The Montreal Canadiens have taken meaningful strides in recent seasons, qualifying for the Stanley Cup Playoffs in each of the last two campaigns and advancing as far as the Eastern Conference Final this past spring. Their run ultimately ended in the third round against the eventual Stanley Cup champion Carolina Hurricanes, yet the organization has continued to move decisively in free agency and contract negotiations.
General manager Kent Hughes acted quickly by securing forward Ivan Demidov to a long-term extension and locking up goaltender Jakub Dobes—who has firmly established himself as the starter—on a multi-year deal. One notable piece from last year’s roster remains unsigned, however: restricted free agent defenseman Arber Xhekaj.
While Xhekaj has yet to put pen to paper on a new contract, his agent, Brian Bartlett, offered a clear and optimistic update on his client’s intentions. Bartlett emphasized that Xhekaj’s preference remains firmly with the Canadiens.
“Arber loves Montreal; he loves playing in Montreal, loves the fans, the city, the atmosphere, the coaching staff, the development staff, Marty, Adam Nicolas, everybody,” Bartlett said. “He’s become a better hockey player there, and it’s an amazing place to play. Our hope, I think, kind of collectively, Arber’s and ours is that we can find a way to make it work with Montreal here.”
That said, Bartlett acknowledged the practical realities facing both sides. Montreal’s defensive depth creates a genuine logjam, and any resolution must balance individual interests with the team’s long-term vision.
“The flip side of that coin is that Montreal has a lot of very good players, a lot of good players at defense, and it’s trying to work out how that logjam works itself out,” Bartlett continued. “What’s the best way to have the most productive team. I think we’ve all been through this enough that we understand the Montreal Canadiens are going to do what’s best for the Montreal Canadiens and Arber Xhekaj is going to do what’s best for Arber Xhekaj. There’s a very large world where those diagrams overlap, and we’re optimistic we end up in kind of that overlap where it’s good for Montreal and good for Arber, but we’ve still got a lot of time until training camp; there’s no panic.”
Xhekaj’s path to the NHL was anything but conventional. Overlooked in the OHL draft, he began in the GOJHL with the St. Catharines Falcons before earning a roster spot with the Kitchener Rangers. After two seasons of junior hockey, he impressed the Canadiens enough at the 2021 training camp to sign a three-year entry-level contract as an undrafted free agent.
Known for his physical edge and old-school toughness, Xhekaj quickly became a fan favorite. He helped the Hamilton Bulldogs capture the OHL championship and reach the Memorial Cup final, earning a place on the Memorial Cup All-Star Team for his postseason performances.
In the NHL, Xhekaj has accumulated 230 games of experience, recording 10 goals and 23 assists for 33 points. He has also amassed 416 penalty minutes, including 116 in 65 games during the most recent season—underscoring the physical presence he brings to the blue line.
With training camp still weeks away and no firm deadline in place, both sides appear content to explore solutions patiently. Whether Xhekaj ultimately remains a Canadien or the defensive logjam forces a different outcome, Bartlett’s comments make one point unmistakable: the player wants to stay in Montreal, and the organization has time to determine if that desire can be aligned with the club’s broader plans.