1) Just a month from training camp, and the hard questions haven't had to be answered. Does Scott Gomez need to be dealt with before a new CBA is in place?

Obviously not. And considering all the moves that have been made leading up to now, once Subban is settled, this will become the top topic of interest.

Could the Canadiens even be considering having Gomez at training camp?

I've contended, all summer long, that his time is up with the Canadiens, and I still believe that'll be the case when all is said and done.

Where does he even fit?

2) What are reasonable expectations for Brian Gionta this season? Can he rebound from this brutal injury and put up his best season as a Canadien?

He was working his way towards a lemon last season, after posting back-to-back 46-point campaigns, scoring 28 and 29 goals, respectively.

3) You get the sense that were going to find out what David Desharnais can do with other linemates, at some point this season.

I wouldn't expect Tomas Plekanec to not be given an opportunity to play with Cole or Pacioretty, or both at some point.

If Bergevin isn't going to improve that part of the picture by bringing in some talent from elsewhere, Therrien will be forced to balance things out on occasion.

You have to like the fact that Therrien has already discussed the success of Desharnais-Pacioretty-Cole, and from the sounds of it, he'll keep them together to start.

4) If Cole took a step back to where his career average is (around 25 goals) would anyone really be disappointed?

5) I've mentioned that I believe Lars Eller's due to breakout this season. He's at full strength. He's expecting a kid soon. He claims he's in the best shape of his life, and after some good things done last season, he just seems ready for more.

I can't help but wonder what a full, healthy off-season for Ryan White's been like. He sure went through hell last year before finally being activated in mid-February.

He's had enough time to recover from a late-season concussion. And he should be fired up with the competition he has in the bottom six.

6) Speaking of healthy returns, the guys in the Canadiens locker room have not underestimated the value of Travis Moen.

They missed him last year, as he's a key leader in the room who missed a lot of time due to a concussion.

It'll be nice to watch him fill a bottom-six role, instead of one he can't succeed with in the top six.

Then again, considering Rene Bourque is penciled into the second line right now...

7) Tweeted about this the other day, but P.K. Subban's closest comparable is unsigned John Carlson, out of Washington.

Carlson: 75 pts in 186 gms. 12 pts in 30 playoff gms.
Subban: 76 pts in 160 gms. 12 pts in 21 playoff gms.

Carlson is 22. Subban just turned 23 in May.

Here's another factor:

Mike Green was just extended for three years at 6 mil per.

Andrei Markov is signed for another two years at 5.75 mil per.

If you look at it from both teams' perspectives, keeping both Subban and Carlson at two or three years makes sense.

And I'd imagine that's why neither player is signed as of yet, because obviously, both feel worthy of obtaining long-term deals. And who can blame them?

Has either player proven he's the next Drew Doughty? No. Not as of yet.

But both have extreme potential, and both have had to fill in major skates, while Green and Markov were sidelined for indefinite periods of time.

8) Gomez is one problem. Kaberle is the other. What are the Canadiens going to do with him?

9) If you had to pick a kid off the farm that you believe is ready to make the jump, who is it?

10) Congrats to Carey Price on his engagement. Pretty good summer for him, celebrating a birthday, settling down for marriage, and signing the biggest contract a Montreal Canadien has ever signed.

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