1) Brian Gionta's agent, Steve Bartlett's been around for a long time. He knows how to play the game. In speaking with La Presse's Richard Labbe earlier this week, he laid out plans for discussions with GM Marc Bergevin regarding Gionta's role with the team moving forward, acknowledging that the Canadiens are interested in bringing him back into the fold.

Hardly news. We know how Bergevin and the Canadiens feel about Gionta, but to think he's a priority--at this stage--is stretching it.

Role? Outside of the top six.

Potential contract? No more than one season. Far less than five million.

Would Gionta accept that?

Would that offer even be on the table before the Canadiens deal with other players like Markov, Weaver, Subban?

I'll let you answer those questions.

2) Renaud Lavoie of TVA Sports reported this week that Douglas Murray, George Parros and Thomas Vanek would not be back with the Canadiens.

These items were logical deductions for anyone and everyone, but now they're official.

Will Bergevin seek a replacement for Vanek on the open market, or will he opt for one through trade?

3) There was one thing that Vanek brought to the table during the regular season: He gave the team more depth on all their lines, allowing them to finally do well in the scoring department at 5-on-5.

Bergevin knows he can't let that table go unset. If the team brings Markov back, and Beaulieu remains a constant (it's expected he'll have his spot), the Canadiens powerplay should be in pretty able hands. But the team needs to alleviate a lot of pressure in being able to compete with the best ones out there at 5-on-5.

4) When is the best time to trade Rene Bourque? Not now, right now!

The Habs have to get some value back in dishing off the remaining two years of Bourque's contract. And they have to have plans to replace him with a sizeable player. Taking one of the few forwards they have of his size off means replacing him with someone that can bring the physicality they need at the position.

5) I'm not an advocate of having enforcers around, but damned if I'm going to suggest they're irrelevant. So long as the league allows fighting, enforcers play an important role on the team. The key is, they need to be able to play.

Shawn Thornton is on the downside, and his ego will be a little bruised with the Bruins moving on from him. He loved being a Bruin. He was a loyal, serviceable player for them, whether Canadiens fans like him or absolutely hate him.

I'm not suggesting the Canadiens make a play for him--and I'm not too sure Thornton could see himself suiting up for the Habs--but it would be deliciously ironic if he ended up in their uniform next season. I don't think the Bruins would like it very much...

Speaking of Thornton, there's another Thornton on the market that could interest Montreal...

6) Say the Habs don't replace Bourque in trading him. Milan Michalek is a player that would love to be a Montreal Canadien. He trains here in the summers, and knows what playing here is about. He's had his inconsistencies, and his injury history is concerning. But he's got a phenomenal shot, and a pretty good skating stride. He's only two seasons removed from a 35-goal campaign and was relatively healthy last year, appearing in 81 games.

7) Gerard Gallant remains among the candidates available for Florida's head coaching vacancy, but you have to wonder if he'd win out over the likes of recently fired Dan Bylsma. Should Gallant be their choice, it'll be interesting to see what Michel Therrien and Marc Bergevin opt for to replace him. Clement Jodoin, who's an important part of the coaching staff would be likely to take on a role on the bench, rather than up top for games.

8) Was somewhat surprised to hear that Brandon Prust wouldn't require any offseason surgery. He played with rib and shoulder injuries, and admitted on garbage day that he truly was a healthy scratch during the Boston series.

A full summer of rehab and training is going to do him some good. A lot of Canadiens fans were displeased by his performance throughout the season, but it's pretty hard to match what he did in his first season with the team.

9) What does the future hold for Daniel Briere. At a point this season, Briere didn't think he'd play another game for the Canadiens, and then there he was in the next game. His relationship with Michel Therrien was obviously quite bad--this is no secret.

Briere played very well in the playoffs with negligible opportunity. Will that be enough to keep him with the Canadiens this season?

10) Give me your best estimate on a Mike Weaver extension...

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