Arber Xhekaj sign-and-trade talk tests how Kent Hughes values Montreal's toughest defenceman

Stu Cowan of the Montreal Gazette raised the possibility of a sign-and-trade involving Arber Xhekaj, but there is no public sign that the Canadiens will trade him.

Cowan's article discussed the possibility of GM Kent Hughes trading Arber Xhekaj given that the team is still in the market for a right-handed veteran defenceman, and he believes Xhekaj won't have a spot if the team acquires that coveted piece:

The fact neither player [Xhekaj and Zac Bolduc] has signed yet leads me to believe they could become part of sign-and-trade deals before Sept. 16...There won't be a regular spot on the Canadiens' blue line for Xhekaj this season if Hughes is able to acquire an experienced right-shot defenceman.

This also echoes Jeff Marek's belief that the Canadiens would be open to trading Xhekaj at some point:

I love Arber Xhekaj, but I think that that is probably someone the Canadiens entertain trading.

Xhekaj's unsigned status doesn't automatically guarantee a trade

Now, this doesn't mean that Xhekaj is definitively getting traded, nor did Montreal publicly state they were moving on from the tough-as-nails blueliner. But if the team does end up bringing in that long-rumoured right-handed shot then he could be expendable.

Xhekaj, 25, had four points and 116 PIM in 65 games for the Canadiens in 2025-26 while adding 178 hits in only 11:25 TOI. Typically used as a player to add toughness and shift momentum with a big hit or fight, Xhekaj has 33 career points and 416 career PIM in 230 games (14:07 TOI).

With Xhekaj still unsigned, outside interest becomes part of the equation. David Pagnotta reported in July that multiple teams had contacted Montreal to ask about his availability, although there has been no indication that Kent Hughes is actively shopping him.

Kent Hughes has to decide whether Xhekaj's role is worth more than his trade value

The real question for Hughes is not whether teams value Xhekaj, but whether any return is worth removing a player whose physical profile is difficult to replace. If Montreal does pursue an experienced right-shot defenceman, Xhekaj's path to regular minutes could become even tighter.

But Xhekaj also adds a layer of protection throughout the entire Canadiens lineup. If you were to take him out, teams may be a bit more aggressive and target them a bit more knowing that Xhekaj won't be there to get in the middle, and you lose a fan favourite who brought the crowd to life at times.

A trade makes sense on the business front because Hughes can exchange one expendable asset for a chance to add more draft capital or even perhaps that right-handed defenceman he desires so much.

Trading Xhekaj would remove one of Montreal's most physical players, but keeping him only makes sense if there is a meaningful role available. That is the decision Hughes ultimately has to make: preserve a unique depth piece, or use his current market value to address a greater roster need.

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