The Montreal Canadiens can't ignore Arber Xhekaj anymore as trade offers turn serious
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Bruce Raymond
Feb 23, 2026 (6:53 PM)
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Photo credit: David Kirouac-Imagn Images
Arber Xhekaj is suddenly in NHL trade talks, and Montreal Canadiens fans can feel the deadline heat.
The chatter is simple, contenders love a big, mean blue liner who can change the temperature of a series.
Xhekaj brings bite, a left shot, and that «Sheriff» edge teams hunt when games get nasty.
But his ice time has dipped lately, and that always makes people connect dots.
With the Canadiens sitting at 32-17-8, they are not selling for fun anymore, they are trying to level up.
That's why his name keeps popping up as a possible chip if Kent Hughes goes shopping for a top-six scorer.
Xhekaj's 2025-26 line is 1-1-2 in 50 games, plus 104 PIM, and his average TOI is down to 11:20.
Those are depth numbers, but his impact is not built on points, it's built on fear and momentum.
Arber Xhekaj puts Montreal Canadiens at a crossroads
If you're a Habs fan, you probably hate this conversation, because he feels like the kind of player you win with in April.
The real hook is value, rugged defensemen with upside don't hit the market often.
Reports around the league suggest Montreal could see serious offers, think a first-round pick or a premium prospect.
That's the type of return that makes a front office pause, even if the building loves the player.
Xhekaj, 25, is undrafted and he's on a $1.3 million cap hit that runs through 2025-26, with RFA status after.
So the Canadiens have leverage, but also a decision, pay him again, or flip him while his brand is hot.
Martin St-Louis also has a crowded blue line, and someone always ends up squeezed when minutes get tight.
If Hughes believes another defender can cover the «muscle» shift, Xhekaj becomes a path to real offense.
Still, deal him and you better replace the snarl, because March 6 is coming fast, and teams remember who gets pushed around.
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