The rundown on defenseman Shawn Germain:

2010-11 stats [career]: 4 goals, 14 points, 23 penalty minutes, minus-14 rating in 43 games.

Quote: “I don’t want to be a guy that keeps saying, ‘yeah I’m done,’ then come back. I already did that once. I think one of the things this year has taught me is never count things out. I can never say I’ll never play another game of pro hockey.”

Pros: Germain’s steady, veteran presence allowed him to play a huge role upon his return to Ontario last December. He wound up with four goals – a career high – and a surprise promotion to the American Hockey League at the end of the season.

Cons: For the second straight year, the answer to this question depends on Germain’s post-hockey plans. The last time, he only came back because of a convenient four-month window in his firefighter’s training. That window might not exist in 2011-12.