Trade talk around Arber Xhekaj is starting to pick up, and the Canadiens still haven’t put a new contract in place for the rugged defenceman.
The 25-year-old, who went undrafted and has become a fan favourite in Montreal, carried a cap hit of US$1.3 million last season. He remains a restricted free agent this year and next, and won’t reach unrestricted free agency until the summer of 2028.
On the ice, Xhekaj has the kind of edge plenty of teams want. That same appeal is part of why other clubs are circling, with The Fourth Period’s David Pagnotta saying there’s outside interest as teams try to add more sandpaper to their lineups.
"Canadiens have valued him for some time and they haven't pulled the trigger because A) they haven't found a deal they want, because B) they want to keep the player."
That stance may surprise some Montreal fans, especially after Xhekaj’s role shrank under coach Martin St. Louis last season. He averaged a career-low 11:25 in 65 games, then saw that number fall even further in the playoffs, logging just 8:06 per game over eight outings during the Canadiens’ run to the Eastern Conference final.
The production wasn’t much of a cushion, either. Xhekaj finished the regular season with one goal and three assists, while piling up 116 penalty minutes. He added another goal in the postseason.
Montreal’s blue line picture is crowded, too. All seven regular defencemen are expected back, and prospects David Reinbacher and Adam Engstrom are also pushing to make the jump.
Pagnotta pointed to the Philadelphia Flyers as one team that could be in the mix for Xhekaj, and that comes after the Calgary Flames were also mentioned as a possible Western Conference suitor for the six-foot-four, 240-pound defenceman.
There’s no arbitration deadline hanging over this one, either. Unlike teammate Kirby Dach, Xhekaj did not file, so the Canadiens and his camp don’t have a fixed finish line for negotiations.
The market for offer sheets has already been tested this offseason, but only Utah forward Barrett Hayton and Anaheim centre Leo Carlsson went that route. Both had their offers matched and stayed with their original teams.
General manager Kent Hughes has made a habit of locking up key pieces for the long haul, and Ivan Demidov was the latest to join that group. He now sits alongside Nick Suzuki, Cole Caufield, Juraj Slafkovsky, Noah Dobson and Lane Hutson on eight-year extensions, though that kind of deal won’t be available much longer. On Sept. 16, the next collective bargaining agreement begins, and contracts will be capped at seven years.
Xhekaj isn’t the only Canadiens player still without a deal for next season. Forward Zachary Bolduc is also a restricted free agent after a sophomore campaign that produced 12 goals and 30 points.
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