Stanley Cups: 24

2011-'12 record: 31-35-4-12, 78 points (5th in Northeast, 15th in East)

2011-'12 playoffs: Did not qualify

Coach: Michel Therrien (212-182-68, 8th NHL year, 2nd team)

Top returning scorer: C Pavel Datsyuk ( goals, 65 assists, 97 points)

Top returning goalie: Carey Price (26-28-11, 2.43, .916)

Key additions: LW Brandon Prust; RW Colby Armstrong; D Francis Bouillon.

Key subtractions: LW Mathieu Darche; RW Brad Staubitz; D Chris Campoli.

Goaltending: Price is a workhorse who played 65 games last season and a franchise-record 72 in 2010-11, so the tight schedule shouldn’t bother him. Self-proclaimed “part-time goalie, full-time redneck” took some heat for posting a photo of himself with dead coyote on his Facebook page last month. No, it wasn’t a Phoenix Coyote.

Player to watch: C Alex Galchenyuk. The third player chosen in the 2012 entry draft, he helped the USA win the recent world junior championship and has impressed with his maturity during training camp. Also displays impressive speed and strength.

Icing: Canadiens could start the season still in contract talks with restricted free agent P.K. Subban, which would severely hamper their playoff hopes . . . Therrien is Montreal’s third coach since August of 2011 . . . Canadiens opted to mothball C Scott Gomez for the season, with the intent of buying out his deal at the end of the campaign . . . Canadiens forward Erik Cole was responsible for the “Puck Bettman” hats seen on some players’ heads during lockout.

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