Arber Xhekaj and Martin St-Louis may soon have clarity, with the Canadiens defenseman reportedly closing in on a new contract.
Marco D'Amico reports that both sides are confident an agreement can be officially announced by Wednesday, with a chance the news arrives even sooner.
That would end the biggest remaining contract question hanging over Montreal as training camp approaches.
Nicolas Cloutier is pointing in the same direction, leaving little doubt that talks have entered their final stage.
"For Xhekaj, I expect it to be today or tomorrow unless there's a dramatic turn of events."
Nicolas Cloutier
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Two reporters now expect movement quickly, and the timing lines up with what Montreal's front office has been signaling publicly.
Arber Xhekaj deal could settle Montreal's blue line
Jeff Gorton had already expressed confidence Monday that Xhekaj would be at camp. Pierre LeBrun also reported that negotiations between the two sides were progressing well.
Xhekaj remains the Canadiens' last restricted free agent without a contract after Zachary Bolduc reached a four-year agreement over the weekend.
Training camp begins Wednesday, giving both sides an obvious reason to finish the deal before St-Louis starts setting his combinations and defensive pairings.
The more interesting issue goes beyond salary. Xhekaj's usage was reportedly a major part of the discussion after an uneven season in which his place in the lineup wasn't always secure.
He was left out of the lineup 23 times across Montreal's 101 games last season, raising questions about exactly where he fits on the blue line going forward.
Xhekaj still spent the summer training in Brossard despite the contract uncertainty, keeping himself close to the Canadiens while negotiations continued.
Kaiden Guhle's prolonged absence also increases the value of getting Xhekaj back into the group. Montreal needs bodies, stability and competition on defense before camp gets rolling.
Everything now points toward a resolution rather than a holdout. If the agreement arrives before Wednesday, attention will immediately shift from Xhekaj's contract to the role St-Louis is prepared to give him.
Will Arber Xhekaj earn a regular spot in Martin St-Louis' lineup this season?
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