Geoff Molson made it clear the Canadiens aren’t treating Arber Xhekaj and Zach Bolduc like afterthoughts.
In an interview with Radio-Canada Sports a few days ago, the Montreal Canadiens owner, president and chief executive officer said both remaining RFAs matter to the organization and that the team is pushing to get deals done.
“Those are two important players for us, and we’re working very hard to keep them.”
Molson on Xhekaj and Bolduc
That line captures where Montreal stands with two players who are still very much part of the conversation, even if their situations look different.
Xhekaj has long been viewed by fans as a key piece, and Molson clearly shares that view. The bigger question is how the Canadiens actually plan to use him.
Martin St-Louis has repeatedly said he has no issue with the defenseman, but the ice time tells a different story. Xhekaj hasn’t been trusted with much run, and he hasn’t been used on the penalty kill, with Lane Hutson getting more of those opportunities instead.
At 25, Xhekaj has already spent four NHL seasons trying to carve out a steady role, and that battle is getting crowded fast. What used to look like a direct fight with Jayden Struble now feels more like a full-blown scramble, with David Reinbacher and Adam Engstrom also in the mix heading into training camp.
Montreal could use more grit, physicality and size, but right now Xhekaj does not look like the clear front-runner. His limited usage in the playoffs only adds to that uncertainty.
Bolduc’s case is a little different, but it is no less unresolved. The Canadiens clearly hope he grows into a meaningful player, yet after only one season in the organization, it is still too soon to lock that label in.
He ended the playoffs on the wing of the fourth line, which probably wasn’t what Kent Hughes had in mind when he sent Logan Mailloux to the St. Louis Blues to bring in the young winger.
Even so, there were signs of progress. During the postseason, Bolduc showed a better sense of the kind of game he needs to play to help the team. That said, it is still early, and the Canadiens have not yet committed long term, which helps explain why he remains unsigned.
Molson’s message was simple: Montreal sees value in both players and is trying to keep them. The next step is making that belief official.
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