Breaking down Canadiens' rumored search for a right-shot defenseman

The sky is blue, water is wet, and an NHL team is looking for a top-four right-shot defenseman. Every team in the league would like to add a player of that caliber to their blue line, but there are only so many of them to go around. The Montreal Canadiens don't have many options, as teams aren't eager to part with those defensemen when they have them, and the ones who do will ask that you pay a premium.

The rumors have to have some weight, as two different sites have released information about the Canadiens' search. Pierre Lebrun gave the most insight on Thursday night's edition of Insider Trading on TSN.

“Well, they’re already making calls around the league is the reality of it and I do think the slow start is part of that. Although, Kent Hughes, traditionally since he’s become a GM in this league has become one of the more active guys in terms of staying in touch with other teams, but in hearing from other teams around the league, Kent Hughes is poking around trying to see what’s out there on the market because I do think there’s a desire for the Habs to add a piece here, perhaps, and change the makeup a bit of this team. This is a big year, not playoffs, let’s be real, but certainly to make a step and to show real improvement. So, nothing imminent and it’s extremely hard to make trades at this time of year, but Kent Hughes certainly phoning around right now.”

The search could mean many things, but I believe Hughes is looking for help for three reasons.

1. Justin Barron has worn out his welcome

The Canadiens did everything possible to allow Justin Barron to earn ice time this season. Seven games into the year, they could be ready to pull the plug on the experiment. Barron has shown flashes of a valuable offensive game, but his play in the defensive zone has been abysmal. Barron was a candidate for the Canadiens' third pairing once they believed they could be contenders, but Hughes and Co. could have second thoughts.

2. The Arber Xhekaj concerns are true

We wondered earlier this week if Arber Xhekaj had fallen out of favor with Martin St. Louis. The physical defenseman had been a healthy scratch for two consecutive games, and trade rumors were swirling. Adding a right-shot defenseman would put another body into the mix, and it's easy to see the team's direction. St. Louis would move Kaiden Guhle back to his strong side, add the right-shot defender in Guhle's spot, and keep Xhekaj out of the lineup.

3. David Reinbacher's injuries are worse than expected

David Reinbacher's injuries continue to pile up early in his career. If the Canadiens add a younger right-shot defenseman with the term, it could mean that Reinbacher's injuries are a massive concern for the organization. The team needs to fit in Logan Mailloux and Barron if the first point in this breakdown proves false.

So, which is it? Is the team replacing Barron or Reinbacher? Is it a play to move Guhle back to the left side to take Xhekaj's spot? Or is it just a stop-gap measure to stop the bleeding as the worst defensive team in hockey? Those questions likely have an answer when we find out if the right-shot defenseman is a young player with term or an aging rental.