What's my line?

The coach's task is complicated by certain players being unable to go to certain towns. Without naming names, Carbonneau said visa problems will prevent some of his squad from travelling to the U.S., at least initially.

But when hockey begins for a real next montrh, Carbo said, "we have nine forwards who will see the most ice time."

You know who they are: Kovalev, Koivu, Tanguay, Plekanecs, the Kostitsyns, Christopher Higgins,  Latendresse and Lang.

The battle for spotys will centre on the fourth line, and a centre hopes to be part of it.

"I gotta have a great camp if I'm going to stick with the team," said Kyle Chipchura. He's part of a fourth-line logjam that includes Maxim Lapierre, Steve Bégin, Georges Laraque, Tom Kostopoulos and, if he has an amazing camp, Gregory Stewart.

"This will be a lot tougher maybe than other years," Chipchura said of training camp competition. "But if you want to play in the NHL, you have to earn it.

"This isn't a rebuilding team any more, it's a contending team," added Chipchura, who said his summer training focused on improving his first-step quickness and overall body strength.

His goal in camp:

"I want to play hard and force management to make a tough decision."

Is it now or never for Chipchura?

"I hope not," he replied. "But now or never is getting close."

•  •  •

It's been seven years since Alex Kovalev and Robert Lang – along with Martin Straka – were successful linemates in Pittsburgh.

Their on-ice chemistry may be reborn, but they have to get their lines straight:

Kovalev on Guillaume Latendresse, who skated with them this morning: "He's not a speedy forward, but he can do the job because of his body."

Lang on Gui!: "He's fast."

•  •  •

Gui! on the Canadiens' depth: "Our top 9 would be top 6 anywhere else in the league."

Gui! on his future: "If I can play here all my career, it would be awesome."

Kovalev on his reunion with Robert Lang: "We forgot a few things, he surprised me with a few passes today."

Kovy on Carey Price dropping almost 30 pounds during the summer: "It's not hard for young guys. I worked so hard to lose 10."

Lang of playing with Kovalev today: "It was fun ... he finally passed the puck to me a couple times."

On recapturing the magic that let them light it up with the Penguins: "We have similar style and complement each other ... when we played together I was 30, you don't change your style much after that."

Carbonneau on emerging team leaders: ""You need guys like Saku, Kovalev, Robert Lang. But the young guys have to push them all the time."

•  •  •

Cover boys, along with the centennial logo, in action on the training camp glossy guide:

Jean Béliveau and Serge Savard in black and white, Saku Koivu and Mike Komisarek in colour.