A crowded blue line is setting up one of the most intriguing battles of Canadiens training camp, and Arber Xhekaj is right in the middle of it.
RDS is reporting that Xhekaj and Jayden Struble are in line to fight for the sixth and seventh defenseman jobs when camp opens in 2026. For now, both enter as the favorites, but neither can afford to coast.
The two have a lot in common. They’re physical defensemen in their mid-20s, and each has spent three and four years around the organization. Last season, Xhekaj finished with 4 points and Struble with 12, numbers that reflect steady work without much offense.
But there’s real pressure coming from behind them.
David Reinbacher is part of that conversation after finally putting together an almost complete season with the Rocket, where he played 61 games across the regular season and playoffs. At 21 years old, the question is whether he’s ready to make the jump to the NHL.
Adam Engstrom is also in the mix and can’t be dismissed. The 22-year-old put up 34 points in the American Hockey League and also appeared in 15 games with the Canadiens. His mobility and vision stand out, and those tools could make camp much more competitive.
There’s another wrinkle, too: with seven defensemen under contract once Xhekaj is signed, a trade can’t be ruled out. And neither can a surprise from one of the prospects.
For Montreal, the battle for those final two spots on defense is shaping up to be a real fight.
In Other News...
Canadiens Still Have One Roster Question Around Xhekaj And Bolduc
Geoff Molson sounded upbeat in a recent interview about where the Canadiens stand after last season, saying he was satisfied with the teams performance and encouraged by the way the roster is developing. He also made clear that Arber Xhekaj and Zach Bolduc remain important pieces in the organizations plans, a notable point with training camp approaching and Montreal still sorting through the edges of its depth chart.
The bigger question is how both players fit once the dust settles. Xhekajs usage has not fully settled into a defined role, and Bolduc remains unsigned after finishing the playoffs on the fourth line, leaving Montreal with one of those familiar late-summer roster puzzles that can shape how a team starts the year. [Read more 🡒]
Canadiens Roster Puzzle Puts Some Young Pieces In Play
The Canadiens search for help on the right side of their defense has turned into a roster puzzle with real long-term stakes. With future salary-cap room to work with, the front office can afford to think beyond a quick fix, and that has kept attention on a possible move for Zach Whitecloud as Montreal looks to balance its blue line while also adding more size and physicality up front.
What makes the conversation more interesting is the kind of young talent that could be pulled into the discussion if the Canadiens decide to press ahead. Montreal has prospects it would prefer not to move lightly, but it also has to weigh the value of future flexibility against the appeal of helping the current roster now. For the moment, it is still speculation and planning more than action, but the kind of move the Canadiens are considering could reshape more than one part of the lineup. [Read more 🡒]
Canadiens May Go Only As Far As Ivan Demidov Takes Them
Montreal did not make many sweeping changes this offseason, choosing instead to tinker around the edges while letting the roster largely carry over. The most notable departures were Brendan Gallagher and Joe Veleno, and the additions were mostly depth pieces aimed at the AHL side, which leaves the Canadiens leaning on internal growth more than outside fixes.
Ivan Demidov is at the center of that bet after a rookie season that put him firmly on the leagues radar and left him second in Calder Trophy voting. He showed plenty of upside, but he also cooled late, and Montreals outlook now hinges on whether he can turn that promise into steadier second-year production. For a team that did not do much to change its ceiling, his next step may end up setting the tone. [Read more 🡒]