Insider Explains Why Xhekaj Remains Unsigned In Montreal
Daily Faceoff's Anthony Di Marco joined TSN Radio in Montreal and was asked whether the current market for defensemen is part of the reason Xhekaj hasn't signed.
The host pointed specifically to Pittsburgh's Ville Koivunen, who just landed a significant contract despite lacking Xhekaj's track record of NHL production, as the kind of deal that could be changing how players and agents view their own leverage right now.
A Deal That Was Supposed To Be Simple
This wasn't expected to drag on this long.
Xhekaj's agent, Brian Bartlett, made clear back in late July that both sides wanted to get something done. "He loves playing in Montreal, he loves the fans, he loves the city," Bartlett said. "Our hope collectively is that we can find a way to make it work in Montreal." Bartlett downplayed any urgency at the time, adding, "We still have a lot of time until training camp. There's no panic."
Is there any chance that Zack Bolduc and/or Arber Xhekaj remained unsigned after the start of training camp?#GoHabsGo #thesickpodcast @TonyMarinaro @BWildeMTL pic.twitter.com/5Km7KrbOLV
— The Sick Podcast with Tony Marinaro (@thesickpodcasts) August 20, 2026
Xhekaj's previous deal carried a modest $1.3 million cap hit, a number that looked like a bargain for a defenseman who led Montreal with 178 hits and 116 penalty minutes last season while elevating his game further in the playoffs, posting two points and a plus-five rating in 13 games as the Canadiens reached the Eastern Conference Final.
Why The Market Matters So Much Here
This offseason has seen a wave of contracts for young, physical, or unproven players land well above where they might have a year ago, part of the ripple effect that started with Leo Carlsson's $18 million offer sheet from Philadelphia.
If agents around the league are recalibrating what players like Xhekaj are worth based on those comparables, it would explain a negotiation that both sides insist isn't contentious but also hasn't produced a signature.
Xhekaj has regularly played five minutes less than the next-lowest defenseman on Montreal's roster, raising the possibility that something has maybe cooled between his camp and the team beyond just the number on the page.
Multiple teams have called about Xhekaj over the past few weeks, according to Pagnotta, and Montreal has said no to all of them so far.
Per the Montreal Gazette's Stu Cowan, the Philadelphia Flyers and Calgary Flames emerged as the top two suitors, though Calgary's interest has reportedly cooled since acquiring defenseman Jake Middleton from Minnesota.
Xhekaj's younger brother, Florian, was drafted by Montreal in the fourth round in 2024 and is expected to eventually push for a roster spot himself, which could give both sides extra incentive to make this work rather than force a split.
