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Canadiens open training camp with lots of questions, writes Pat Hickey

Phickey@postmedia.com

A trip to the Stanley Cup final this year is nothing but a happy memory as the Canadiens gather Wednesday for the start of training camp.

The first preseason game will be played Saturday in Toronto and there will be questions for coach Dominique Ducharme in his first camp as an NHL head coach:

1 What can we expect from goaltender Carey Price?

The 33-year-old underwent knee surgery this summer and also had to deal with a wonky hip and a concussion last season. He was back on the ice last week but we'll have to see how he holds up when people start running into him. Much has been made of Jake Allen's presence to ease the workload, but Allen also needs Price. When Allen had to shoulder the load down the stretch last season, he had a 6-9-0 record.

2 Who will replace Shea Weber?

GM Marc Bergevin said nobody can replace the Canadiens' captain and top defenceman who will miss the entire season with knee, ankle and foot problems, but somebody will have to fill his spot. Free agent David Savard is pencilled in but don't be surprised if Bergevin is shopping for a Plan B. The Canadiens could turn to Alexander Romanov, but that would require a leap of faith for Ducharme, who didn't have enough confidence to dress the Russian in the playoffs.

3 Is Weber being Kucheroved?

There has been speculation the Canadiens will borrow a page from the Tampa Bay playbook and bring Weber back for the playoffs in the same way the Lightning brought back Nikita Kucherov after he missed the regular season with injury. There is that possibility, but it depends on the Canadiens making the playoffs, and that's far from a given. The reality is that we may have seen the last of Weber. While there is no doubting Weber's courage and dedication to the game, there's less of a financial incentive for the 35-year-old to play beyond this season. The 14-year, $110 million contract he signed with Nashville in 2012 was front-loaded and he'll make a mere $3 million in 202223 and $1 million in each of his last three seasons. Once you take out taxes and escrow, you have to wonder whether it's worth risking your health.

4 Is there enough strength up the middle?

The Canadians are stronger on the wing, but we're back to where we were a few years ago, wondering about the centre position. Replacing Phil Danault is on the same level as replacing Weber. Nick Suzuki will take on added responsibilities and, for the short term, Christian Dvorak is an upgrade over Jesperi Kotkaniemi. Jake Evans will be asked to grow into Danault's role.

5 Who will be the captain?

Brendan Gallagher checks all the boxes. He's a Canadiens lifer, his work ethic is exemplary and he is well-liked and respected by his teammates. He interacts well with the media, which should be a plus, although it may not be for an organization that takes a buttoned-down approach to sharing information.

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2021-09-22T07:00:00.0000000Z

2021-09-22T07:00:00.0000000Z

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