A roster move involving Florian Xhekaj may be coming into focus for the Canadiens, and for now the biggest factor is the return of Oliver Kapanen.
Kapanen has been out for the past few days with a lower-body injury and is being evaluated on a day-to-day basis by the medical staff. That absence opened the door for Xhekaj, who is currently working as Montreal’s extra player.
That setup has fueled talk that Xhekaj’s stay with the Canadiens could end up being short-lived, even if nothing has been made official by the organization. Étienne Ferland raised that possibility, and the rumours have continued to circulate.
On paper, the logic is easy enough to follow: Xhekaj is filling the spot left open by Kapanen. Once Kapanen is ready to come back, the roster math gets tighter, and Xhekaj would slide further down the depth chart.
That said, there are reasons to think he’s made a real impression in a short time. Kent Hughes and Jeff Gorton personally called Xhekaj on Saturday to let him know he had made the team, and Nick Suzuki and Phillip Danault both had positive things to say about him.
That kind of backing could matter if the Canadiens are weighing what comes next.
Still, there’s no sign yet that management is actively preparing to send him to the Laval Rocket. At this point, it remains only something to watch.
The next few weeks should show whether Xhekaj can make the case that he belongs in Montreal for good.
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In overtime, though, the conversation shifted to a disputed sequence that left the Canadiens and their fans seething. Ivan Demidov appeared to be impeded on the play leading into the Penguins winner, and Thomas Novaks goal counted anyway, turning a hard-fought game into a frustrating finish that is sure to linger for Montreal well beyond the final horn. [Read more 🡒]
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Even without a deal getting across the line, the episode adds more context to how Montreal has been operating under Hughes and Gorton, especially with the organization still balancing present-day upgrades against the bigger-picture plan. The deadline chatter also sits alongside the broader swirl of rumors around Matthew Knies and the shifting landscape in Toronto, where management changes can alter the way trade talks unfold. For the Canadiens, the takeaway is clear: they were in the hunt, and the price tag was substantial. [Read more 🡒]