The Montreal Canadiens have a very good problem this season. Nine NHL-capable defencemen in their organization provide defensive depth not seen in some time.
Marc Bergevin has always touted the benefit of defensive depth, and each time he has made a move for a depth defender, that player has ended up playing significant minutes at some point during the season. In recent years, Francis Bouillon, Douglas Murray, Mike Weaver, and Sergei Gonchar played a supporting role to the top three defencemen on the team.
The depth enjoyed in 2004 resulted in young defender Francois Beauchemin being placed on waivers in an attempt to return him to Hamilton at the start of the season, but he was claimed by the Columbus Blue Jackets and lost for no return.