Xhekaj’s Future Hangs in the Balance | Montreal Canadiens News

Arber Xhekaj’s future hangs in the balance as the Calgary Flames and Toronto Maple Leafs eyed him last season, with training camp looming and his contract still unsigned. Despite a modest salary and a drop in ice time under Montreal’s coaching staff—especially during the playoffs—he’s a physical presence whose limited postseason minutes and negative stats raise questions. With younger defensemen like Jayden Struble and prospects like David Reinbacher pushing for roles, Xhekaj’s agent remains optimistic about talks, but Montreal’s GM holds leverage as a restricted free agent. The longer this drags on, the louder the trade rumors grow—Montreal wants to keep him, but the clock is ticking. Listen in comfort:Get a discount on a Soli Pillow: http://solipillow.com/discount/dnn. Advertise on DNN:[email protected] This is an automated, high-level news summary based on public reporting.Report issues to [email protected]. View sources & latest updates:https://sources.thednn.ai/d4bb43777fb634b8