Canadiens' RFA Arber Xhekaj Has Another Suitor, Out West
His name has been out there on the rumor mill all summer, as he's still unsigned as a restricted free agent. Is Arber Xhekaj in the Montreal Canadiens' plans for 2026-27?
Some teams have been linked to the pugilistic defenseman, but so far, no trade and no new contract is forthcoming.
We're now hearing, per Herb Zurkowsky of The Montreal Gazette, that the Calgary Flames are another team that has had interest in Xhekaj.
The Flames are reportedly interested in acquiring RFA Arber Xhekaj from the Canadiens. 🔥👀 Would you make this move?
— Daily Faceoff (@DailyFaceoff) August 3, 2026
(Via MontrealGazette) pic.twitter.com/75MauLHbQP
The writer says that a source revealed that the Flames had interest in the player back at the trade deadline in March, and they join the Philadelphia Flyers this off-season as suitors.
There are conflicting reports, however, about the Flames' potential enthusiasm for Xhekaj. Anthony Di Marco reports that Calgary's pursuit dissipated after they acquired Jake Middleton from the Minnesota Wild in the Blake Coleman trade a month ago.
So what exactly is the hold-up on a decision on which way to move on the 6'4", 240-pound d-man?
Xhekaj & Habs at 'a crossroads'
Interestingly, Xhekaj and his agent did not file for arbitration, as they apparently wanted to "avoid some potential hard feelings," per Zurkowsky.
But that leaves the player with no leverage after his deal at $1.3M expired.
"The contract should have been done by now. There’s not a lot of wiggle room or grey area. Xhekaj’s agent, Brian Bartlett, can probably seek a small raise on the first year of any new deal. The Canadiens, in turn, might want a three-year contract to protect their asset while determining exactly what they possess in Xhekaj — or a one-year deal while both sides continue to work on that process."
Clearly, as the writer notes, the two sides are at "a crossroads."
Zurkowsky adds that the blueline is getting crowded in Montreal, as, in addition to determining whether there’s a future for Xhekaj, they must also figure out where Jayden Struble fits, and whether Adam Engstrom and/or David Reinbacher are ready to make the big jump from the AHL level.