Arber Xhekaj's contract standoff with Montreal just got a real update, and this time it's not about term or dollars.
On the DFO Rundown, Patrick Puff asked Jeff Marek directly whether he believes the Canadiens would actually consider moving Xhekaj.
"Yes, I do," Marek said, without much hesitation attached to it.
That's a notably direct answer for a situation that's mostly been framed as a contract negotiation up to this point.
Xhekaj remains an unsigned restricted free agent, still without arbitration filed and still without a new deal after his previous $1,300,000 contract expired.
He posted 1 goal and 3 assists for 4 points in 65 games last season, with 178 hits and 116 penalty minutes, the kind of physical profile that's kept his name attached to trade rumors all summer.
Philadelphia and Calgary have both been reported as interested suitors, and Marek's comment adds real weight to the idea that Montreal might actually be willing to listen seriously.
Montreal's crowded blue line makes this plausible
Part of what makes this believable is the traffic jam on Montreal's own blue line. Jayden Struble is already on the roster, and both Adam Engstrom and David Reinbacher are pushing for spots from the AHL.
That depth gives GM Kent Hughes real options, and options tend to make moving a piece like Xhekaj a lot easier to justify internally.
Herb Zurkowsky previously described Xhekaj and Montreal as sitting at a genuine crossroads, and Marek's comment fits that framing perfectly.
NHL Rumour Report shared the exchange Thursday, and it's the kind of insider confirmation that turns speculation into something worth actually watching closely.
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When a respected insider says plainly that he believes a team would look at moving a player, that's a different level of signal than fans simply speculating based on unresolved contract talks.
With training camp getting closer and no new deal in place, Xhekaj's situation in Montreal looks less like a bridge contract waiting to happen and more like a genuine fork in the road.
Do you think the Canadiens will actually trade Arber Xhekaj before the season starts?
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