What does Justin Barron's future look like?

The right side of the Montreal Canadiens blueline presents plenty of opportunity, which could be a double edged sword for some players.

Justin Barron is a good example, there is a spot for him to take, but if he can't grab it, it may go to somebody else in the organization. The fact that Logan Mailloux and David Reinbacher might be a season away is great. But if Barron can't establish himself as a guy who is ready to secure a top-six role on the Habs blueline, then he might get leapfrogged.

I would say he is a little bit ahead of Mailloux and more than a bit of Reinbacher, but they are gunning for a spot and if Barron can't grab a role, then he may find himself on the outside looking in. He has the tools and the frame, but the decisions are something that are sometimes questionable. If he can clean up things in his zone, then he may find his role, but there are no opportunities just given, so he will have to prove he deserves it.

Barron's time could be slipping away

This season could be the last one for Barron in Montreal, if he can't establish himself, then the odds are pretty good that somebody else will. I like what Barron brings to the team, he is big and mobile and he has a good eye for offense. But so does Mailloux, so Barron is going to have to iron out his puck decisions and work on moving the puck quickly and efficiently.

If he can do that, then there is every reason to believe that Barron can play on the Habs blueline for a long time. The fact that the club is rebuilding and he is only 22 years old, sways in his favour, because he has time to figure out his game. But there is no better time than this season for him to grab a role and start showing that he can put together a good stretch of consistent, strong hockey.

I think that he has the potential to be a good NHL defenseman, but I think he has a lot more potential than pair three. The issue in Montreal is that, if he isn't able to secure a top-four role, he may be traded away for forward help or draft capital. You need depth, but you can't string along a player, if they are NHL calibre - if not in Montreal, but elsewhere.

The case of Barron will be an interesting one, to say the least, so it's going to be fun to watch what unfolds in the next couple of weeks.