While the Montreal Canadiens have done their due diligence and re-signed young foundational players like Ivan Demidov and Jakub Dobes to multi-year contracts, one particular player is still awaiting a new deal as the new season gets closer and closer.
Restricted free agent defenseman Arber Xhekaj remains unsigned, and with each passing day, speculation begins to build in the minds of Habs fans everywhere about his future with the club.
According to a recent report from NHL Insider Jeff Marek, the Habs ought to consider sending him to another club – in the Western Conference, to be specific.
NHL Insider Jeff Marek Urges Montreal Canadiens To Trade Arber Xhekaj To Western Conference
While Marek noted that Xhekaj had been connected to the Philadelphia Flyers, he said that the club would be better served by trading him to the Western Conference.
“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,” he said.
According to Xhekaj’s agent Brian Bartlett, he loves playing in Montreal for the Canadiens, and the collective hope is that a deal can eventually be reached.
“He loves playing in Montreal, he loves the fans, he loves the city. Our hope collectively is that we can find a way to make it work in Montreal,” he said.
He concluded by saying that there’s still plenty of time between now and the start of Training Camp for a deal to materialize.
“The Montreal Canadiens are going to do what’s best (for them), and Arber Xhekaj will do what’s best (for him).” He then added, “We still have a lot of time until training camp. There’s no panic.”
Finally, he said, “On the flip side of that coin, is Montreal has a lot of really good players. A lot of good players at forward, a lot of good players at defense and at some point, it’s trying to figure out how that logjam works itself out. What’s the best way to have the most productive team.”
Arber Xhekaj Made His NHL Debut In 2022 With The Habs
Xhekaj went from an unlikely NHL roster candidate to making the Canadiens’ opening-night lineup in 2022 after playing in the OHL with the Kitchener Rangers and and Hamilton Bulldogs.
Known for his physical style, he became the first NHL player with a surname beginning with “X” and quickly gained the nickname “Wi-Fi.” He scored his first NHL goal and finished his rookie season with 13 points and a team-leading 101 penalty minutes before a season-ending shoulder injury.
After another injury in 2023–24, Xhekaj spent time with the American Hockey League affiliate Laval Rocket developing his defensive game before returning to Montreal, where he recorded 10 points in 44 games before suffering another season-ending injury.
He signed a two-year, $2.6 million extension in 2024 and reached 100 NHL games that October. After being scratched late in the 2024–25 season, he made his NHL playoff debut against Washington in April 2025.
This past season, he skated in 65 games and scored once while adding three assists. He also had a goal and an assist in 13 postseason games as the Habs advanced to the Eastern Conference Final.
NHL Insider Urges Canadiens To Take Specific Action With Arber Xhekaj