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The Montreal Canadiens need to get RFA Jaroslav Halak to sign a new contract.

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This is part two of a four part series in which we take a look at possible team needs and solutions for the coming free agent season.  In Part One, we reviewed the bottom tier of the East.  This week we look at the rest of the conference.  (With help from NHLNumbers.com).

8.  Montreal Canadiens:  Most of the big name players are all under contract for this coming season except for one.  Most likely the biggest question facing Montreal this offseason is how much money RFA Jaroslav Halak will get.  Will they also re-sign RFA Carey Price or trade him? 

The team will need to replace free agent Tomas Plekanec if they can not re-sign him and probably will add another player or two on offense.  They may also add a piece on defense, but already have enough players signed there, (Markov, Hamrlik, Spacek, Gill, Gorges, and Subban).

7.  Philadelphia Flyers:  The Flyers also have all of their big name players already locked up for 2010-11 as well as most of their smaller names.  But what will they do in net?  Brian Boucher is under contract for 925K and would probably make a suitable backup which is bad news for Michael Leighton. 

I don't see any big changes in Philadelphia other than in goal.  But what free agent will they go after?

6.  Boston Bruins:  The good news for the Bruins is that they have Tuukka Rask signed for a very reasonable amount, (2.3 million), for the next two years.  The bad news is that they are on the line to pay a ridiculous amount for Tim Thomas, (14 million), for the next three years.  Will they attempt to trade or buy out Thomas?

The team has already signed Dennis Seidenberg and should be done on defense with Wideman, Chara, Hunwick, Ference, and Stuart (RFA) making them pretty much set there.

It they draft Tyler Seguin with the number two pick in the upcoming draft, that could be all they need on offense once they sign their RFA's.  (Shawn Thornton has already signed as well.)  Mark Recchi could also be brought back, but keeping RFA Blake Wheeler in the fold could be a problem.  The team might not have enough cap space to re-sign him.

5.  Ottawa Senators:  The Sens have most of their forwards and both goalies signed, but will need to replace Anton Volchenkov if he moves on and perhaps add another body on the blueline.  They claim that they would love to have Matt Cullen back so will probably sign another mid-level free agent forward if he signs elsewhere. 

Pascal Leclaire is scheduled to earn 4.8 million this season.  Will he start earning his keep or will Brian Elliott continue to see the most action? 

4.  Pittsburgh Penguins:  The major players here are under contract but the Pens have a lot of work to do on the blueline.  Sergei Gonchar needs another contract as does Jay McKee, Mark Eaton, and Jordan Leopold. 

Goaltending is all set but they also need to replace Bill Guerin, Matt Cooke, and Ruslan Fedotenko if Ray Shero decides to let them move on.  (Cooke will probably stay.)

Don't expect deadline deal disappointment Alexei Ponikarovsky to be signed.   This might be a perfect spot for Ray Whitney if he does not stay in Carolina.

3.  Buffalo Sabres:  Like many of the frontrunners, Buffalo's core is coming back.  The top nine forwards are all under contract and they still have three RFA's to sign.  Ryan Miller needs a backup, but that will not require much money.  

The blueline needs help though with Toni Lydman and Henrik Tallinder both UFA's and both looking for more money.   The team has plenty of room with cap space if they want to use it, but look for them to take the inexpensive route as usual as they fill in the openings on defense.  

2.  New Jersey Devils:  The Devils claim to be negotiating with deadline deal prize Ilya Kovalchuk, but nothing fruitful has come from those discussions yet.  The high scoring winger is also being courted heavily by KHL teams.  Where he will end up is anyone's guess. 

If the Devils fail to charm Kovalchuk, they will need to bring in another piece or two on offense. 

Paul Martin is looking for a new deal on defense and he has yet to sign as well.  He is most likely looking for more money than his 4.5 million earned last year.

Martin Brodeur is signed through 2011-12, but "Uncle Lou" needs to bring in a dependable backup for him.

If they can not bring back Martin, would it be very surprising to see the Niedermayer brothers re-united in Jersey for one last hurrah?   

1.  Washington Capitals:  The President Trophy winners have some serious decisions to make.  Even though they ran away with the East during the regular season last year, their early exit in the playoffs might force them to make some major changes.  But then again, maybe not.  Why would you re-invent the wheel when the team was so dominating at times last year?

Job number one?  What to do in net.  Jose Theodore had an excellent regular season, but was replaced as he faltered against Montreal in their opening series.   Will he be brought back?  Or will the keys to the crease be handed over to young Semyon Varlamov, a promising and talented goalie who is still wet behind the ears.   It would be very risky to trust the goaltending to Varlamov and Michal Neuvirth, Hershey's successful netminder.

Look for the Caps to bring in someone.  Evgeni Nabokov might be the perfect mentor, but will he be affordable?

The team also needs a third line center and while Eric Belanger is a possibility, they will try to do better on the open market. 

The defense needs some work as deadline acquisition Joe Corvo will not be invited back.  Could the Caps bring back more conservative but reliable Brian Pothier?   They also need to either re-sign or replace Milan Jurcina and Shaone Morrisonn.

Don't believe any rumors about them trading Mike Green and/or Alexander Semin.  I'll believe that when I see it.