, $2.75M cap hit).

Your Canadiens had a chance to chat with Mr. Gorges in the middle of his rehab this winter, and there is no reason to doubt his heart is in Montreal. Beyond his well-publicized friendship with Carey Price, he fits in with general locker room vibe. He indicated, during our brief chat, that he had no doubt he would be 100% by the summer and thus trained and ready to go come the beginning of training camp. Perhaps Josh's best quote on his rehab, courtesy the Montreal Gazette: "I told Marky (also rehabbing from ACL surgery) we’re going to get to know each other real well," said Gorges. "It’s nice to know I have him there. I’ve had lots of talks with him on how he’s dealt with his situation, different scenarios (like how) you can’t walk for a few days, driving, He’s been through it once and he’s going through it again."

Don’t worry, Gorges lovers. He isn’t going anywhere. Josh fills a need that no other player in the organization is near-ready to step into, and his defensive style will be greatly appreciated for many years to come by the glut of offensive-minded rearguards the team continues to draft and sign. If anything, by filing for arbitration, Josh has said, "Hey! I don't want this to drag on and on and jeopardize my training camp. Here's a deadline, let's get down to business, hash it out, and move on!"

Extreme Makeover: NHL Edition

In today's Around the League report, we will look at two teams who have made drastic changes to their NHL rosters over the last 3 weeks: the Philadelphia Flyers and the Florida Panthers. Through a series of trades and signings, both have gone about overhauls of their clubs for very different reasons, but ultimately, both have made significant improvements.

The Philadelphia Flyers

Roster THEN (May 6, 2011, Game 4 of the Eastern Conference Semi-Finals):

Kris Versteeg - Mike Richards - Jeff Carter

James van Riemsdyk - Claude Giroux - Daniel Briere

Scott Hartnell - Darrell Powe - Ville Leino

Jody Shelley - Blair Betts - Daniel Carcillo

Kimmo Timonen - Braydon Coburn

Andrej Meszaros - Matt Carle

Danny Syvret - Sean O'Donnell

Sergei Bobrovsky

Brian Boucher

Injuries & Scratches: Chris Pronger, Nikolai Zherdev, Andreas Nodl, Ian Laperriere, Michael Leighton, Oskars Bartulis

Roster NOW (July 6, 2011, projecting for opening night 2011-12):

James Van Riemsdyk ($1.654m) / Claude Giroux ($3.750m) / Daniel Briere ($6.500m)

Wayne Simmonds ($2.500m) / Brayden Schenn ($3.110m) / Jakub Voracek ($2.250m)

Scott Hartnell ($4.200m) / Maxime Talbot ($1.800m) / Jaromir Jagr ($3.300m)

Andreas Nodl ($0.845m) / Blair Betts ($0.700m) / Jody Shelley ($1.100m)

Kimmo Timonen ($6.333m) / Chris Pronger ($4.921m)

Andrej Meszaros ($4.000m) / Braydon Coburn ($3.200m)

Andreas Lilja ($0.737m) / Matt Carle ($3.437m)

Ilya Bryzgalov ($5.666m) / Sergei Bobrovsky ($1.750m)

Injuries & Scratches: Oskars Bartulis ($0.600m) / Ian Laperriere ($1.166m)

SALARY CAP: $64,300,000; CAP PAYROLL: $63,522,262; BONUSES: $3,815,000

CAP SPACE (22-man roster): $777,738

Evidently satisfied on the blueline once they would be bolstered by a healthy Chris Pronger, the Flyers identified goaltending as their main need this off-season and traded for the rights of pending UFA Ilya Bryzgalov. The problem, however, was a lack of cap room to fit in Bryzgalov's exorbitant salary demands. Amidst rumours of divides and cancers in the locker room, GM Paul Holmgren underwent a process very similar to that which Bob Gainey followed during the 2009 off-season. Both teams had a strong year one year prior, but were then unceremoniously swept from the playoffs by the Boston Bruins the following season, and proceeded to blow their core apart.

First came the Jeff Carter trade. Sent to Columbus for Jakub Voracek and a 1st round pick (Sean Couturier). "Ok," Flyers fans thought, "we got a great return AND now we have the cap room we need! Awesome!" But Holmgren wasn't done there.When rumours were floated in the moments following the Carter deal that Mike Richards was also on the market, people thought it was preposterous. But only a few hours later... BAM! Mike Richards was a Los Angeles King in return for Brayden Schenn and Wayne Simmonds. And just like that, two offensive catalysts that had led the Flyers all the way to the Stanley Cup Finals just a year ago had been cast off.

Trading both Carter and Richards let the Flyers sign Bryzgalov to a HUGE 9 year, $51M deal, giving them credible netminding (or - they had better hope it will) for the first time in ages. The team also had suddenly created a new youth movement, boasting a top-notch young core including the following all at age 23 or younger:

Brayden Schenn

James van Riemsdyk

Wayne Simmonds

Jakub Voracek

Sean Couturier

Given that the club is looking to contend immediately, they were active on July 1st, supplementing their offense with the surprising acquisition of Jaromir Jagr, and stealing depth roleplayer Maxim Talbot from state rivals the Pittsbugh Penguins.

How much better is this team than last year's? Well they lost the entirety of what was considered their "1st line" for their final game of 2010-11, and it is no sure thing they will be able to immediately replace the offensive contribution. Certainly Bryzgalov makes them a cup contender if he can reproduce his regular season performances and step up his playoff game with his new team. The East looks a lot tougher now with contenders in Washington and Philadelphia both addressing their Achilles' heel between the pipes. But will Jagr be a productive NHL'er at age 39? Will van Rimesdyk step up his game and put up big numbers at the NHL level? Will Jakub Voracek continue progressing in a new environment? And will Brayden Schenn be ready for a significant role in his rookie pro season? Many questions remain for this team that will have very little wiggle room against the cap should the answer to any of these questions be "no." They should be able to compete for a division or even conference title, but then we could have said that about the Flyers last year and the year prior. It remains to be seen if this group can get over the next hump.

The Florida Panthers

Roster THEN (April 8, 2011, Florida Panthers vs. Tampa Bay Lightning):

David Booth - Marty Reasoner - Jack Skille

Sergei Samsonov - Mike Santorelli - Steve Bernier

Evgeny Dadonov - Ryan Carter - Shawn Matthias

Michael Repik - Tim Kennedy - Niclas Bergfors

Jason Garrison - Mike Weaver

Dmitry Kulikov - Keaton Ellerby

Clay Wilson - Joe Callahan

Tomas Vokoun

Scott Clemmensen

Injuries & Scratches: Stephen Weiss, Rostislav Olesz

That's a little scary. Other than a strong goaltending duo, it is almost hard to believe this is an NHL roster. It isn't hard to understand, then, why the main motivation for the Panthers rebuild was a need to spend about $30M just to reach the salary cap FLOOR!

Roster NOW (July 6, 2011, projecting for opening night 2011-12):

David Booth ($4.250m) / Stephen Weiss ($3.100m) / Kris Versteeg ($3.083m)

Tomas Fleischmann ($4.500m) / Sean Bergenheim ($2.750m) / Tomas Kopecky ($3.000m)

Evgeni Dadonov ($0.875m) / Scottie Upshall ($3.500m) / Matt Bradley ($0.950m)

Shawn Matthias ($0.850m) / Marcel Goc ($1.700m) / Mike Santorelli ($0.600m)

Brian Campbell ($7.142m) / Mike Weaver ($0.900m)

Dmitri Kulikov ($1.325m) / Ed Jovanovski ($4.125m)

Jason Garrison ($0.675m) / Keaton Ellerby ($0.787m)

Jose Theodore ($1.500m) / Scott Clemmensen ($1.200m)

BUYOUTS: Ville Koistinen ($0.466m)

Injuries & Scratches: Jack Skille ($0.825m) / Michal Repik ($0.816m) / Steven Reinprecht ($2.050m)

SALARY CAP: $64,300,000; CAP PAYROLL: $50,972,042; BONUSES: $800,000

CAP SPACE (23-man roster): $13,327,958

Whereas the Flyers had a strong team and rebuilt to fill a need, the Panthers had needs all across the board and changed their composition at every position. Clearly the most notable upgrade comes in the group of forwards. While the team still lacks true top-end talent (particularly down the middle), they now have offensive depth to at least compete with most other clubs around the league.

On the back end, adding Brian Campbell and Ed Jovanovski - despite their large and long contracts - will be a major boon to the development of youngsters like Kulikov and Ellerby.

The main problem with Florida's situation isn't the moves they have made. Rather, it's a problem with the National Hockey League in Florida and the terms of the present collective bargaining agreement. If there is going to be another NHL lockout next year, you can take the Panthers as a prime explanation for its necessity. As a team that practically gives away more tickets than it sells, even with the present revenue sharing plan, Florida cannot afford an annual salary of $48M. Certainly they can't afford to commit to the long-term deals of players like Campbell and Jovanovski. The NHL needs to understand that for future sustainability, the growing salary cap won't allow for the maintenance of competitive parity around the league. The only way to ensure that is finding owners with deep pockets and doing the best to grow the game in ALL 30 markets. There is no room for obvious gaffs in wasted marketing dollars like Stan Lee's Guardian Project. That money - undoubtedly a significant sum - could have been invested in market development instead.

And there needs to be a shorter leash on these markets. If it's been tried and failed for many years running, it's time to give another market a try. The health of the league and growth of the game will be stronger feeding off interested markets (even if only short term) than sticking around in places where hockey is an after-though at best.

Is this Florida team better? No doubt, they are miles ahead of any team the Panthers have iced in years. But it's going to take more than that to build a fanbase. Is this a playoff team? Certainly no guarantee there, though they may find themselves competing for the 8th spot. And given the disinterest in the marketplace, it's going to take a lot more than a bubble club to start gaining the momentum to sustain a franchise.

Canadiens Sign Nathan Lawson to 1-Year Deal

As mentioned earlier today, the Habs needed to find a starter for the Hamilton Bulldogs. Well they've done that now in 27-year old goaltender Nathan Lawson, signed to a 1-year, 2-way contract. The contract will pay him $550,000 if he plays in the NHL, and $105,000 in the AHL.

http://canadiens.nhl.com/club/news.htm?id=568595&cmpid=rss-News

Lawson finished 2nd in the American Hockey League in save percentage in both the 2008-09 and 2009-10 seasons, before seeing 10 games of NHL action with the New York Islanders last year during a time of injury problems. He should have few problems filling the void left by Curtis Sanford and Drew MacIntyre, though it is unclear whether the latter left for Buffalo by his own will, or if the Canadiens were not interested in retaining him.

Habs Rumour Update: No Konopka, but Gauthier at Work

Habs fans everywhere - this blog's author included - were disappointed to see Zenon Konopka sign a 1 year deal with the Ottawa Senators today, and that for just $700,000. Surely he'd have taken the same contract to play in Montreal, but reports indicate Pierre Gauthier never offered him a deal.

Still, your rumour roundup, per Renaud Lavoie, has PG hard at work to add size to his forward group (unclear whether it's through UFA or a trade). Reviewing this morning's Top 10 list of remaining UFA Habs might want, the names of Brad Winchester and Jason Arnott jump out as possibly interesting the Canadiens' GM.

Winchester would play a similar role to that of Konopka, as a 4th liner who can grind it out. They have a number of striking differences though. One of Konopka's strengths is in the face-off circle, an area where the Habs definitely need help, while Winchester is a winger. Though Konopka plays tough and drops the gloves with regularity, he is only 6'0", while Winchester has a much more imposing 6'5" frame. Lastly, Konopka's actual puck/hockey skills are limited, while even in a fourth line role, Winchester could chip in close to 10 goals over a full season.

Arnott, on the other hand, is not a physical or particularly tough player, but has a similar imposing frame to Winchester at 6'5". He is a centerman who is inconsistent in terms of face-offs, but could play fourth line minutes at even strength while screening goals on the powerplay. Doesn't seem like the best fit, but he does give you options. If Gauthier can find a team to take Scott Gomez's contract off Montreal's hands, having a battle for 2nd and 3rd lines between Arnott, Desharnais, and Eller wouldn't be the worst alternative for the coming season (though the biggest benefit is freeing the team of Gomez's salary).

But putting things in perspective, fans shouldn't be TOO disappointed over "losing" Konopka. He isn't much of a hockey player, and take a ton of penalties, something this team already does too much of. The team would rather add a more versatile player who they can trust on the ice in different situations. What's the use of having a guy to win face-offs if every time he does, he must be recalled immediately to the bench?

Canadiens Sign Peter Delmas to 3-Year Deal

With Robert Mayer's days in the organization clearly numbered after his lack of an invite to either development camp this summer, the Canadiens locked up one half of the Hamilton Bulldogs' goaltending duo for the upcoming campaign by signing Peter Delmas to a 3-year, two-way deal.

http://canadiens.nhl.com/club/news.htm?id=568494&navid=DL|MTL|home

Delmas showed progress over the course of last season, with a .928 save percentage and 2.03 GAA in the ECHL, while looking sharp in a very brief stint with Hamilton, going 1-0-1 with a 1.92 GAA and .933 SV%. His numbers trailed off a bit in the ECHL playoffs, but his club was badly outmatched and he was often left to himself.

Still only 21, it is unclear whether Delmas has an NHL future ahead of him, but the organization lacks depth in the goalie pipeline, so it doesn't hurt to have him locked up.

The Bulldogs will still need a starter or 1A goalie, with names like Drew MacIntyre and Cedrick Desjardins available as UFAs.