NHL Team Capsules

LOST: C Doug Weight, D Bruno Gervais, D Radek Martinek, C Zenon Konopka, RW Trent Hunter, D Jack Hillen.

PLAYER TO WATCH: John Tavares. The No. 1 pick in the 2009 draft has shown a commitment to Long Island by forgoing a chance to be a restricted free agent and signing a six-year deal with the Islanders. As the leader of a strong group of young forwards, he will be counted on to get the Islanders in the playoffs for the first time since 2007.

NORTHEAST DIVISION

BOSTON BRUINS

LAST SEASON: 46-25-11, 103 points. Beat Vancouver 4-3 to win Stanley Cup.

COACH: Claude Julien, 5th season with Bruins, 179-103-55; 9th overall, 298-189-88 in NHL.

ADDED: LW Benoit Pouliot, D Joe Corvo.

LOST: D Tomas Kaberle, RW Michael Ryder, RW Mark Recchi, D Shane Hnidy.

PLAYER TO WATCH: Tim Thomas. The veteran goalie will be hard-pressed to match last season when he set an NHL record for save percentage (.938), led the NHL with a 2.00 goals-against average and backstopped the Bruins’ first Stanley Cup title since 1972. If he can, he and the Bruins could be repeat champions.

MONTREAL CANADIENS

LAST SEASON: 44-30-8, 96 points. Lost to Boston 4-3 in first round.

COACH: Jacques Martin, 3rd season with Canadiens, 83-63-18; 17th overall, 600-469-193 in NHL.

ADDED: LW Erik Cole, G Peter Budaj, D Jeff Woywitka.

LOST: D James Wisniewski, D Roman Hamrlik, C Tom Pyatt, D Alexandre Picard, LW Benoit Pouliot, C Jeff Halpern, G Alex Auld, D Brent Sopel, D Paul Mara.

PLAYER TO WATCH: Carey Price. The Canadiens’ goalie tied Vancouver’s Roberto Luongo with 38 wins in the regular season, but Montreal failed to get out of the first round. Price allowed only 16 goals in the seven-game series against Boston, but he will have to bounce back from dropping Game 7 in overtime.

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