Arber Xhekaj (Credit: Getty Images) Montreal Canadiens sign Arber Xhekaj to a one-year $1.5 million contract for the 2026-27 NHL season. The 25-year-old defenseman will stay in Montreal, where he played 65 regular-season games and appeared in 13 Stanley Cup Playoff contests last season, under the terms of the deal.The deal also settles Montreal’s last remaining restricted free-agent case with Xhekaj ahead of training camp. His physical style is still a staple of his game, and his postseason experience gives the Canadiens another trusted option on the blueline as they head into the new campaign.
Arber Xhekaj returns to Montreal Canadiens after playoffs
Arber Xhekaj returns to the Montreal Canadiens on a one-year, $1.5 million deal for 2026-27. General manager Kent Hughes announced the deal Sept. 15, ending the defenseman’s restricted free-agent talks.Xhekaj played in 65 regular season games during the 2025-26 season, recording one goal and three assists for four points. He also had 116 penalty minutes, and the Canadiens said he led the team in hits and penalty minutes.The deal comes after Xhekaj dressed for 13 Stanley Cup Playoff games during Montreal’s run to the Eastern Conference Final. He had a goal and an assist, including the first postseason goal of his NHL career in Game 6 against the Buffalo Sabres on May 16.The one-year structure gives Xhekaj another season to make a place for himself in Montreal’s defensive group. The deal is worth an average of $1.5 million per year and runs through the end of the 2026-27 season.Signed by the Canadiens as an undrafted free agent in October 2021. He has played in 230 regular-season games and registered 33 points since making his NHL debut in 2022-23.His game tends to focus less on offensive production and more on physical play. Xhekaj is 6-foot-4 and weighs 240 pounds, giving Montreal a big physical presence on defence that can come in handy when games get tough.
How Arber Xhekaj fits Montreal Canadiens plans
Xhekaj enters training camp with NHL and playoff experience already in the bag, but the competition for defensive spots is still part of Montreal’s offseason picture. The Canadiens have younger defensemen pushing for opportunities as well, which adds to the competition for ice time.Montreal’s recent development has been a young core of Nick Suzuki, Cole Caufield, Juraj Slafkovsky, Ivan Demidov and Alex Newhook. Meanwhile, Newhook signed a four-year, $22.2 million extension and Xhekaj’s shorter deal keeps the defenseman under contract for next season.Now it’s on to camp and preseason. Xhekaj’s size, physicality and playoff experience give the Montreal Canadiens a known option on the defensive side as the organization prepares for the 2026-27 NHL season.Xhekaj’s regular-season numbers weren’t eye-popping, but his physical presence stood out. He was assessed 116 minutes in penalties in 65 games for the Canadiens and was credited by the club with 148 hits, fifth in the NHL in penalty minutes.With the new contract in the books, Xhekaj can now head into the 2026-27 campaign without the uncertainty of being a restricted free agent. His physical strengths and postseason experience will be the next challenge to translate into a regular role on Montreal’s evolving defence.