Arber Xhekaj lands at the center of a new three-player Canadiens trade proposal
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Arber Xhekaj is back at the center of trade speculation, and one proposal would send him from the Montreal Canadiens to the Calgary Flames.The suggested return is right-handed defenseman Zach Whitecloud, with Montreal also adding a second-round pick or a prospect to complete the deal.
Xhekaj remains unsigned by the Montreal Canadiens for the upcoming season, and his long-term future in Montreal has become a growing topic after the limited role Martin St-Louis gave him.
The proposed deal comes from trade speculation rather than active negotiations, but Calgary’s reported interest in Xhekaj has been discussed for months.
“Xhekaj and a second-round pick to Calgary in exchange for right-handed defenseman Zach Whitecloud, who heads to the Montreal Canadiens.”
Would you make that trade?
There’s room to debate whether Kent Hughes should have to include a second-round pick on top of Xhekaj, especially considering Calgary’s rebuilding direction. Still, Whitecloud is an intriguing fit for Montreal’s blue line.
According to David Pagnotta, Whitecloud and Morgan Frost are among the players currently available on the trade market.
The Canadiens have been searching for a right-handed defenseman capable of handling significant minutes, and Whitecloud fits that profile.
He has two years remaining on his contract with a $2.75 million cap hit, making him an affordable option if Montreal decides to pursue help on the right side.
Does Zach Whitecloud justify the added price?
Calgary’s reported interest in Xhekaj isn’t new.
His name surfaced in Flames trade speculation on March 3 and again on May 20, suggesting the connection has persisted throughout the offseason.
The Flames and Canadiens have also completed trades together in recent years, making the two organizations familiar partners if discussions were ever to become serious.
The proposal still comes down to one question: is Zach Whitecloud enough of an upgrade to justify moving Arber Xhekaj and adding a second-round pick?
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Arber Xhekaj lands at the center of a new three-player Canadiens trade proposal
Would you trade Arber Xhekaj and a 2nd round pick for Zach Whitecloud?