The Canadiens are hearing from other teams about Arber Xhekaj, but that doesn’t mean Montreal is eager to move him.
According to insider David Pagnotta, who said as much on “Leafs Morning Take”, clubs have been calling about the restricted free agent defenseman. That fits the profile.
At 6-foot-4, Xhekaj brings size, physicality and a clear willingness to stand up for teammates, the kind of traits that naturally attract attention around the league. He’s still developing, but he already gives Montreal a rare mix of toughness and upside on the blue line.
Even with the outside interest, there’s no sign the Canadiens are shopping him. Jeff Gorton addressed the situation directly and said, “We’ve already had conversations with Arber himself when he left Montreal for the summer.
I feel pretty confident that all our guys will continue good conversations. Right now it’s the draft, kind of concentrate on that, and then we’ll turn the page in a few days.”
One detail that stands out: Xhekaj did not file for salary arbitration. That’s often taken as a hint that a deal could be close, and Sportsnet’s Eric Engels also suggested there’s no real reason for fans to worry about the situation turning into something bigger.
So yes, teams are checking in. That part is real.
But the current read is that Montreal’s priority is a new contract, not a trade. Still, Kent Hughes has shown he’ll make a move if the return is right, and if an offer comes along that’s too strong to ignore, Xhekaj could be dealt.
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