The Canadiens' loss to the Philadelphia Flyers in the second round of the playoffs underlined the team's need for more size on the forward lines. This has been a recurring theme for several seasons. General manager Bob Gainey has made attempts to sign or trade for free agents such as Brendan Shanahan, Ryan Smyth and Marian Hossa but has been unsuccessful.

The Canadiens' lack of size was exploited by both the Boston Bruins and the Flyers in the playoffs. Both teams played a passive style while killing penalties because they knew the Canadiens' forwards were unable or unwilling to establish position in front of the net. The result is that the power play, which led the NHL with a success rate of 24.2 percent in the regular season, went 12-for-55 in the playoffs for a success rate of 14.6 percent.

Finding a power forward will be priority No. 1 in the offseason, and Gainey has his sights set on Hossa. He was unable to trade for Hossa at the deadline -- he went to Pittsburgh -- but he becomes an unrestricted free agent on July 1. One of the obstacles to luring free agents to Montreal in the past has been a feeling that the team has been spinning its wheels, but that has changed after the youth-oriented Canadiens finished first in the Eastern Conference in the regular season.

Aside from looking for more size, the Canadiens' priority will be continue with the home-grown youth movement. Defenseman Patrice Brisebois will be replaced by 6-foot-6 Ryan O'Byrne, Kyle Chipchura will get a chance to replace Bryan Smolinski as the center on the checking line and 6-3 defenseman Pavel Valentenko will challenge for a job.

The Canadiens' strengths are youth and speed, and the young players should be better next season after getting a full season of experience plus a taste of the playoffs. Goaltending has the potential to be a major plus, but the team put a lot of pressure on 20-year-old Carey Price and he was clearly burned out by the second round of the playoffs. The Canadiens have to re-sign 22-year-old Jaroslav Halak and give him enough work to keep him happy and keep Price fresh.

SEASON HIGHLIGHT
Two comebacks provided defining moments for the Canadiens. On Jan. 24, the Canadiens rallied to beat the Devils 4-3 in New Jersey for their first win in that state since 2002. On Feb. 19, the Canadiens trailed the New York Rangers 5-0 at the Bell Centre in Montreal but bounced back to win 6-5 in a shootout.

TURNING POINT
In retrospect, the trading deadline might have been the Canadiens' undoing in the playoffs. The Canadiens gambled when they traded No. 1 goaltender Cristobal Huet, who was scheduled to become an unrestricted free agent on July 1. It was a vote of confidence for 20-year-old Carey Price, but it also put a huge burden on the youngster and he wore down in the playoffs.

The Canadiens also failed in their bid to acquire a power forward. They were among the bidders for Atlanta's Marian Hossa, but Pittsburgh came up with a better offer.

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