My colleague Brian and I have had several debates over the phone regarding the Montreal Canadiens. While we have a tendency to disagree on certain points, our conversations are always carried out with the utmost respect for each other.

As we spoke earlier this week, we decided to put together a series of articles in which we will tackle certain topics that often create a divide amongst Habs fans everywhere. We will then allow you, the fans and loyal readers, to voice your opinions via polls and customarily through the comments section.

The first topic of conversation revolves around long-time Habs center Tomas Plekanec. Coming off of his third-best season in the National Hockey League in 2014-2015, the 32 year-old Kladno, Czech Republic native is set to become an unrestricted free agent next summer. Plekanec scored 26 goals and added 34 assists for 60 points, making last year the seventh time in his career that he's scored 20 goals or more, and the second time he's put up 25 goals or more. While he's known more for his playmaking and two-way defensive capabilities, his $5 million salary cap hit raises an interesting question: should Marc Bergevin trade or re-sign Tomas Plekanec?

On a personal level, and as some of you may already know, Plekanec has always been my favorite Habs player. I appreciate his exceptional vision and positive attitude, as well as his quiet leadership. A class act, Plekanec has never been the subject of any kind of lasting controversy, and it is certain that his teammates and the Habs organization love and respect him. Also, he's been one of the most consistent forwards that the Habs have had over the course of the past 9 years, never once complaining or showing any type of real concern over the fact that he has not had a regular pair of wingers throughout an entire season, something of a rarity in the NHL.

Instead, Plekanec continued to show up game in and game out, accomplishing the tasks that were assigned to him by his coaches. Whether those were of a defensive nature or not, he excelled in his role at all times, except for during the most important part of the NHL calendar year: the Stanley Cup Playoffs.
While 46 points in 81 career playoff games is certainly respectable, it's hard to justify his -18 rating. Numerous factors need to be taken into consideration, granted, but are these results truly satisfactory? It is safe to say that more should be expected from one of the longest-serving Canadiens on this roster, and so I am of the opinion that this should be Plekanec's final year donning the Bleu Blanc et Rouge.

His value has certainly never been higher on the market, and he's got at least another 4-5 years before retirement becomes a topic of discussion. He's also due for a slight pay increase. With everything that he's accomplished, and given his professionalism and ability to excel during the regular season, is it time for Habs fans to say goodbye to number 14?

A veteran presence such as his will surely be welcomed on a younger team, and in exchange for his services, the Habs could obtain someone of equal value but with a few less mileage in his skates. Finding a 20-25 goal-scorer who's slightly younger than him should not be an issue, especially that the center position on the Habs is starting to become clogged, with players like Alex Galchenyuk, Lars Eller, David Desharnais, Torrey Mitchell, and Jacob De La Rose all available. Also, Gabriel Dumont might feel as though this is his last chance to prove that he belongs on the team, as the Ice Caps' center and captain is approaching the age of 25. He will make a strong push, knowing that it's extremely rare for players to break into the league at that age.

Finally, it is also possible that Plekanec could be slightly frustrated. He is slowly starting to come out of his physical prime, and perhaps he believes he deserves to wear the "C" on his jersey. He might feel that his services would be best suited elsewhere, considering the Habs have regularly come short of reaching the Stanley Cup Finals every season since he became a regular on the Canadiens' roster.

Evidently, this is speculative at best, but not impossible. After all, the NHL is an unforgiving business that leaves no room for emotions and attachment. Decisions such as these, while they might not sit well with fans, are usually made with the improvement of the team in mind, although draft picks and prospects only make their marks felt at a later point in time.

Stay tuned as Brian explains why Plekanec will remain a Hab after next season.

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