Michael Hage and Ivan Demidov need a winger

As far as I’m convinced the biggest issue for the Canadiens is a lack of a competent second line. 

Kirby Dach, Patrik Laine and Alex Newhook are not doing it. Michael Hage and Ivan Demidov will replace two of them, and I’m not sure what the future holds with Laine. I am sure that the Canadiens need to add a final piece to make a second line.

Montreal has options internally, depending on how much trust Kent Hughes and Martin St. Louis have in two particular players. In my eyes, if Emil Heineman and Joshua Roy aren’t in consideration for top-six minutes, then the Habs need someone who will be. There are a couple of sure-fire methods in acquiring talent that stand true - free agency and the draft. 

I think it’s a little early to be signing any significant free agents. Though I understand the sentiment of adding a player to push the core ahead. A foundational player like Ivan Demidov joining the Habs will be massive, and adding two more first-round U-19 talents would be tremendous for the Habs.

Hughes has certainly zeroed in on a couple of players that he liked in the first round. Calgary’s pick still isn’t set, but regardless of that, Hughes has two firsts in the draft. The likelihood of adding a top-four potential defender and/or top-six potential isn't a crazy thought. Habs scouting has another big draft on their hands.

If you're thinking about a draft-eligible forward that will fit with Montreal, they need to draft a guy who can play with Hage and Demidov. But a versatile player that can fit with Cole Caufield, and/or Juraj Slafkovsky and Nick Suzuki, would be huge. Montreal wants to be a contender, and adding a guy who blends skill and smashmout hockey, is what the team needs.

So what are we talking about?

it's hard to predict who goes where, and consensus rankings don't always play out the way they were predicted. Sportsnet panellists had Montreal counted out against the Toronto Maple Leafs, and we know how that went. There isn't a top dog right now for this draft, but a few players are in the mix.

For Hughes and Jeff Gorton, I think it is in their best interest to draft the best player available regardless of positioning. Even if it's not a need, it can be used to plug a hole in the lineup and trade away an older player. I think that a top-four right defenseman would be a need and a top-six potential forward with some bite.

If the season ended today, before the NHL schedule resumes, Montreal would draft in the 9-10 range with their own pick. Calgary currently sits at 17th overall in the league, which makes their their pick, acquired in the Sean Monahan trade a top-16 selection. I have a couple of forwards that I would love Montreal to potentially draft.

Michael Misa - Misa is a pure goalscorer, and from the opposing blueline inward, he is an offensive dynamo. The release on his shot stands out, but his processor is the foundation of his quick-strike ability. Misa displays elite vision, and while he plays centre, moving to the win is an easy transition.

Misa currently has 52-56-108 in 52 OHL games, and the Saginaw Spirit captain has all the tools to be a tremendous left-shot sniper. Hage and Demidov drive the puck well and skate great through the neutral zone, but Misa is great in transition, slowing the pace. Misa is smart and knows how to slip into pockets to open up as a shooting threat or extend plays with a smart pass.

The Oakville, Ontario., native stands six-foot-one and 185 pounds, not small by any means, and at 18 years old, he has room to grow - physically and as a player.

Porter Martone - Martone presents as a big, physical right-shot winger, who knows how to use his size to hold off defenders. In the offensive zone, he keeps his head up and scans his options, but he doesn't overthink. Martone passes the puck well and has a heavy shot - using one-timers and in-stride shots to beat goaltenders.

I have seen comparisons between Martone and Matthew Tkachuk, and that is a massive compliment for the 18-year-old winger. Tkachuk is the glue guy that teams win championships with, he does it all, and that's Martone's profile. Martone loves to gap up on the puck carrier and throw bone-crunching hits, and he is a pest on the backcheck and forecheck - pairing great reach, a big hockey brain and smart stick positioning to force turnovers.

Martone is a big-bodied winger, but unlike the big forwards that Montreal has in their top six, he plays a physical brand of hockey. The six-foot-three, 209-pound right-shot winger is at his best in stride chugging through the neutral zone with his hands constantly in motion to maneuver around defenders. He uses his size and skill to create beautiful rushes, and he is deadly one-on-one, doubling as a shot and deke threat at all times.

Carter Bear - Bear is a relentless player, regardless of which team has possession of the puck, he is always moving around the ice looking to steal pucks with a smart stick or separate the opponent from the puck with heavy body checks. While Martone was compared to a Matthew Tkachuk-style player, I see a bit of Tkachuk's game in bear. Bear, however, I feel plays a more detail-oriented defensive game, gapping up to create turnovers, more like Travis Konecny.

Bear's game is predicated on a high motor game, and his engine revs high, throwing himself in the middle of everything when he is on the ice. He isn't the biggest player on the ice, but he makes an impact every shift, combining high creativity offensively with a strong two-way game. I see a lot of Konecny, Seth Jarvis and Brad Marchand in his game, he plays quick, smart and with a real hard-as-nails approach.

Tenacity is a great one-word description of what Bear brings to the ice, he has never seen a scrum or net-front battle that he didn't like. Ever engaged in the physical side of the game, and perfectly balancing it with swift skating, and a great transition game drive Bear's style. The Winnipeg, Manitoba., native is built like a rock - one of those average-sized players who is not easily pushed around.

These guys will be available at different spots on differing draft lists, but coming out of the draft with one of them would be an immense addition for HuGo. If Hughes can pull off two out of three, I like the outlook for the forward core in Montreal in the next couple of seasons. The Canadiens have a nice group of under-25 talent, and as the high picks pile up, so do the high-impact prospects.