23 Montreal Canadiens

After the tribulations of recent years, including one playoff appearance in the last five seasons, the NHL's most storied franchise now must deal with a trial. Following their arrest on June 18, goalie Jos� Th�odore's father, uncle and four half-brothers face charges of conspiracy in a loan-sharking ring for their alleged involvement in an operation run out of Casino de Montr�al. Though Montr�al police say Th�odore is not part of their investigation, the 27-year-old net-minder has been drawn into the case by the blanket media coverage. Le Journal de Montr�al reported that police had seized $63,000 from a safety deposit box to which Th�odore and his father had access. Th�odore has refused to comment on the safety deposit box. For the Canadiens, the big question is, How will Theodore, whose play fell off dramatically last season after winning the league MVP in 2001-02, handle this distraction leading up to and throughout the trial, which begins on Dec. 2?

Usually, the first whiff of controversy is a sure ticket out of this stodgy organization, but the Canadiens have a new general manager in repatriated Bob Gainey. A former Canadiens captain during his 16 years as a left wing with the team, Gainey will be a steadying influence and is unlikely to do anything as rash as exiling his best player.

As for the rest of the lineup, Montreal appears to have the nucleus for a promising young defense if rookie Mike Komisarek, 21, can make the jump from the AHL and join Andrei Markov, a 24-year-old who had a breakout season with 13 goals and a team-high +13 rating. But the attack is oatmeal soft and the special teams rank in the bottom third of the league.

Montreal was just as unprepossessing in 2001-02 when Th�odore carried the team into the second round of the playoffs. Last season his play fell off, with some observers saying he had an MVP hangover. This time the Canadiens need him not only to regain his Hart Trophy form, but also to stay focused on the action on the ice, not in the courtroom.

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