The Canadiens hope defenceman Andrei Markov can develop into a top blue-liner. (Elsa/Getty Images)
Backgrounder | 2007-08 NHL season
Montreal Canadiens
Last Updated Thurs., Sept. 20, 2007
Scott Morrison, CBC Sports
2006-07 RECORD: 42-34-6 = 90 points (4th in Northeast, 10th in Conference)
MOST IMPRESSIVE: There is no shortage of good, young talent with potential and for stretches last year the Habs were very good.
MUST IMPROVE: Can that good, young talent be consistently good?
NEW FACES: D Roman Hamrlik, C Bryan Smolinski, W Tom Kostopoulos, D Patrice Brisebois, D Jamie Rivers, W Janne Lahti.
LEFT TOWN: D Sheldon Souray, C Radek Bonk, W Mike Johnson, F Sergei Samsonov, G David Aebischer, G Michael Leighton, W Alexander Perezhogin, W Aaron Downey, D Janne Niinimaa.
Forward Chris Higgins will carry a large portion of the scoring burden for Montreal. (Scott Cunningham/Getty Images)
OUTLOOK: It is difficult to argue that the Canadiens got appreciably better, but rather simply tried to fill in for those who departed. The loss of Souray, his 26 goals and what he brought to the power play (a record 19 goals), will be hard to replace.
The key is for the youngsters to continue to develop, with the likes of defenceman Andrei Markov and forwards Christopher Higgins, Michael Ryder and Tomas Plekanec. They also have to hope the enigmatic Alexei Kovalev is interested in playing well this season and is an asset, not a distraction.
They are good in goal, have some quality on the blue-line, but overall need to hope the kids grow fast. Realistically, their sights are on making the playoffs, which they almost did last season before faltering on the final night.
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The Canadiens hope defenceman Andrei Markov can develop into a top blue-liner. (Elsa/Getty Images)
Forward Chris Higgins will carry a large portion of the scoring burden for Montreal. (Scott Cunningham/Getty Images)







