The Montreal Canadiens and Anaheim Ducks may have taken very different paths since last season’s run, but a new hypothetical trade idea would connect two teams with very different needs.
Montreal reached the Eastern Conference Final before falling to the eventual Stanley Cup champions, the Carolina Hurricanes. Anaheim, meanwhile, turned heads by knocking out the Edmonton Oilers before the Vegas Golden Knights ended their season in the second round.
Since then, though, the picture has changed. The Canadiens have their core locked in and no salary cap problems, which gives them room to think big if they want to.
The Ducks are dealing with a tighter cap situation, still need to re-sign Cutter Gauthier, and are trying to clean up the fallout from the offer sheet drama that gave Leo Carlsson an $18 million annual salary over the next five seasons.
That is why Arber Xhekaj has surfaced as a possible target in a purely hypothetical trade scenario. The Ducks need help on the blue line, and Xhekaj’s style would bring the kind of edge Anaheim lost when Jacob Trouba and Radko Gudas moved on. He does not bring much offense - he has 33 points in 230 career games - but as a bottom-pairing defenseman, he could fit what the Ducks are looking for if they want to add toughness and depth.
There is no real indication the Canadiens want to move him, and the article makes clear this is not an actual trade proposal. Still, there have been rumors that teams around the league are interested in Xhekaj, and he does not have a new deal for the 2026-27 season yet. That uncertainty is part of what makes the idea interesting, especially if Anaheim got aggressive.
Of course, the Ducks would have to do some financial clearing first. To make the move work, they would likely need to part with Alex Killorn, Chris Kreider, and Frank Vatrano, which would take a real bite out of their forward depth. Even so, the thinking is that Anaheim’s top-end scoring could cover some of that loss, while the bigger issue remains its defense.
If the Ducks could sort out the cap and make room, Montreal could ask for a prospect and a draft pick in return and probably get a serious look. Xhekaj would not fetch a first-round pick or a premium prospect, but Anaheim does have three second-round picks in the 2027 NHL Draft and some appealing names in its system.
The suggested deal is straightforward:
Ducks receive: D Arber Xhekaj
Canadiens receive: C/LW Nico Myatovic, 2027 second-round pick (originally owned by the Blues), Ducks’ own 2027 seventh-round pick.
For Montreal, that would mean turning Xhekaj’s physical presence into a useful prospect and two picks that could be moved later if needed. For Anaheim, it would be a chance to add strength to the back end if it can first solve its cap issues and keep Gauthier in the fold.
Whether Xhekaj is actually dealt before the season begins remains to be seen, but if he is moved, Anaheim is being framed as a team that could put together one of the best offers - assuming it can handle the rest of its business first.
In Other News...
Canadiens Quiet Offseason May Be About To Change Fast
Montreals quiet offseason has started to feel a little less quiet as the Canadiens continue to be mentioned in the same breath as other Atlantic Division clubs that have already made their rosters look stronger. The sense around the team is not that a deal is done, but that general manager Kent Hughes has kept the door open to trade talks while the front office keeps searching for ways to upgrade a top-six forward group that still looks like the clearest need.
A handful of names have surfaced in the rumor mill, including Zachary Bolduc and Arber Xhekaj, which is enough to keep speculation humming even without a confirmed transaction. For a Canadiens club that has spent much of the summer waiting for the market to bring the right opportunity, the next move may come quickly if Hughes decides the fit and timing are finally there. [Read more 🡒]
Canadiens Delay On Arber Xhekaj And Zach Bolduc Raises Bigger Questions
The Canadiens still have two restricted free agents waiting for contracts in Arber Xhekaj and Zachary Bolduc, and the delay has become more interesting than the usual summer paperwork. Anthony Di Marco noted that there is uncertainty not just about the terms, but also about the timeline, with Montreal still working through how it wants to handle both players as part of its roster planning.
Xhekaj and Bolduc are in very different spots, which is part of what makes the situation worth watching. Xhekajs next step appears tied to how the club values him in the depth chart, while Bolducs case carries more weight because of the way Montreal acquired him and the flexibility he brings. Until the Canadiens sort out those negotiations, there is a small but meaningful question hanging over how the organization sees each player in the bigger picture. [Read more 🡒]