Arber Xhekaj has been on Philadelphia’s radar for months, and that alone is enough to put Canadiens fans on alert.
The Flyers reportedly took a long look at the Montreal defenseman over the summer, according to David Pagnotta. What isn’t clear is whether that curiosity has carried into the season. For now, this is a case of past interest that could always come back around, not a deal that’s about to happen.
Pagnotta said Philadelphia “poked around” on Xhekaj throughout the summer, but he couldn’t say the Flyers are still actively chasing him. That distinction matters. There’s no sign a trade is imminent, just a reminder that Xhekaj has already been a name another team has had in mind.
The 25-year-old does bring something that can appeal around the league: a $1.5 million cap hit that makes him an easy contract to absorb. If a team thinks it can give him a larger role, the fit becomes even cleaner.
That’s really the tension here. Montreal’s blue line is crowded, and Xhekaj has had a tough time locking down consistent ice time. At the same time, the Canadiens are still trying to clean up things defensively, and moving a blueliner right now would not be without risk.
Through five games, Montreal has allowed 19 goals, which works out to 3.8 per game. That’s not exactly the kind of number that makes handing away a defenseman feel simple.
Still, the possibility lingers because the interest was real. As Pagnotta put it:
"Arber Xhekaj is a guy they've had a lot of interest in for a while in Montreal. [...]
He's somebody that they poked around on throughout the summer. I don't know about recent, but that's a player that has been on their radar in the past."
For now, Xhekaj remains a Canadien. But if his role stays limited, the Flyers’ early interest is the kind of thing worth remembering.
There’s also a date to circle: November 21, when Philadelphia visits Montreal at the Bell Centre.
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For Montreal, that kind of framework matters because it hints at how steep the market would be before the Canadiens even get to the hardest part of the equation. Kent Hughes can check in, but the real obstacle may be getting Larkin's side to view Montreal as the right landing spot, and until that changes, the Canadiens are stuck watching a chase that looks expensive long before it looks realistic. [Read more 🡒]