Kent Hughes may be nearing the finish line on two more offseason business items, with a report suggesting the Canadiens could have new deals in place for Zachary Bolduc and Arber Xhekaj by August 10.
That update came from Maxime Truman, who wrote in DansLesCoulisses that he would not be shocked if both contracts were wrapped up soon.
"I wouldn't be surprised to see deals for Zachary Bolduc and Arber Xhekaj confirmed by August 10. The agreements are basically already wrapped up, so to speak."
Truman’s wording doesn’t make the contracts a certainty right this second, but it does point to progress for a pair of restricted free agents still waiting on their next deals. Both Bolduc and Xhekaj remain unsigned for the upcoming season.
If the timeline holds, the Canadiens would clear two more offseason items before training camp begins, and neither player would have to walk into camp with negotiations still hanging over him.
Xhekaj’s situation has been the one drawing the most noise. His name has come up in trade speculation over the past few weeks, so a new contract would go a long way toward calming that chatter and signaling Montreal’s commitment to the physical defenseman.
Bolduc’s case has been more straightforward. He has already said he wants to stay with the Canadiens, as long as the contract works for both sides.
A deal for both players in the next couple of weeks would leave Montreal with one less thing to sort out and two young pieces locked in before camp opens.
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The appeal from the Canadiens side is straightforward enough: they have been looking for a right-handed defenseman who can handle meaningful minutes, and the proposal being kicked around would address that need while forcing Montreal to decide how much value it is willing to attach to Xhekaj. Depending on how the deal is structured, the price could climb beyond a simple one-for-one swap, which is exactly why this has become one of those talks worth watching rather than dismissing. [Read more 🡒]
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NHL Expansion Buzz Just Put The Nordiques Dream In Jeopardy
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For Montreal followers, the significance goes beyond another market on the league map. If Houston is indeed the destination, it would make the long-discussed idea of the Nordiques coming back look even more remote, even if the NHL has not made anything official yet. For now, it is still just buzz, but it is the kind of buzz that can change how people talk about hockey in Quebec. [Read more 🡒]