General manager Kent Hughes locked up key pieces of the team’s young core and created valuable salary-cap flexibility, positioning Montreal to be a true postseason contender.
Yet amid all the excitement surrounding Montreal’s young core, uncertainty continues to surround one popular defenseman, prompting an NHL insider to warn the Canadiens against making a costly trade.
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Arber Xhekaj’s name has surfaced in trade rumors throughout the offseason because of a combination of contract negotiations and Montreal’s crowded defense corps.
The restricted free agent remains without a new contract, although reports suggest the holdup is more about contract structure than money. At the same time, the Canadiens have plenty of left-shot defensemen, with Lane Hutson, Kaiden Guhle, Mike Matheson, and Jayden Struble all competing for regular minutes.
Speaking on The Sheet with Jeff Marek, the veteran insider suggested that if Xhekaj eventually asks for a bigger role elsewhere, Montreal should think carefully about where it sends him.
“It’s been out there for a while that Philadelphia could be that landing spot. My thought on a player like Arber Xhekaj though, is you send them to the other conference,” Marek said.
Marek described Xhekaj as a rare player because of the size and toughness he brings every night. “But I look at Xhekaj, and I say, that’s a luxury item. And it’s got to be so to walk away from a luxury item. Do you need it?… Do you want it? Absolutely,” he added.
At 6-foot-4 and more than 240 pounds, Xhekaj is one of the NHL’s most physical defensemen. Marek believes trading him to another Eastern Conference team could come back to haunt Montreal, especially if the Canadiens have to face him multiple times each season or in a playoff series.
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Despite Marek’s warning, the Philadelphia Flyers continue to be one of the teams most interested in Xhekaj. NHL insider David Pagnotta has reported that Flyers general manager Daniel Brière has been interested in the defenseman for more than a year, believing his physical style would fit well with Philadelphia’s blue line.
However, dealing with a division or conference rival would likely require a much bigger return than a trade with a Western Conference club.
If Hughes decides to honor Marek’s advice and ship Xhekaj out West, several contenders make logical trade partners: Calgary Flames, Edmonton Oilers, and St. Louis Blues.
For now, Montreal still hopes to keep Xhekaj in the fold. But if he pushes for a larger role that the Canadiens cannot offer, Hughes may have to consider a trade. If that happens, Marek believes the smartest move would be sending the rugged defenseman to the Western Conference rather than risking facing him regularly in the East.
