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Paul Henderson, star of Team Canada in the 1972 Summit Series, photographed with his history-making jersey this month.
Mike Cassesse, Reuters

• Update: Read below for a news release issued by Goldhar's company this morning, outlining his plans for the sweater.

And you thought the Canadiens jersey was called the sacred flannel.

It would take the nouveau riche Tomas Plekanec almost 17 games, before taxes, to buy it. Which he didn't. But Paul Henderson's 1972 Summit Series jersey broke every conceivable record for hockey memorabilia last night by selling at auction for $1,067,538 U.S. after frenzied late bidding pushed it up by more than a half-million dollars in the final hours.

The jersey's new owner is Mitchell Goldhar, owner of SmartCentres, a private real-estate development company based in Vaughan, Ont., north of Toronto. Read more on the sale here.

Goldhar must also pay Montreal-headquartered Classic Auctions a buyer's premium of $208,169.91 – 19.5 per cent of the sale price – plus shipping. Shouldn't be a problem: Goldhar, who brought Wal-Mart into Canada, ranked 50th on Canadian Business' richest Canadians list in 2008 with a net worth of $1.06 billion.

• Plekanec a man of his word

• A romantic at heart – Arpon Basu

• Expensive, but that's the market – François Gagnon

• Gauthier plan unfolds – Sean Gordon

• Darche's hard work pays off – Pat Hickey

• MAB goes under the knife – Pierre Durocher

• Pierre LeBrun recaps a crazy Tuesday

• Michael Farber's awards ballot

And video scout Jarred Friedman checks in with a Pleks Tribute

Centreman Tomas Plekanec's no-trade clause will keep him in Montreal for six seasons.
Bruce Bennett, Getty Images

• AUDIO: Tomas Plekanec conference call

Tomas Plekanec probably could have fetched more on the open market, an unrestricted free agent come July 1.

But the popular centreman likes Montreal, made no secret of that and, like defenceman Andrei Markov before him a few seasons ago, chose to pass on the UFA route by today signing a six-year contract estimated to be worth $30 million.

Plekanec has a no-trade clause in the deal, but he wouldn't say for how much of the contract that exists. He also wouldn't address whose idea it was to sign for six years, referring both points to GM Pierre Gauthier.

The native of Kladno, Czech Republic had a career-best 70 points during the 2009-2010 season (25 goals and 45 assists). He was also a fixture on the team's power-play and penalty-killing units while taking important defensive zone faceoffs.

Although only 5-foot-11 and generously listed at 198 pounds, Plekanec has missed only four games over the last four seasons.

There was speculation he could have drawn as much as $6 million per in the UFA market. He was the 71st overall by Montreal in the third round of the 2001 NHL Entry Draft and has played his entire career with the Canadiens.

The signings today of Plekanec and Mathieu Darche leave the Canadiens with less than $9 million in salary cap space. Still unsigned: Carey Price, Benoit Pouliot, Tom Pyatt, Dominic Moore, Glen Metropolit, Maxim Lapierre, Marc-André Bergeron and Sergei Kostitsyn.

Mike Boone and Kevin Mio contributed to this post wih early reporting.

They don't face Jaro until March 10.

In St. Louis.

More highlights from the schedule:

• Holiday road trip is to Colorado, Dallas, Carolina, the Island, Washington, Tampa Bay and Florida. Six games in 12 days. Brutal.

• The western swing is in February: Edmonton, Calgary and Vancouver

• December is a bitch. In addition to the long road trip, four sets of back-to-back games. And from the 10th to the 16th, at Detroit, at Toronto, home to Philly and Boston.

• Fifteen sets of back-to-backers.

• Longest homestand: four games in November.

• Nine road games in March, six at home.

•  Four of the last five games on the road, ending at the ACC on April 9. And the only home game in that stretch is against Chicago on April 5.

• Of seven pre-season games, five are at the Bell Centre. Road games in Ottawa and Quebec City.

•  •  •

Nathan Horton to Boston, and Roland Melanson is Roberto Luongo's new goaltending coach.

The Canadiens have signed Mathieu Darche for the coming season.

The team's release appears below.

We know the Canadiens begin the season in Toronto on Oct. 7.

We know they open at home on the 13th against Tampa Bay.

And at about midday – just as France has finished fighting for its World Cup life – the NHL will announce its complete 2010-'11 schedule.

Check Habs Inside/Out for coverage.

To enlighten you while you're waiting, Arpon Basu has a great analysis of what whould be a busy week for Pierre Gauthier and  Robert L discovered a monumental draft study.

• Valium for Don Cherry. STAT. Brent Sopel, his wife and kids will bring the Stanley Cup to Chicago's Gay Pride parade. Bravo Hawks!

• Pain-in-the-butt Matt Cooke re-signs for three years.

RDS reports the Canadiens will play their 2010-'11 home opener against Guy Boucher and the Tampa Bay Lightning on Wednesday, Oct. 13.

As was the case in 2009-'10, the Canadiens will begin their season in Toronto, on Thurssday, Oct. 7.

Fans may recall the 4-3 win at the ACC last Oct. 1 – notable because:

• Josh Gorges scored the winner with 13 seconds left in OT.

• Georges Laraque fought Colton Orr 1:51 into the season.

• Carey Price made 43 saves; and

• Andrei Markov was injured.

The full schedule will be announced tomorrow.

Here's a list of home openers.

•  •  •

On Thursday afternoon, while Quebecers are celebrating June 24, Pierre Gauthier will meet the media in Santa Monica on the eve of the draft.

The Canadiens have five picks – 1st, 2nd, 4th, 5th and 7th rounds.

Carolina has 11 picks, the Oilers and Islanders 10 each.

Anaheim, Atlanta, Boston and Phoenix have two first-round picks.

Calgary, New Jersey, Philadelphia and Toronto have no picks in the first round.

• TSN's Top 75

•  •  •

Shout-out to Watsatheo for this Ian Schultz compilation

Just for laughs – and to start a few water-cooler arguments – let's look back at the Canadiens' recent first-round draft choices.

For each of the last 10 years, we list the Canadiens pick(s), then a player or players whom they might have chosen, followed by later-round choices that have worked out well.

We'd have gone back farther, but that gets you into the heartbreak of such first-round busts as Éric Chouinard, Jason Ward, Matt Higgins, Terry Ryan, Brad Brown, David Wilkie, Brent Bilodeau and Turner Stevenson.

With the notable exception of Saku Koivu, 21st overall in 1993, the '90s were a lost decade for first-rounders.

On the other hand, the Canadiens got Andrei Markov with the 162nd pick of the 1998 draft (which also yielded Mike Ribeiro, François Beauchemin and Michael Ryder).

The 1980s began with the team's last first overall pick. And with Denis Svard available, they took Doug Wickenheiser – kicking off a dreary decade that saw first-round choices wasted on Mark Hunter, Alain Héroux, Alfie Turcotte, José Charbonneau (that's him, with the poofy hair, in the pic), Mark Pederson, Andrew Cassels, Éric Charron and Lindsay Vallis.

The 21st century has been better for first-round picks ... but let's second-guess them anyway.

What better way to spend father's day than watching soccer and chatting it with Mike Boone and Kevin Mio as Italy takes on New Zealand. Join us here.

Shout-out to Stu Hackel of the New York Times for this piece from St. Louis.

And anotherHab found this Eller video

Nightmare49 posted this link to a Jaro story

• Dave Stubbs on the Canadiens missing the boat with Larry Robinson

• Arpon Basu suggests cutting Carey Price some slack

• Scouts tell Mathias Brunet Canadiens could have got more for Jaro Halak

• Reminder: The NHL is a business

• Contextualizing deal in history of Habs trades

• Ducks re-sign Kyle Chipchura

• Pre-draft winners and losers (Canadiens don't make either list)

• New penalties for head shots

• Horton to the Bruins?

And check out a really astute Comment from NightRyder:

Allan Walsh on Twitter: Let's be clear about one thing. Jaroslav Halak loved Mtl, his teammates and the fans. All he wanted was the opportunity to play.

• Gauthier rolls the dice – Red Fisher

• Canadiens bet the house on Price – Pat Hickey
• It's again Price's bus to drive – Dave Stubbs
• Arpon Basu suggests everyone chill• François Gagnon analyzes the trade
• Elliotte Friedman's take and Darren Pang's
• Analysis from Bob Hartley, Michel Bergeron, Gaston Therrien, Yvon Pedneault and Marc Denis

• Robert L and Chris Boyle weigh in
• Justin Trudeau doesn't like the deal
• Gauthier picked the wrong horse – Mario Leclerc
• A bold move: Ken Campbell
• Damien Cox on Pierre Gauthier's gutsy decision

• James Mirtle on the goalie surplus
• Scott Burnside: Don't be too quick to knock Gauthier
• The view from St. Louis

• One fan's angry reaction

Larry Robinson will return behind the Devils bench.
Bruce Bennett, Getty Images

The Canadiens' silence was deafening, so Hall of Fame defenceman Larry Robinson today signed a two-year (plus an option) deal as an assistant coach with the New Jersey Devils.

Donnie Cape, Robinson's long-time Montreal-based agent, spoke with then-Habs general manager Bob Gainey last September and was told the coaching staff for the 2009-10 season was complete.

Another conversation between Cape and Canadiens president Pierre Boivin in early December, before the Dec. 4 Centennial Game, took place and Cape was told to call back in March, as the season wore down. In March, Cape was asked to call back following the playoffs.

It seemed a role as at least a team ambassador was in the offing for Big Bird, who hoped to finish his hockey career with the Canadiens, but a couple of calls to Boivin and his office this week were not returned.

Today, Robinson signed as an assistant to new Devils coach John MacLean. Not since Rick Green have the Canadiens had a coach dedicated to the defence. Robinson seemed to be a good choice to work with the likes of P.K. Subban, Ryan O'Byrne and others on the blue line. But now he'll be behind the bench of the Devils.

"Larry’s going to come on with his experience, both being a coach, a defenceman," MacLean said. "His knowledge of the game, I think it’ll be a great asset for me and the players."

Mario Tremblay, an assistant coach under former Devils head coach Jacques Lemaire, will be reassigned in the New Jersey system.

Goalies Carey Price (left) and Jaroslav Halak in April in Philadelphia. Club-first teammates, now both get a chance to carry their own teams.
Len Redkoles, NHLI via Getty Images

Have a look here for an interesting look at possible backup goaltenders for the Canadiens, now that Jaroslav Halak is a St. Louis Blue. Nice job by habsworld.net.

Pat Hickey's take on the deal. PuckDaddy weighs in.

And make sure you read J.T.'s "obituary" of Halak.

Stubbs column appears below on how Price sees the deal, through the eyes of Gerry Johansson, his Edmonton-based agent:

• AUDIO: Pierre Gauthier conference call (about 20 minutes) | Jaroslav Halak

Carey, here are the keys to the car.

No pressure, eh?

Done deal.

The goaltender who won two playoff rounds has been traded to St. Louis.

Lars Eller and Ian Schultz coming this way.

Eller is a former first-round choice who hasn't set the world on fire. He will be the Canadiens' first Dane. Let's hope he's great.

Schultz is a big guy who can throw 'em.

Bob McKenzie says Philadelphia, Tampa Bay and San Jose were in the mix.

• Boone's take

Mike Boone, Kevin Mio and whoever else wants to whine about lack of goals have this afternoon's World Cup match between France and Mexico covered at our Goal Posts blog.

• Hey, wasn't he washed up? Frankie the Bull signs for two more seasons in Nashville and gets a nice raise.

• The Cup comes to Quebec ... but not to Montreal.

• World Hockey Summit in August. Our invitation is in the mail.

• John MacLean to coach the Devils. Michel Therrien will be available for L'Antichambre.

And looking back on it all, aren't we glad the Canadiens didn't market centennial vuvuzelas?

Mike Boone has the Spain vs. Switzerland game today at the World Cup covered at our Goal Posts blog.

• Scott Cullen's comprehensive off-season assessment of the Canadiens

• Mathias Brunet weighs in on who stays, who goes

And this harsh comment, on the Hockey News web site, about the departure of BGL:

I think its funny you take the toughest guy in the league and put him in a Canadiens Jersey and he turns into a sissy just like the rest of the team! Looks like Andrei Kostitsyn will be the keeping the rivals in line next season!

Maybe this is the video Bob Gainey watched:

Georges Laraque's days with the Canadiens are officially over after the Canadiens announced on Tuesday that they have bought out the final year of his three-year, $4.5-million contract.

The team originally announced on Jan. 21 that they would buy out the 33-year-old enforcer. Laraque receives $1 million, and the Canadiens will take a $500,000 salary cap hit for the next two seasons.

Mike Boone and Kevin Mio discuss the Brazil vs. Korea DPR game today at 2:15 p.m. on the Goal Posts blog of the Montreal Gazette

The weather is warming up in Montreal, the jazz festival starts soon, and here's what I was asked by three store clerks who recognized me on the weekend:

"Should the Canadiens keep Jaroslav Halak or Carey Price?"

And the HIO hockey genius answered: "Man, do I LOOK like Pierre Gauthier?"

I don't. For one thing, I've got 100 pounds easy on the Canadiens vegetarian, ultra health-conscious general manager.

But that doesn't count the weighty decisions he has to make over the next few weeks.

So tell us, Commentariat, what should Gauthier do?

Because he misses live blogging so much, Mike Boone will now turn his attention to the World Cup of soccer and live blog some of the games on The Gazette's Goal Posts blog.

First up, Italy vs. Paraguay today at 2 p.m.

Shoutout to LongtimehHabs fan for this video link.

And to Nightmare49 for a good piece on Guy Boucher and for monitoring Jim Matheson's hockey coverage in the Edmonton Journal and finding this speculation on the Phildaelphia goaltending mess:

I know you don't need an all-world goaltender to win a Cup -- Antti Niemi will never, ever be confused with Glenn Hall in Chicago -- but the Flyers can't hope to compete with Pittsburgh or Washington with Michael Leighton or Brian Boucher.

They need Carey Price, and they should be seriously thinking of dealing Jeff Carter or hotshot kid James vanRiemsdyk and a draft pick to get him. The Montreal Canadiens would rather have Claude Giroux, but he's off-limits.

Daniel Hazlett, a 21-year-old Philadelphian, has been charged with theft, theft from a motor vehicle, and criminal mischief in the May 16 inicident that saw Pat Hickey's tire slashed and his Quebec licence plate stolen in the parking lot of the Wachovia Center.

Shout-out to Stu Hackel of the New York Times for forwarding this link.

You didn't think Adam Burish would have the last word, did you?

And who is Jaden Schwartz?

Jim Matheson of the Edmonton Journal reports Perry Pearn has turned down the WHL Oil Kings and will stay with the Canadiens as Jacques Martin's assistant.

As the news spread, fans flocked into the streets of downtown Montreal (in picture at left) chanting "Perry! Perry!"

• Who is Tyler Pitlick?

Jeremy Roenick had a very human reaction to seeing his former team win the Stanley Cup.

• Jonathan Toews played hurt

• Hawks face cap issues

As part of Canadian Grand Prix weekend, the Lotus Formula One team holds a news conference Friday at 7:30 p.m. at Montreal's Marche Bonsecours, down near the Old Port. Doesn't mean you'll get up close and personal, but some fans might see this as a potential photo opportunity, anyway:

On the guest list are Lotus drivers Jarno Trulli and Heikki Kovalainen, joined by Maxim Lapierre, Guy Lafleur, Patrice Brisebois, Vincent Lecavalier, Jacques Villeneuve and French entertainers Garou and Caroline Neron. The real star will be Laval's Gino Rosato, formerly the do-everything guy at Ferrari who now is VP Operations with Lotus.

Guess who's number 1?

Habs Inside/Out had 121,000 unique visitors in May – up from 73,000 in April.

This was due to our brilliant content, of course.

But it also might have had something to do with the Canadiens making a deep run in the playoffs.

Whatever, we're proud  of the numbers – from comScore MediaMetrix, and provided by The Gazette's David Klimek, the Duncan Keith of marketing stats.

Big thank-you to all the people who patronize this web site.