KOIVU

With captain Saku Koivu back from cancer, center Doug Gilmour back from ambivalence and goalie Jose Theodore (Hart and Vezina) bringing back memories of Patrick Roy, the Canadiens were last season's feel-good story; they ambushed top-seeded Boston and took Cup finalist Carolina to six games. With Koivu and Donald Audette (gashed left forearm) around for a full season, will Montreal score more than 207 goals (19th)?

	The Big Question
	Q: Can they keep the pace when the adrenaline runs dry? Last season, the Canadiens did it with smoke and mirrors (and goaltending). Jose Theodore got Montreal to the playoffs. He was the best player in the NHL -- was rewarded with the Hart Trophy -- and he's got to be that good again, because they won't score lots of goals. Saku Koivu's return, combined with making the playoffs, was such a great story last season. Now, they're going to have to play well all season long to get there again. It all comes down to Theodore. He's like Patrick Roy now. He's got to put them in the playoffs -- no doubt about it. -- Barry Melrose
	Good: Take a guy with good skills out of a situation where he wasn't happy and presto, you might have a big-time sleeper. Mariusz Czerkawski should easily be topping 30 goals and be a big factor in shots now that he's gone from the Isles to the Habs. Bad: Hey, Saku Koivu was a great story last season, coming back from a life-threatening situation to lead the postseason run. Now it's reality for fantasy owners, and Koivu is not likely to give you either 75 games or 20 goals. -- Eric Karabell
	Top Prospect
	Mike Komisarek, D Considered to be one of the top defense prospects in any organization, Komisarek is a very large player (6-foot-4, 225 pounds) with surprising mobility. He was the No. 7 choice overall in 2001 and played two seasons at Michigan.
	Minors Outlook
	Hamilton Bulldogs The Bulldogs ignored lots of off-the-ice turmoil to put together a splendid season last year, almost making it to the playoff finals. They will be getting players from Montreal this season, as well as Edmonton, and it looks like a roster heavy with excellent young talent, but light on experience. -- Bill Ballou

Forwards The Canadiens aren't terribly dangerous offensively - of the 16 playoff teams, only New Jersey scored fewer goals - and what they lack in size they make up for in speed. They are better than average down the middle with diminutive playmaking center Saku Koivu, faceoff specialist Yanic Perreault and feisty veteran Doug Gilmour. Like most teams, the Habs are stronger on the right wing than the left with speedy Russian Oleg Petrov, new addition Mariusz Czerkawski and Donald Audette, who was limited to 13 games after slicing his wrist on a skate blade soon after his arrival from Dallas. Ex-Devil Randy McKay was signed in the offseason for grit more than goals. After Richard Zednik, who began to emerge in the playoffs before playing kissyface with Kyle McLaren's forearm, the Habs are so-so on the left with Joe Juneau and Chad Kilger. Eastern Conference Position Ranking: 10th Defensemen Sheldon Souray, the Habs most consistent and physical defender last season, will miss the first three months of the season rehabbing from wrist surgery. That puts a bigger onus on veterans Patrice Brisebois, Karl Dykhuis, Andrei Markov and Craig Rivet to stay healthy and tighten up defensively. Eastern Conference Position Ranking: 10th Goalies While Jose Theodore's 2.11 goals-against average was impressive, his .930 save percentage was even more so. The reigning Hart and Vezina trophy winner has the ability to compensate for any defensive mishaps in front of him. Jeff Hackett is a more-than-capable backup, but is one of the highest paid at that position and is nice trade bait if Mathieu Garon survives the waiver draft. Eastern Conference Position Ranking: 1st

Rankings: T7th Overall
Forwards | Defensemen | Goalies

RECORD: 36-31-12-3, 87 points Rank: 18th overall 8th East 4th Northeast Playoffs: Lost to CAR in East semis Home: 21-13-6-1 Road: 15-18-6-2 2001-02 results 2001-02 statistics 2002-03 schedule 2002-03 roster OFFENSE DEFENSE GOALS FOR/AVG. Overall: 207/2.52 (19th) Home: 102/2.49 (24th) Road: 105/2.56 (13th) POWER PLAY Overall: 15.0/45-301 (18th) Home: 15.4/24-156 (21st) Road: 14.5/21-145 (13th) GOALS AGAINST/AVG. Overall: 209/2.55 (15th) Home: 86/2.10 (5th) Road: 123/3.00 (23rd) PENALTY KILL Overall: 86.3/38-277 (6th) Home: 89.6/13-125 (3rd) Road: 83.6/25-152 (17th) STATS LEADERS GOALS Yanic Perreault (27) Oleg Petrov (24) Richard Zednik (22) ASSISTS Doug Gilmour (31) Perreault (29) Patrice Brisebois (29) POINTS Perreault (56) Zednik (44) Petrov (41) Gilmour (41) PENALTY MINUTES Gino Odjick (104) Stephane Quintal (87) Craig Rivet (76) PLUS/MINUS Karl Dykhuis (+16) Brisebois (+9) Aaron Asham (+7)* Patrick Poulin (+6) GAA (MIN. 20 GP) Jose Theodore (2.11) SAVE PERCENTAGE Theodore (.931) * - no longer with team