"Who's next?

That's the question after the Canadiens signed forwards Max Pacioretty and David Desharnais to two-year contracts on Monday. The deals brought the number of signed players to 15, but general manager Pierre Gauthier still has major work to do on the defensive side.

Andrei Markov, who is eligible to become an unrestricted free agent on July 1, and Josh Gorges, who is a restricted free agent with arbitration rights, are still unsigned.

Markov's agent, Don Meehan, said he and Gauthier are working on a deal for Markov and they will meet later this week at the NHL entry draft in Minnesota. The 32-year-old Markov is coming off a long-term deal that paid him an average of $5.75 million. He has been the Canadiens' best defenceman, but he has been injured in each of the past two seasons and has undergone three major surgeries.

Questions about his health will impact the talks, particularly when the discussion turns to the length of the contract.

Gauthier does have some money to play with as the salary cap goes up to $64 million. Monday's signings raise the current commitment to $43.7 million, which leaves Gauthier with $20.3 million. Take away $5 million for three minimum-wage forwards, a seventh defenceman - Yannick Weber's signing will be announced shortly - and a backup goalie and that leaves $15 million. That's enough to satisfy Markov and Gorges with more than enough left over for a top-six forward.

Pacioretty signed for $3.25 million. He'll make $1.5 million next season and $1.75 million in 2012-13. Desharnais will get $750,000 and $950,000. Both deals are one-way deals which is important because both players started last season earning minor-league money in Hamilton.

Both players were impressive after being called up, although Pacioretty finished the season in sick bay after he was pushed into a stanchion at the Bell Centre by Boston defenceman Zdeno Chara on March 8. Pacioretty suffered a concussion and a cracked vertebra."