Juulsen is a RD, Benn is only decent on the 3rd pairing RD and is horrible in ANY other position.
Left side depth:
Mete <—- top 4 ceiling
Kulak <—- 3rd pairing
Reilly <—- AHL player
Folin <—- 3rd pairing
Romanov <—- 1st pairing ceiling
As you can see our depth moving forward on the left is pathetic.
Right side depth:
Weber
Petry
Benn <—- 3rd pairing
Juulsen <—- 2nd pairing ceiling
Brook <—- 1st pairing ceiling
Fleury <—- top 4 ceiling
Our right side is very impressive though.
The whole D is pathetic apart from Petry. Weber is aging, at best he's a 2nd pairing D but in Montreal, we won't admit that. MB traded a younger RD coming into his prime, but anyways let's not open that discussion again.
Benn and Folin are likely gone, so don't even consider them as part of the future. Hopefully BargainBin trades their rights for a pick before draft day but let's be honest, these guys can be signed come July 1st relatively cheap. Nobody will trade a pick for them and besides I don't see teams getting into a bidding war for these 2.
I would keep Folin just because he brings something physical to his game but he's a depth D at best. I don't want to see another year of Benn, that's for sure. That leaves an open slot for the bottom right, Juulsen can take that spot, so :
1) Right D (as it stands)
Weber -> 1st pairing (not in his prime)
Petry -> 2nd pairing (really 1st pairing)
Juulsen -> 3rd pairing (if career not over : top 4 ceiling)
Folin -> depth (if re-signed)
Benn -> depth (hopefully not re-signed)
Signed prospects :
Fleury, Brook, Lernout
Unsigned prospect : Henrikson
It's too early to say if these guys can be top 4 one day. Lernout is RFA, I don't think he impressed that much to be given a QO, likely gone.
----------------------------------------
The left side is pathetic. Ouellet, Kulak and Reilly are RFA. Reilly is very inconsistent. Kulak is depth D. Mete lacks a certain something to become top 4, finding a way to score will get him closer there one day. Ouellet struggles with the puck. Alzner is an expensive blunder.
There is really nothing much to put your teeth under. Again, MB traded his best LD prospect at the time to get an enigmatic offensive player with certain issues. The year before, he traded his best RD player with attitude problems for an aging RD. What more needs to be said.
2) Left D (as it stands)
Nothing -> 1st and 2nd pairing
Mete -> 3nd pairing (top 4 if he can become a good puck moving D with a good wrister)
Reilly -> ceiling : depth D (inconsistent, hopefully traded for a pick)
Kulak -> depth D (not enough to be top 4 but decent depth if re-signed)
Ouellet -> depth D (hopefully released or re-signs to help Laval)
Alzner -> depth D (another MB blunder, hopefully traded, bought out or contract buried in the AHL)
Signed prospects : Olofsson, Sklenicka (Nothing really impressive)
Unsigned prospects : Romanov (top 4 ceiling), Tyszka, Harris, Koberstein, Walford (too early to say)
Point to mention: Olofsson is RFA and has been silent in Laval, so most likely not tethered a QO, likely gone. MB traded Bitten which might have helped Laval this year.
Bad drafting, questionable moves and searching for bargains gets you here. MB has tough decisions to make come July 1st.
Next year, this is the Habs NHL caliber D depth chart.
Weber XXX/Mete
Petry Mete/XXX
Juulsen XXX
XXX Alzner
Let's be honest do you think any of Benn, Folin, Ouellet, Kulak or Reilly really deserve a contract to stay with the Habs? I would keep Kulak and Folin because they are far better skilled.