Calgary Flames & Montreal Canadiens Talking Trade
Flames Target Arber Xhekaj for Grit
The Calgary Flames may be trending toward a retool, but that has not stopped general manager Craig Conroy from exploring ways to tweak his blue line.
Xhekaj, 25, brings something Calgary lacks in abundance: intimidation and edge. The 6-foot-4 left-shot defender leads the Canadiens with 137 hits in 51 games this season, well ahead of the next closest teammate.
Through 216 career NHL games, he has 10 goals and 31 points, but offence has never been his calling card. His value comes from punishing shifts, net-front presence, and a willingness to answer the bell against anyone in the league.
I’m hearing Calgary has an interest in #Habs’ defenceman Arber Xhekaj
— Herb Zurkowsky (@HerbZurkowsky1) March 3, 2026
Xhekaj carries a manageable $1.3 million cap hit and is set to become a restricted free agent this summer. Around the league, physical defencemen with size and personality remain coveted pieces, especially for Western Conference teams that regularly face heavy forward groups.
This season, he's down to just 11:21 average time on ice, compared to last season's number of 14:37.
Canadiens Weigh Asset Value on Xhekaj
For the Montreal Canadiens, this is where things get complicated.
Xhekaj has become a fan favorite at the Bell Centre, but he has also found himself in and out of the lineup. Head coach Martin St. Louis has rotated him with Jayden Struble on the third pair, and Xhekaj is averaging roughly 11 minutes per game this season.
His underlying numbers at five-on-five hover below break-even possession, sitting around a 47 percent career Corsi rate, which has limited his trust in expanded roles.
Report: The Flames may have interest in #GoHabsGo defenceman Arber Xhekaj.
— The Win Column (@wincolumnCGY) March 3, 2026
With the trade deadline 3 days away, something to keep an eye on! #Flames pic.twitter.com/umOfXS7br0
Montreal’s defensive core is getting crowded. With Lane Hutson, Kaiden Guhle, Noah Dobson, Mike Matheson and Alexandre Carrier ahead of him, and prospects like David Reinbacher pushing, general manager Kent Hughes must decide whether Xhekaj fits the long-term picture or whether this is the right time to maximize his trade value.
The Canadiens are in the playoff mix, and moving their most physical defenceman would change the identity of the group, especially after already losing some forward grit in recent seasons.
Photo Credit: Wendell Cruz-Imagn Images
