In this feature, we’ll examine Montreal’s strengths and weaknesses as a roster going forward.  In one sense, this can be viewed as what exactly former General Manager Bob Gainey left behind for his successor, Pierre Gauthier.  In a more immediate sense, it examines what Gauthier might do at the NHL trading deadline.  Our first look is at the organization’s depth at the centre position.

Aside from the never-ending goaltending controversy, there hasn’t been a position of more contention in recent years amongst Montreal Canadiens fans and management than down the middle.  Bob Gainey’s most lasting legacy to the team was his inability to land the big, star #1 centreman (i.e. Vincent Lecavalier), and in the end settling on Scott Gomez as Saku Koivu’s successor.  Winning without a top centre isn’t impossible, but it isn’t all that common.  That’s why Tomas Plekanec’s season has both surprised Habs fans and been the subject of much debate:  is Plekanec a legitimate top line centre, or is he just having one of those "contract seasons?"

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So Sergei Kostitsyn has refused to report to Hamilton and asked for a trade through his agent, Don Meehan.  Sergei's frustration is understandable, to a point.  He has played most of his pro career with the Canadiens and the new coach, Jacques Martin, clearly is challenging Sergei's stature on the team.  Guy Carbonneau always seemed to like Sergei, employing him in a variety of situations at a very young age.  In the heat of the moment, it's easy for Sergei to have lost perspective.  But there are some facts that his older brother, who is still on the Montreal Canadiens, should be able to relate to his younger sibling and perhaps ease the tension.

Andrei Kostitsyn is no stranger to Hamilton or the American Hockey League.  From 2004 through 2007, he played 180 regular season games in Hamilton and 3 playoff games there.  It wasn't until a 22 game stint with Montreal at the end of the 2006-07 season that Andrei ensured a spot with the main club.  Andrei was never given a spot in the NHL, he earned it.  This was despite being drafted 10th overall in the 2003 Entry Draft, which is widely considered the deepest draft class in recent NHL history. 

By contrast, the younger brother Sergei was an afterthought at age 18, drafted 200th overall in 2005 by Montreal in what could have been seen as a charity pickup.  He impressed when he came over to the Ontario Hockey League's London Knights, racking up a ton of points and becoming one of the top major junior players in North America.  He turned professional in 2007-08, playing 22 games with Hamilton before getting called up to Montreal, where he quickly became an everyday 3rd line player on a team that finished first overall.  In 2008-09, he had what could be classified as a sophomore slump, and played his way to a mid-season demotion to Hamilton for 16 games.  He came back when injuries struck the Habs again down the stretch, but failed to secure a spot. 

Big brother (and more highly regarded) Andrei played a majority of 3 seasons in the AHL.  After 2 professional seasons, the younger brother has only spent parts of each season in Hamilton, and has played less than a quarter of the games that his big brother did in the AHL before becoming a full time player.  Perhaps the key to mending the relationship between Sergei and the Habs, if it's at all possible, rests with Andrei. 

But maybe that's asking too much.

Montreal's point total, 2007-08, excluding games vs. Boston: 88 in 74 games
Montreal's point total, 2008-09, excluding games vs. Boston: 89 in 76 games

Boston's point total, 2007-08, excluding games vs. Montreal: 93 in 74 games
Boston's point total, 2008-09, excluding games vs. Montreal: 105 in 76 games

Points gained in Montreal-Boston season series, 2007-08 (max 16): MTL 16, BOS 1
Points gained in Montreal-Boston season series, 2008-09 (max 12): BOS 11, MTL 4

This rivalry tends to throw reason out the window. The Habs aren't much different vs. the rest of the NHL this year in comparison to last. The Bruins improved not only against the Habs, but against everyone else as well. The rest of the NHL does worse against Boston than against us, not only this year, but last year as well. The Habs really aren't any worse than they were last year... Boston is simply that much better. 

If you wanted to talk the difference in the Habs' GF/GA ratio from last year to this, again, look at this season series.  The Habs won several games vs. Boston last year by 4 or more goals.  This year, they only won once, in a shootout (which is a tie on the GF/GA card).  I'm sure if you broke down the team's PP differential, a lot of the difference between the two seasons would be accounted for in the MTL-BOS series. 

If Montreal were to win this series, you'd have to think their chances of winning the Cup are about the same as they were a year ago.  The only advantage lost from then until now was the difference in standing, meaning the Habs got a more favourable draw a year ago, and that they have lost home ice in Game 7.