The Arber Xhekaj trade rumors suddenly feel much more interesting with the Montreal Canadiens training camp approaching.
Xhekaj remains a restricted free agent without a contract for the 2026-27 season, but the bigger issue may not be money. It could be whether the Montreal Canadiens actually have enough meaningful NHL minutes available for him anymore.
That distinction matters.
Montreal has nearly $9.8 million in projected salary-cap space, so squeezing another Xhekaj contract onto the books shouldn’t be the problem. Instead, Lane Hutson, Kaiden Guhle, Mike Matheson, Noah Dobson and Alexandre Carrier give Martin St. Louis five established options, while Jayden Struble, David Reinbacher and Adam Engström are also pushing for roles.
And there is another number that jumps off the page: Xhekaj’s ice time has been moving in the wrong direction.
His average reportedly dropped from 15:56 in 2023-24 to 14:37 in 2024-25 and only 11:25 in 2025-26.
For me, that is where this story changes from a routine RFA negotiation into a legitimate trade storyline.
Montreal Canadiens May Be Facing an Arber Xhekaj Roster Problem
Journal de Montréal raised an intriguing question Tuesday: why didn’t Xhekaj elect salary arbitration when he had the opportunity?
Had he done so, his contract situation likely would have been settled weeks ago. Instead, he’s still unsigned with training camp roughly two weeks away.
The report wondered whether Xhekaj’s camp could be looking for more than simply a salary agreement, perhaps clarity regarding his role and whether he’ll consistently be in the lineup. According to the outlet’s count, Montreal played 101 games between the regular season and playoffs last season, and Xhekaj was scratched 23 times. In 30 of his 78 appearances, he played fewer than 10 minutes.
That is significant.
A 25-year-old defenseman doesn’t just need a contract. He needs a path toward playing.
Xhekaj also requires waivers, meaning Montreal doesn’t have the same flexibility it has with younger prospects who can move between Laval and the NHL without risk.
Arber Xhekaj’s Declining Role Is the Number to Watch
The trend tells a fairly clear story.
Xhekaj hasn’t suddenly become unable to play NHL hockey. Montreal has simply accumulated more talented defensemen around him.
Reinbacher is particularly important. NHL.com recently ranked the former fifth-overall selection as Montreal’s top prospect and described him as likely first in line for an NHL recall. Engström, meanwhile, produced 34 points in 45 AHL games last season.
That competition isn’t disappearing.
Montreal Can Afford Xhekaj — That’s Not the Problem
The Canadiens currently project to have approximately $9.78 million in cap space against the NHL’s $104 million ceiling, with PuckPedia listing a 21-player active roster.
Xhekaj’s previous contract carried a $1.3 million cap hit. His qualifying offer is $1.3 million, while AFP Analytics projects approximately $1.482 million for one season.
Here is what several hypothetical contracts would do to Montreal’s current projected space:
That calculation reinforces my view: this isn’t primarily a salary-cap problem.
Montreal can afford Xhekaj.
The question is whether Montreal can offer him the role that makes another contract worthwhile for both sides.
NHL Teams Have Already Called About Arber Xhekaj
This also isn’t a trade rumor created simply because Xhekaj remains unsigned.
The Daily Faceoff previously reported that multiple clubs had contacted Montreal about Xhekaj, with the Philadelphia Flyers among the teams identified as having interest. The Canadiens were reportedly reluctant to move him and hadn’t received an offer they considered sufficient.
As of September 1, Xhekaj remains a Canadiens property, and there is no credible report that a deal is imminent. In fact, Xhekaj participated in an informal skate with Canadiens teammates in Brossard on August 31 despite remaining unsigned.
His agent Brian Bartlett also said publicly in late July that Xhekaj “loves playing there” and expressed hope that the two sides would find a solution in Montreal.
So this should not be interpreted as Xhekaj demanding out.
But circumstances can change.
Training camp has a way of forcing decisions that can remain unresolved during July and August.
Arber Xhekaj Trade Value Index
At 6-foot-4 and 240 pounds, Xhekaj brings something Montreal’s other young defensemen don’t necessarily replicate. He can protect teammates, alter the physical tone of a game and make opponents think twice before taking liberties around Montreal’s skilled players.
That has real value.
But trade value and lineup value aren’t always the same thing.
If Reinbacher proves he’s ready, Engström forces his way into the discussion, and Struble remains ahead of Xhekaj in certain situations, Kent Hughes could eventually face a simple asset-management decision: is Xhekaj more valuable as Montreal’s seventh or eighth defenseman, or as a trade asset another organization is prepared to play regularly?
That’s where I believe this situation could become fascinating.
Arber Xhekaj Career NHL Stats
| Type | GP | G | A | P | +/- |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Regular Season | 230 | 10 | 23 | 33 | -24 |
| Playoffs | 16 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 6 |
Could the Canadiens Actually Trade Arber Xhekaj Before Training Camp?
I wouldn’t call an Arber Xhekaj trade inevitable.
Not yet.
But I would call it considerably more plausible than it appeared earlier this summer.
The contract remains unresolved. His minutes have declined. Montreal’s young defensemen are getting closer to the NHL. Other teams have already checked on his availability. And unlike in July, the Canadiens are approaching a point where roster decisions have consequences.
My expectation remains that Montreal’s first choice is to sign Xhekaj and bring him into camp.
But if his camp wants greater certainty about playing time and Kent Hughes cannot realistically provide it, a trade could eventually become the cleanest outcome for everyone.
That’s why the next two weeks matter.
This isn’t really about whether Montreal has enough money for Arber Xhekaj.
It’s about whether Montreal still has enough room for him.
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