NHL Draft 2012: 4 Holes the Montreal Canadiens Will Be Looking to Fill

The Montreal Canadiens are coming off a season where they had the second-least amount of points on the season. Needless to say, they are going to be looking to fill some holes this off-season.

With Montreal being a hockey-crazy city, the Canadiens need to improve fast or there could be a riot. Obviously, it did not help that they were one of the worst teams in the NHL this year.

Let's take a look at the four holes the Canadiens need to fill.

Goalie

The Canadiens need to retain Carey Price, who is a restricted free agent this off-season. Whether it is as a backup or a starter, the Canadiens need to keep Price, who had the seventh most saves this season.

Price is 24-years-old, which is yoing in his career. But, the Canadiens need to find a young, talented goaltender to give some competition at the spot, as Peter Budaj is not a young man anymore. Both Price and another young, talented goaltender could be a one-two punch that makes the Canadiens a team to beat.

Power Play

The Canadiens' power play was nothing to write home about this season. In fact, at 14.3 percent, the Canadiens had the third worst power play in the NHL.

The Canadiens need to assemble a group that can score goals when the other team is shorthanded. Adding a guy like Zach Parise, who will be a free agent this off-season, would be a boost for the Canadiens. 

If he is not available, a number of solid offensive players will be available.

Defense

If the Canadiens don't want their goalie facing constant peppering from opposing teams, they will need to improve their defense. 

Most of their lower-line defensemen are free agents in the off-season, so they will either need to re-sign them or grab defensemen from another team. Johnny Oduya on the Blackhawks will be available, so taking a run at him may not be a bad idea.

Currently, the most recognizable names on the defense are Tomas Kaberle and Andrei Markov, both of which would not be top-line defensemen for most teams. The Canadiens need to fix their defense to make strides next season.

Team Leader

Currently, Brian Gionta is the captain of the Canadiens. This is not a bad thing, but it's a sign of the lack of depth the Canadiens have.

As stated, going after a star who can lead the team like Zach Parise would be a huge move for the Canadiens. His star power would be enough to rally the troops and improve their place in the NHL next year.

Also, Montreal will have a great pick in the draft. A guy like Mikhail Grigorenko would be a solid choice for the Canadiens and could be an instant help.