Jeff Marek thinks the Canadiens should think beyond the Eastern Conference if they decide to move Arber Xhekaj.
On The Sheet, Marek said Philadelphia has been floated for a while as a possible landing spot for Xhekaj, who is still searching for a new contract in Montreal. But he added a clear caution about where a player with that kind of edge should end up.
"Arber Xhekaj future/Canadiens: It's been out there for a while that Philadelphia could be that landing spot."
"My thought on a player like Xhekaj, though, is you send them to the other conference."
That’s the heart of it: if Montreal trades a tough, physical defenseman like Xhekaj, Marek believes the safer play is to ship him West. Keep him out of the East, and the Canadiens avoid seeing that kind of player over and over again for years.
It’s a familiar hockey headache. Nobody wants to watch a former player come back and make life miserable, especially inside the same conference.
Xhekaj’s style makes that concern even louder. He brings size, edge and a rugged game that can wear on opponents.
If Kent Hughes does intend to trade him, moving Xhekaj to the Western Conference would mean Montreal only sees him a few times a year instead of dealing with his physical presence on a regular basis.
That’s why the Philadelphia chatter matters here. Since the Flyers are in the East, they fit the type of destination Marek says the Canadiens should avoid for a player like Xhekaj.
In Other News...
Canadiens Face A Costly Zachary Bolduc Decision This Summer
Zachary Bolducs next contract is already becoming one of the more delicate decisions on the Canadiens summer to-do list. The young forward remains unsigned for the coming season, and the conversation around his future has quickly shifted from simple paperwork to a real debate over whether Montreal should push for a bridge deal or commit longer term while he continues to develop.
TVA Sports journalist Renaud Lavoie has cast doubt on the idea that Bolduc is ready for a big-ticket payday, pointing to the growing pains that still come with a young player finding his place. For the Canadiens, the question is less about urgency than timing, with management weighing his development and eventual role before deciding whether he is ready to be paid like a core piece or still needs another step first. [Read more 🡒]
Canadiens Face A Tough Dylan Larkin Trade Dilemma
Dylan Larkins trade request has put the Canadiens in an awkward spot, because the type of deal Detroit appears willing to entertain does not line up with Montreals usual trade currency. The Red Wings are looking for help now, not a package built around prospects and draft picks, which immediately complicates any serious conversation involving a player who could change the direction of the Canadiens lineup.
For Montreal, that creates a familiar but frustrating bind. The organization has long leaned on future assets when exploring major moves, but this situation sounds far less flexible than a standard market negotiation, especially with Detroit trying to be careful about the message it sends to core young players like Lucas Raymond and Moritz Seider. That kind of stance can narrow the field fast, and it leaves the Canadiens trying to figure out whether there is a realistic path to make an offer that fits both timelines. [Read more 🡒]
Red Wings Depth Plan Suddenly Puts Evgenii Dadonov In Focus
Evgenii Dadonovs name has surfaced again in the kind of offseason chatter that tends to follow veteran forwards with options still on the table. Reports have him drawing interest from KHL clubs such as Traktor Chelyabinsk, Shanghai and Ak Bars Kazan, but the bigger detail for a North American audience is that he is reportedly trying to stay on this side of the ocean. For a player at this stage of his career, that makes the next move less about speculation and more about fit, leverage and timing.
The Canadiens also have their own reach into that same Russian and European talent stream to keep an eye on, with prospects Vinzenz Rohrer and Alexander Gordin heading toward different opportunities abroad. Rohrer is expected to sign with EV Zug in Switzerland, where he could land among the leagues top earners, while Gordin has been dealt to Izhstal Izhevsk. In a market where rights changes and overseas landing spots can reshape development paths quickly, Dadonovs situation stands out because it is still unresolved and still tied to where he ultimately wants to play. [Read more 🡒]