Here’s an excerpt from the CP/Sportsnet.ca article which previews the Montreal Canadiens chances heading into the 2008-09 season:
Third-year coach Guy Carbonneau plans to keep his top line — centre Tomas Plekanec with wingers Alex Kovalev and Andrei Kostitsyn — intact at least to start the season.
Kovalev snapped out of a funk to lead the club with 35 goals and 84 points, while the compact Plekanec had 29 goals and Kostitsyn, who finally established himself in the NHL, had 26.
The second line looks like it will have Koivu between Tanguay and speedy Christopher Higgins, which would put Lang as the third-line centre with Sergei Kostitsyn and probably Guillaume Latendresse.
Probably is a loaded word, because late in camp, 19-year-old rookie Max Pacioretty was making a strong bid to crack the NHL lineup and the spot most in danger belonged to Latendresse on the left wing.
The explosive, six-foot-two Pacioretty, drafted 22nd overall in 2007, turned pro this summer after one season with the University of Michigan. Chances are he will be with the Canadiens sometime this season.
But the 21-year-old Latendresse, who had 16 goals in each of his first two NHL seasons, has also looked good after dropping some weight and taking a power skating course in the summer.
The fourth line can have Laraque, Steve Begin, Maxim Lapierre, Tom Kostopoulos or Mathieu Dandenault, with centre Kyle Chipchura knocking on the door.
