By J.D. Lagrange, Senior Writer, All Habs Hockey Magazine

In Part-One of this article on the Canadiens’ prospects, we looked at the group of forwards. We will now have a look at the defensemen and try to determine which ones are the closes to being ready to have an impact on the team.

PENTICTON, BC. – The Canadiens find themselves in an interesting situation this year when it comes to their defensive prospects. As you will see, the prospect pool is really divided in two extreme groups: several not ready and a few who could contribute now. And all of those ready for the NHL must clear waivers in order to be sent down to St-John’s, making the coaching staff’s decision that much harder, at the risk of losing them for nothing if claimed on waivers.

MAC BENNETT
HEIGHT: 6′ 0″
WEIGHT: 194
SHOOTS: LEFT
BORN: 25 MAR 1991 (AGE 24)
BIRTHPLACE: NARRAGANSETT, RI, UNITED STATES
DRAFTED: MTL / 2009 NHL ENTRY DRAFT
ROUND: 3RD (79TH OVERALL)
In his first season in the pro, Bennett played 59 games with the Bulldogs last season, managing to rack up 12 points. The former third round pick is 24 years old and his chances of making the NHL are getting slimmer as he gets older and it is very doubtful that he managed to crack the Canadiens’ line-up at camp. I don’t like giving no chance to anyone, so I’ll give him a 1 out of 10 chances.

DARREN DIETZ
HEIGHT: 6′ 1″
WEIGHT: 213
SHOOTS: RIGHT
BORN: 17 JUL 1993 (AGE 22)
BIRTHPLACE: MEDICINE HAT, AB, CANADA
DRAFTED: MTL / 2011 NHL ENTRY DRAFT
ROUND: 5TH (138TH OVERALL)
Dietz was the surprise of last year’s training camp, almost forcing the team to keep him. He did manage a good season with the Bulldogs, playing key minutes and finishing with 17 points. However, there is a lot of people ahead of him in the depth chart and it will be up to him to repeat last year’s impression in order to force Marc Bergevin to make room for him. Slight chance at 3 out of 10 in my opinion.

JOEL HANLEY
HEIGHT: 6′ 0″
WEIGHT: 180
SHOOTS: RIGHT
BORN: 8 JUN 1991 (AGE 24)
BIRTHPLACE: KESWICK, ON, CANADA
Depth player, Hanley spent last season with the Portland Pirates in the AHL where he managed 17 points. I fully admit not knowing much about the guy so attempting to give him a rank him would not be fair. Still, seeing the Canadiens’ depth, he has likely less than 1 out of 10 chances of making the big club next season.

BRETT LERNOUT
HEIGHT: 6′ 4″
WEIGHT: 210
SHOOTS: RIGHT
BORN: 24 SEP 1995 (AGE 19)
BIRTHPLACE: WINNIPEG, MB, CANADA
DRAFTED: MTL / 2014 NHL ENTRY DRAFT
ROUND: 3RD (73RD OVERALL)
Lernout was part of a 2014 draft which saw Trevor Timmins add a lot of grit to the prospect pool, particularly on defense. Standing at 6-foot 4-inches, the soon-to-be 20 year old will be making his true professional debuts next season and he’s likely going to have to gain his experience at the AHL level with the Ice Dogs. He does have some good offensive upside but due to his young age, his chances are about 1 out of 10 to start in Montreal.

DALTON THROWER
HEIGHT: 6′ 1″
WEIGHT: 212
SHOOTS: RIGHT
BORN: 20 DEC 1993 (AGE 21)
BIRTHPLACE: SQUAMISH, BC, CANADA
DRAFTED: MTL / 2012 NHL ENTRY DRAFT
ROUND: 2ND (51ST OVERALL)
After a promising junior career, Thrower was a bit of a disappointment last year when he was scratched from the Bulldogs and had to spend time in the ECHL in Brampton. The rugged 21 year old defenseman must turn his career around and take the next step this coming season if he hopes, one day, make it to the NHL. His chances of making the Habs at camp are slim to none, at 1 out of 10.

JOSIAH DIDIER
HEIGHT: 6′ 2″
WEIGHT: 202
SHOOTS: RIGHT
BORN: 8 APR 1993 (AGE 22)
BIRTHPLACE: LITTLETON, CO, UNITED STATES
DRAFTED: MTL / 2011 NHL ENTRY DRAFT
ROUND: 4TH (97TH OVERALL)
After finishing his collegial career, Didier signed a contract with the Canadiens and he played eight games for the Bulldogs at the end of last year. At 22, the young defenseman should be battling for a spot at the Ice Dogs’ blue line next season and it is very unlikely that you’ll see him in the NHL for the 2015-16 season. Another 1 out of 10.

MARK BARBERIO
HEIGHT: 6′ 1″
WEIGHT: 199
SHOOTS: LEFT
BORN: 23 MAR 1990 (AGE 25)
BIRTHPLACE: MONTREAL, QC, CANADA
DRAFTED: TBL / 2008 NHL ENTRY DRAFT
ROUND: 6TH (152ND OVERALL)
We don’t know much about the newly acquired defenseman, with the exception that he has played over 100 games for the Lightning. The Montreal-born 25 year old has plenty of experience and intends on forcing Bergevin and Therrien to make room for him straight from training camp. Reading about his character, I wouldn’t be too quick at counting him out, so I give him a 7 out of 10 chances of making the roster from camp.

JARRED TINORDI
HEIGHT: 6′ 6″
WEIGHT: 225
SHOOTS: LEFT
BORN: 20 FEB 1992 (AGE 23)
BIRTHPLACE: BURNSVILLE, MN, UNITED STATES
DRAFTED: MTL / 2010 NHL ENTRY DRAFT
ROUND: 1ST (22ND OVERALL)
After quitting his position as assistant-coach for the Bulldogs, Stephan Lebeau said that Tinordi had nothing else to learn in the AHL, that he was definitely NHL ready. This is not surprising as Tinordi already has three professional seasons under his belt, including 48 games at the NHL level. It will be up to him to have a good camp and force Bergevin to make room on a very busy blue line. His chances are 8 out of 10.

NATHAN BEAULIEU
HEIGHT: 6′ 2″
WEIGHT: 201
SHOOTS: LEFT
BORN: 5 DEC 1992 (AGE 22)
BIRTHPLACE: STRATHROY, ON, CANADA
DRAFTED: MTL / 2011 NHL ENTRY DRAFT
ROUND: 1ST (17TH OVERALL)
After gaining some maturity in the AHL, Beaulieu was called up and played well last year for the Canadiens. He showed flashes of what he’s capable off, but he will need to find his niche with the team and find more consistency in his play. While many think he’s a shoe-in to start in Montreal, I remember Tinordi last year who had to be sent down after having a great first season in the NHL. His camp will pretty much dictate where he starts. Still though, like Tinordi, I give him an 8 out of 10 chance to start in Montreal.

GREG PATERYN
HEIGHT: 6′ 2″
WEIGHT: 222
SHOOTS: RIGHT
BORN: 20 JUN 1990 (AGE 25)
BIRTHPLACE: STERLING HEIGHTS, MI, UNITED STATES
DRAFTED: TOR / 2008 NHL ENTRY DRAFT
ROUND: 5TH (128TH OVERALL)
Pateryn was perhaps the best surprise when he was called up last year. Keeping his game simple, making a good first pass and playing a physical game had earned him a spot in Montreal and many have pencilled him in on the Canadiens’ blue line. He has as good of a chance at starting in Montreal as Tinordi and Beaulieu, so an 8 out of 10.

The Canadiens already count on P.K. Subban, Andrei Markov, Jeff Petry, Tom Gilbert and Alexei Emelin on defense. Pending a trade and considering the fact that all top prospects will have to clear waivers in order to go to St-John’s, we can expect the team to start the season with eight defensemen next season. Some teams like the Vancouver Canucks are desperately looking for defensive depth and would love to get their hands on one of the Canadiens’ top defensive prospects and we all remember what happened when the team placed François Beauchemin on waivers…

Go Habs Go!