Arber Xhekaj is back in the trade conversation, and this time the idea sends him from Montreal to Calgary in a three-player framework that would bring Zach Whitecloud to the Canadiens.
In the proposal, Montreal would move Xhekaj and add either a second-round pick or a prospect to finish the deal. The return piece is Whitecloud, a right-handed defenseman who would give the Canadiens the kind of blue-line help they’ve been looking for.
The suggestion is not tied to active negotiations. It’s trade speculation, plain and simple. But the Flames’ interest in Xhekaj has been floating around for months, and his name keeps coming up as questions grow about his future in Montreal.
Xhekaj is still unsigned for the upcoming season, and his long-term fit with the Canadiens has become a talking point after Martin St-Louis used him in a limited role.
There’s obvious debate over whether Montreal should be the team adding the extra asset on top of Xhekaj, especially with Calgary in a rebuilding direction. Even so, Whitecloud brings a profile that makes sense for the Canadiens: a right-handed defender who can handle meaningful minutes.
According to David Pagnotta, Whitecloud and Morgan Frost are among the players currently available on the trade market. Whitecloud also has two years left on his contract at a $2.75 million cap hit, which gives him added appeal if Montreal is serious about strengthening the right side.
The Xhekaj-Flames connection has shown up before. His name was linked to Calgary in trade speculation on March 3 and again on May 20, which suggests the chatter has stuck around all offseason.
And if the two sides ever did get serious, they’re not strangers to each other. The Flames and Canadiens have made trades in recent years, so there’s already a working history between the clubs.
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