The latest Flyers-Canadiens chatter is about Arber Xhekaj, but this one feels like a stretch.
On Wednesday’s episode of DFO Rundown, Frank Seravalli said there are “other teams that have expressed, over the last few weeks, interest in trading for Arber Xhekaj,” and added, “Philadelphia has been one. They had interest in him for the last couple of years, and still the case now. But nothing imminent on that front just yet.”
That’s not exactly a trade on the doorstep. And for the Flyers, it’s hard to see why this would be the move now.
Yes, Philadelphia could use more edge after losing Nick Deslauriers at the NHL trade deadline and sending Garnet Hathaway to Florida earlier this offseason. But both of those players were forwards. Xhekaj is a defenseman, and that changes the equation.
The Flyers already have some bite on the blue line with Simon Benoit and veteran Nick Seeler, both of whom can bring the sandpaper when needed. Adding Xhekaj would mean bringing in an eighth defenseman at a time when the organization is trying to work young players like Oliver Bonk and David Jiricek into the mix. That’s a tough fit.
There’s also the price. Xhekaj is 25, which makes him younger than Benoit, who is 27, and Seeler, who is 33.
But youth alone doesn’t make the deal work. Philadelphia would have to send assets to Montreal and then pay Xhekaj on a new contract after the trade.
Seeler carries a $2.7 million cap hit for the next two seasons, while Benoit is on a one-year deal at $1.35 million. That setup gives the Flyers more room to chase a bigger upgrade later on, the kind of move they’d actually want at the position. Xhekaj doesn’t really fit that profile.
If this trade ever made sense, Seeler would likely have to be the piece going back to Montreal. Benoit isn’t moving again so soon after arriving. And while Seeler’s full no-trade clause expired on July 1, making him eligible to be dealt anywhere, the Canadiens would still have to weigh whether a 33-year-old shot-blocker nearing decline is the right return.
Montreal’s side matters too. Pagnotta said the Canadiens want to keep Xhekaj, which raises the obvious question: what would Philadelphia have to send back to make that worthwhile for them?
For now, there’s not much here to grab onto. The Flyers have younger defensemen in Hunter McDonald and Ty Murchison who deserve a look and wouldn’t cost anything in a trade. Until something changes, this rumor looks like one to put away.
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