1) As it's been reported in several different places, surely you know that Don Meehan and Marc Bergevin will meet this week to hopefully hammer out a deal for P.K. Subban to remain with the Canadiens long-term. And no, this is not a meeting to avoid arbitration, as neither Subban nor the team filed.
The Canadiens have just over six million dollars at their disposal, and have yet to divulge their plans for Scott Gomez, Tomas Kaberle or Rene Bourque. It's highly unlikely all three will be skating with the Canadiens next season, but for now, their contracts remain as salary cap obstacles.
2) Some in New Jersey are floating the idea of Brian Gionta replacing Zach Parise as Devils' Captain. Stu Hackel on Hockeyinsideout.com suggests that the Canadiens pursuit of Shane Doan could lead to them dangling one of their right wingers, making a clear case that it's unlikely to be Erik Cole, and even if it's more favorable to push Bourque out the door, Gionta is a
more attractive commodity.
3) I don't anticipate that Doan will chose Montreal over what are likely very lucrative offers from both the Rangers and Flyers. Not to mention that it's Doan's first choice to stay in Phoenix, provided their ownership situation is settled by former Sharks president Greg Jamison.
Part two-- The Canadiens aren't likely to trade Brian Gionta to make it happen.
4) I suppose Patrick Kane rumors are going to persist, so long as he's dealing with an image that's been stained by his
appetite for fun and pictures.
And of course, with Subban unsigned, and Bergevin a former member of the Hawks' brass, it hasn't been all that surprising to hear the Canadiens and Blackhawks linked in rumors.
Subban won't move.
Can't definitively say the same for Kane, but it's hard to believe Chicago would even consider it.
Then again, they did just hire Pierre Gauthier...
5) As for offer sheets to Subban, we know that it's his desire to stay in Montreal long-term. If he'd expressed dissatisfaction with the Canadiens or with the negotiation process, his agent would already be fielding calls.
While it seems GMs are more willing to exercise their rights within the CBA to hand out offer sheets, action seems to be based on being guaranteed their targeted player will sign their offer.
It's a lot of people to piss off just based on a maybe.
That Subban hasn't been targeted or served an offer from another team is telling of his want to be here.
Montreal Canadiens Blogger • 
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