Canadiens Notes: Next for Arber Xhekaj?

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The Montreal Canadiens offseason has remained relatively quiet. Some fans expect Kent Hughes to make impactful roster changes. However, none of the offseason transactions significantly shift expectations for 2026–27. The notable moves include contract extensions for Ivan Demidov, Jakub Dobes, and Kirby Dach. Furthermore, the recent addition of Derek Lalonde boosts the coaching staff’s experience.

Meanwhile, Arber Xhekaj and Zachary Bolduc are the two remaining unsigned restricted free agents Hughes must address before the season begins. Xhekaj’s name has recently surfaced in trade speculations, with David Pagnotta linking him to the Philadelphia Flyers. The 25‑year‑old’s physical style has made him a fan favourite.

Job Not Done

Xhekaj’s previous deal paid him $1.3 million over two seasons, and he is two years away from unrestricted free agency.

“Arber loves Montreal—he loves playing there, the fans, the city, the atmosphere, and the entire coaching and development staff, from Marty down to Adam Nicholas,” Brian Bartlett, Xhekaj’s agent told TSN 690. “Our collective hope is that we can find a way to make it work in Montreal.”

“The flip side is that Montreal has a lot of good players at both forward and defense, and at some point, it’s a matter of figuring out how that logjam works itself out to build the most productive team. We understand the Canadiens are going to do what’s best for the organization, and Arber Xhekaj is going to do what’s best for himself,” he added. “We still have plenty of time until training camp, so there’s no panic on either end—sometimes these things just take a while to sort out.”

As Montreal improved, Xhekaj’s ice time steadily declined. He averaged 15:34 over his first two seasons, but just 11:25 last year. With no changes to the defensive core, there’s little reason to expect his role to increase this season.

Hughes has received praise for the team friendly deals signed by the roster’s core. Bartlett expressed respect for the former agent turned general manager.

“I think he’s the same as a GM as he was as an agent—a good communicator who lets you know where you stand and what the plan is. Talking to other GMs around the league, that’s who he was as an agent, too. But he’s tough; he’s not going to get bullied or pushed around.”