according to NHL.com (was for 2005, same for 2006, higher cap),

CLUB PAYROLLS

What will be the range of Club payrolls?

The payroll range in Year One (2005-06) of the CBA will be $21.5 million (U.S.) at the lower limit and $39 million (U.S.) at the upper limit. A Club’s payroll will include all salaries, signing bonuses and performance bonuses paid to players. Except in the case of bona fide long-term injury (injuries that sideline a player for a minimum of 24 days and 10 games) to one or more of a club’s players, Club payrolls will never be permitted to be below the minimum or in excess of the maximum. Clubs at or near the upper limit that have players who incur a bona fide long-term injury will be entitled to replace up to the full value of the injured player’s NHL salary (even if such salary would result in the club’s team salary exceeding the upper limit). The “replacement salary” will not count against the club’s upper limit but will count against the League-wide players’ share. Upon return of the injured player, the team must come into immediate compliance with the requirements of the payroll range.

Saku Koivu $4.75 million
Micheal Ryder (let’s assume around 2-2.5 mil.)
Christopher Higgins $673,000

Alexei Kovalev $4.5 million
Mike Ribeiro $1.9 million
Richard Zednik $1.976 million

Tomas Plekanec $450,000
Radek Bonk $2.394 million
Tomas Plekanec (let’s assume around 1 mil.max)

Garth Murray $575,000
Steve Begin $646,000
Aaron Downey $475,000

Andrei Markov $2 million
Craig Rivet $2.47 million
Sheldon Souray $2.432 million
Francis Bouillon $1.875M million
Mathieu Dandenault $1.7 million
Mike Komisarek $946,900

spares:
Mark Streit $600,000
Andrei Kostitsyn $801,800
Alexander Perezhogin (let’s assume around 1 mil.max)

Cristobal Huet $3 million
David Aebischer (let’s assume around 2.5 mil.)

Total….around 41 million…and you have to count cap space for injuries and I think it also includes the insurance premium to insure the players (not sure on that one, anyone knows if it’s true ?).

A couple of quotes of note:
“Our target continues to be a forward,” reaffirmed Gainey. “There are players still out there that could fill that hole for us.”

and

“It’s all about getting the right player,” said Gainey, after making an appearance at Martin Lapointe Arena on Day 3 of the Canadiens’ Development Camp on Tuesday . “We have the money to spend. If we spend it well, we’ll have value for it and our fans will value for it. If we spend it poorly, then we’re both going to suffer.”

go read it!