'I think the CH is considering trading Arber Xhekaj.'

IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

'I think the CH is considering trading Arber Xhekaj.'

Originally posted on Dose.ca | Last updated Aug 7, 2026 7:43 PM ET

Arber Xhekaj still doesn’t have a contract for next season. The CH still holds the defenseman’s rights, but no agreement has been announced yet.

Is the matter settled, and will the contract be announced early next week? We'll see.

That said, contract or not, Xhekaj is in a precarious situation in Montreal. There's competition on the blue line, and one wonders if there's still room for “The Sheriff” in town.

And it's interesting to note that Jeff Marek, appearing on DFO Rundown, was asked whether he believes the Habs are considering trading Xhekaj at this time.

His answer? Yes, he thinks that's the case.

Jason Gregor, who was also on the panel, wondered, however, whether the Habs were in a position where they could afford to even consider it. We know there are some pretty tough teams in the East (especially in the Atlantic Division), and one has to wonder if the Habs can trade Xhekaj in a situation where things might get heated.

In a game against the Panthers, for example, having a player like Xhekaj wouldn't go amiss.

One might wonder if the Habs, should they trade Arber, might consider making room for his younger brother Florian to fill that role. The team has a bit more room on offense right now, and we know it's less of a liability to have a fighter on offense than on defense.

But at the same time, Florian isn't necessarily ready to play in the NHL: is he really a viable option?

We know that Jeff Gorton, during his time in New York, saw his Rangers get run over due to their lack of physical play. The Habs have shown over the past few months that they're capable of holding their own… but the team doesn't have a ton of extremely physical players either.

And trading Xhekaj wouldn't help, let's be clear.