As the day ends and the night draws near – The Montreal Canadiens will play the Florida Panthers at 5 pm tonight in Florida. When the team returns home to play the Wild ( after a game against Tampa ) on March 1 , who will be skating for the Habs and who will not …?

If the team decides to rid themselves of Kostisyn and / or  Plekanec , they would be better off if a master plan was in effect. Or else – the team will be spinning their skates and end up in the exact position next year.

All indications appear that the team is now going for a top pick in the lottery. How else can the current three game skid be explained ? At the start of the week – the Habs were six points behind the Toronto Maple Leafs for the final play-off spot. Losing to the Devils , the Stars and the Capitals and being out-scored 10 – 3 in the process, is not an indication of a hungry team.

If Molson et al have decided to re – build ( again), that is fine. Go for a first round pick in next season’s draft. It has been a long time since the Habs’s faithful have had something to be excited about. Add that player to the roster that contains bright young stars such as Subban, Leblanc, Tinordi, Diaz and Emelin. A vase in which to place the flowers in the organization that have yet to bloom …

Alter the club all you want fellas – please have a game plan for once …

Plekanec is willing to veto his no trade clause according to a report from Pat Hickey of the Gazette. Pleks has been a great player in Montreal – he has done everything that has been asked of him in turbulent times. Trade him if necessary yet trade him for a young -ish veteran that will compliment the rest of the youth.

Every Cup contender needs veterans to keep the ship level while the young guns learn their craft. This is the mistake Gauthier made when he failed to sign Hamrlik and Halpern and let Spacek go to Carolina for Kaberle.

Toughness

Next season – if the team goes via the way of the fountain of youth. Gionta and Cole  will be  the two veterans who will lead the young guns. If the team must trade Kostisyn and Pekanec they must upgrade to size and heart with a player who is between 25 – 30 years of age. Someone young enough and scary enough to instill some fear into opposing teams. Two elements that Kostisyn and Plekanec did not possess.

Look at all the Stanley Cup champions throughout history. The common denominator is talent , toughness and heart. The Habs have talent. Now they must trade or draft for some heart and grit.

These are the types of players that should be skating for the Habs on March 1 .

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