"Brian Gionta said he's making a satisfactory recovery from surgery to repair a torn but there was one indication Wednesday that he still has a way to go before he's back in the Canadiens' lineup.

The Canadiens captain was pressed into service as the Quebec Foundation for Athletic Excellence and the Canadiens handed out bursaries to 28 young hockey players. Gionta was in charge of handing out the $1,500 cheques and there was a short pause after the first presentation while Donald Beauchamp, the Canadiens' vice-president-communications, approached the stage and reminded the athletes that Gionta could not exert himself by putting too much effort into his congratulatory handshakes."