Owen Beck is making a strong case for an NHL callup

The Montreal Canadiens have a prospect pool that sits right at the top of the league, and improved drafting is the culprit.

It's not that Marc Bergevin, Trevor Timmins, and the old regime drafted awfully, but they dropped the ball on a few picks that buried the Canadiens. It's fantastic that the Habs played in the Stanley Cup championship in 2021, but it was messy when the wheels fell off. Kent Hughes and Jeff Gorton acquired their roles with much to repair.

The Canadiens prospect pool, and the majority of their under-23 talent is a result of Hughes's drafting. I can't discredit Bergevin for the good, because he drafted Cole Caufield in 2019, and Kaiden Guhle in 2020, who are pillars of the Habs core. But there were some significant misses, such as Jesperi Kotkaniemi in 2018, and Ryan Poehling in 2017; there was also Noah Juulsen in 2015 and

Going back 10 years, Bergevin had some bad misses, and though he drafted Joshua Roy, Oliver Kapanen, Logan Mailloux and Jayden Struble, he dug his grave. Trading Mikhail Sergachev for Jonathan Drouin hurt the Canadiens. There was also the issue of Bergevin's inability to shore up the centre position for the Canadiens, which leads me to the work that Hughes has been able to do.

Yes, I know that Bergevin facilitated the trade for Nick Suzuki, but he couldn't pull the Habs out of a rough spot.

Owen Beck is one of many centers that Hughes has drafted since taking over, and he has also made two trades to bring in two potential top-six centremen. Beck, however, has been one of the most impressive American Hockey League rookies, which has taken some by surprise. His game has gone up to another level, and he looks like a 10-year veteran on the ice.

Hadi Kalakeche, a scout with Elite Prospects put it best - Beck possesses incredible detail for a first-year pro. It usually takes some time to get used to the league, especially the schedule and increased pressure for a centerman. Beck was brilliant in junior, but the way he has adapted to the AHL is incredible, and he might have the potential to become more than a top-nine center.

I think Beck provides first-round value for the Canadiens, and I'm convinced in a redraft that he is a first-round talent. The Canadiens drafted Beck with the 33rd overall pick, which isn't far off being a first-round selection, but I would argue he belongs there. If you need any more proof, I recommend checking out what he is doing in his debut professional season, both offensively and defensively.

Simon Nemec isn't loving New Jersey's treatment

Drafted just one slot after countrymen Juraj Slafkovsky, Simon Nemec is a potential number one defenseman, which fits with his draft slot. And life with the New Jersey Devils has been anything but enjoyable for the 20-year-old blueliner. We saw David Jiricek, the sixth-overall selection in the same draft, traded this season, could Nemec be next?

I think that Hughes should pick up the phone and call Devils general manager Tom Fitzgerald to see what it would cost for Nemec. I thought the same thing about Jiricek and full disclosure - I believe that Logan Mailloux and David Reinbacher will play for the Canadiens in top four roles. But potentially adding a right-shot defenseman with immense potential is a no-brainer.

Nemec would only increase the level of internal competition, and I think that will bring the best out of the three (Nemec, Mailloux & Reinbacher). Montreal has high aspirations, and high-quality players are only going to help. If I'm Hughes, I am picking up the phone without question.