With the coaching staff near complete (the Canadiens are expected to hire someone to handle the defencemen), the focus is now shifting to the draft this Friday. Before we get there, we're guaranteed to see some movement, and by the time Friday hits, there will be several players standing by the phone to find out where they could be heading.

Having the third overall pick in the draft will certainly have Marc Bergevin's phone ringing. Will anyone blow him away with an offer that would have him move down in the draft?

That offer would have to see a premiere centreman coming to the Canadiens in exchange for their pick, in order for Bergevin to even consider it.

Rumors that P.K. Subban could be available for another top pick are laughable. That's not to discount the possibility that Bergevin could have his eye on moving up the draft ladder by exchanging his pick and one of the organizations prized prospects. It's unlikely that he'll do that, but still possible, if the Canadiens are deadset on a player they're positive will go one or two.

The most likely scenario will have Bergevin and the Canadiens pick third, not to say they won't consider packaging second round picks (two in this year's draft, three in next year's) for a player or two that can help the team right now.

If the Canadiens do remain at three, I sense they'll be choosing Alex Galchenyuk. While Filip Forsberg is a very complete player that also boasts size up the middle, and is versatile enough to play at the wing as well, Galchenyuk's believed to be more of an offensive player.

Galchenyuk's a large player, but he's not overtly physical. He's got a strong hockey sense, and knows how to play in his own zone. Had it not been for an ACL injury this season, he could very well have been battling Nail Yakupov for who would ultimately be selected first in this year's draft.

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In speaking with Marc Bergevin last week, after he announced the hiring of Patrice Brisebois, Martin Lapointe and Sylvain Lefebvre, here are a few notes:

-Bergevin confirmed that the impending CBA negotiations will have no impact on his plans to resign Carey Price and P.K. Subban. He's also confirmed that the process is underway with both players.

-RDS has reported the Canadiens are negotiating with impeding free agent, Travis Moen.

-Bergevin went out of his way to praise Tomas Plekanec as a team-first player. He intimated that he wants to find more team-first players. Thoughts of Plekanec being dished to another team seem far-fetched at this point, and though many have posited that Bergevin could just be building up his trade value, it's believed both he and Therrien feel he can be given the opportunity to play to his potential with next year's Canadiens.

-One of the more interesting points of discussion with Bergevin were in regards to training camp. Bergevin believes in running an ultra competitive camp, and when asked about whether or not there were a lot of jobs up for grabs, he laughed and reminded everyone that the Canadiens finished 15th in the conference last season. He said he has no interest in the players dropping their gloves in intersquad games, but doesn't have a problem with them trying to prove themselves in preseason action.

-Patrice Brisebois spoke about the pride players have to play for any NHL team, but admitted it's a different thing to know what it means to be a Montreal Canadien. That's one of the areas he feels he can really help the young players in the system he'll be working with. It's one of the biggest reasons Bergevin hired him.

What was interesting was that Brisebois reached out to Bergevin, and Bergevin elected to put him through an extensive interview process. Obviously Bergevin was impressed with Brisebois' passion to be involved, and with this hire, we're getting a sense for the kind of GM Bergevin is.

Both Brisebois and Lapointe mentioned the open communication Bergevin seeks to employ, and the stark contrast between the new GM and his predecessor burns brighter by the second. Bergevin wants everyone to be in the know, for everyone who's a part of the plan to know their role and how it fits into the larger picture, as opposed to Gauthier who told no one but Bob Gainey, and by the end there was seemingly no plan; just a bunch of fly by the seat of your pants moves.

-Impression of Lefebvre: Calm, extremely intelligent, respectful, experienced, everything you'd want the coach in Montreal to be. When the time comes that Michel Therrien has overstayed his welcome, the Habs won't have to look far for his replacement. Nothing wrong with some good competition.

-Loved Bergevin's response to direct question regarding interest in Georges Laraque. "No".

-Wonder if Bergevin would say the same about Steve Begin. I reported a few months ago, and it's now being echoed in a few different places that Begin is attempting a comeback, and he has his sights set on the NHL. Bergevin would be wise to extend him an invitation to training camp, especially if he wants to ramp up the competition. If Begin can't earn a job on the Habs, he'd be a real valuable player to add to Hamilton's roster.

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