Montreal Canadiens' Arber Xhekaj Faces Uncertain Future as Contract Deadline Looms
In the fast-paced world of the National Hockey League, few players stand out quite like Montreal Canadiens defenseman Arber Xhekaj. At 6-foot-4 and 240 pounds, Xhekaj brings a rare combination of size, mobility, physicality, and offensive capability that makes him a unique asset in today's game. However, as the 2026 season progresses, the rugged blue-liner finds himself at a critical crossroads with the storied franchise.
Limited Ice Time Raises Questions
Despite his imposing presence on the ice, Xhekaj has seen his playing time diminish significantly in recent games. Before the Olympic break, he was a healthy scratch for a February 4 matchup against the Winnipeg Jets and logged a season-low 5:51 of ice time in a February 2 overtime loss to the Minnesota Wild. This season, he averages just 11:20 minutes per game—the lowest among the eight defensemen utilized by the Canadiens.
Remarkably, even with this limited opportunity, Xhekaj leads the entire Canadiens roster with 135 hits. Forwards Joe Veleno (119 hits) and Zachary Bolduc (115 hits) are the only other players to surpass the century mark, while fellow defensemen Jayden Struble (73 hits) and Noah Dobson (39 hits) trail significantly behind.
Contract Situation and Roster Competition
The 25-year-old defenseman faces additional uncertainty as he approaches restricted free agency on July 1. When asked about his contract status after a recent practice in Brossard, Xhekaj offered a measured response: "We haven't discussed anything about that. We'll see what happens."
Complicating matters further, the Canadiens have promising defensive prospects David Reinbacher and Adam Engstrom developing with the AHL's Laval Bulldogs, both eyeing potential NHL roster spots. This creates increased competition for Xhekaj, who has already been a healthy scratch seven times this season, including three of the last eight games.
Coaching Relationship and Consistency Concerns
Head coach Martin St. Louis has maintained a short leash with Xhekaj, emphasizing the need for consistent performance regardless of ice time. "Stay consistent with that, and if it's 10 minutes, play the best 10 minutes you can," St. Louis advised before the break. "If it's eight, the same. It might be 13-14. It's got to be the same. We got to know what we're getting."
Xhekaj acknowledges the challenge of maintaining consistency with irregular playing time. "It's tough when you've been sitting on the bench for a long time and then you get out there," he explained. "A guy like me, I want to go throw a hit; I want to get into the game. That's how I get into the game. I want to get into it emotionally."
The defenseman has developed positive relationships with the coaching staff, particularly appreciating assistant coach Stéphane Robidas' approach. "I think he's really calm and he really tries to listen to you and what you have to say, and what your point of view was," Xhekaj noted. "He's really calm with the guys and he cares a lot about the players, so that helps a lot."
Potential Trade Interest and Personal Reflection
As the March 6 NHL trade deadline approaches, general manager Kent Hughes faces difficult decisions regarding Xhekaj's future with the organization. Given the scarcity of players with Xhekaj's skill set across the league, other general managers are likely to express interest in acquiring the physical defenseman.
Some analysts suggest that Xhekaj might benefit from a fresh start with another team willing to provide more consistent playing time and tolerate occasional mistakes as part of his development. However, the Canadiens must weigh whether they can afford to lose his unique physical presence, particularly in potential playoff scenarios.
During the Olympic break, Xhekaj traveled to the Bahamas for mental reset. "It was nice to get away and just get some sun and reset the mind and get ready for the back half of the season here," he shared. "I just got to keep going and stick to my game and try and play as good as I can for the team with the minutes I get, and hopefully I can stay in the lineup."
As the season resumes, Xhekaj remains focused on improvement. "I just need to clean up my game and be more consistent, I guess," he concluded, acknowledging the work ahead. With his contract situation unresolved and his role on the team uncertain, the coming months will prove decisive for both Xhekaj and the Canadiens organization.
