Report: Canadiens checking prices to add top-4 defenseman

The Montreal Canadiens are checking prices for defensemen around the league, Daily Faceoff's Frank Seravalli reported on Prime Video's "Coast to Coast."

The Canadiens would prefer to add a right-handed defender who fits in the team's top four, Seravalli adds.

Kaiden Guhle has missed two games due to injury, while Justin Barron is day-to-day since exiting Tuesday's 7-2 loss against the New York Rangers after a big hit from Jacob Trouba. Mike Matheson also missed Wednesday's practice, citing a therapy day.

A trade isn't imminent as prices are high and teams aren't interested in making significant changes at this point, according to Seravalli.

Rookie Lane Hutson has shouldered a significant workload recently. The 20-year-old played 30:05 on Oct. 17 against the Los Angeles Kings and has exceeded 24 minutes of ice time in each of his last four contests.

Montreal has a bevy of young defenders, including Hutson and right-handed options Logan Mailloux and David Reinbacher. The team would be eyeing a stopgap defender in the trade market rather than a long-term piece, according to Seravalli.

The Canadiens have $6.5 million of cap space, according to PuckPedia.