There’s been a lot of discussion this offseason about whether restricted free agent Arber Xhekaj would be returning to the Montreal Canadiens. It’s unknown whether the rugged defenseman will have a regular role this coming season, which, so far, has made it difficult for the two sides to agree on a new contract. As a result, trade rumors have emerged. The latest of which has the Philadelphia Flyers showing interest in Xhekaj. Insider David Pagnotta noted on the DFO Rundown this week that the Flyers have joined the Calgary Flames as suitors for the 6’4″ blueliner.
The Flyers have “had trade interest in him for years; still the case now,” Pagnotta said. Xhekaj is coming off a two-year, $2.6 million contract ($1.3M AAV).
While the Habs & the d-man have not closed the door on an extension, money is not the issue; it’s whether he still has a fit on the Montreal blueline. With left-shot rearguards Lane Hutson, Kaiden Guhle, and Mike Matheson already signed to lengthy deals, where’s the fit for Xhekaj, whose average ice time sunk to a career-low 11:25 this past season?
Could a swap of defensemen solve issues for both the Canadiens & Flyers?Answer: the fit just might be in Philly. The Flyers have a right-shot d-man on the trade market in Rasmus Ristolainen, and the Canadiens had interest in him at the trade deadline. Brandon Croce of A Winning Habit has suggested that a swap of the two could be an option, if the Habs threw in a little something-something to beef up their end of the package. The Flyers had been asking for a first-round pick for Ristolainen, and Xhekaj, while he certainly fills a role that could be valuable on a number of teams, has never been mistaken for a first-round type of talent. This situation could drag on a bit through the summer. Xhekaj was recently included in the Montreal’s round-up of summer moments. As Pagnotta added about the trade rumors, “They haven’t traded him because, firstly, they didn’t get a satisfactory return, and secondly, they want to keep the player.”