Canadiens weighing sign-and-trade options for Arber Xhekaj, Zachary Bolduc

“If I had my druthers, we did it yesterday.”

That is what Kent Hughes, general manager of the Montreal Canadiens, said on July 1 after being unable to swing on a big move that he was looking for. However, there is still time this offseason for the Canadiens to do so, and according to Stu Cowan of the Montreal Gazette, they could still make headlines in the lulls of the offseason by trading one of their two remaining RFAs.

Since then, and even before that day, the Canadiens have been looking to address two major needs within their roster composition: a second-line center behind Nick Suzuki and, as Cowan points out, an experienced right-shot defenseman that can play alongside a standout player in Lane Hutson. Either acquisition will cost Montreal, but they won’t play ball unless the fit is there.

Two players, who remain unsigned as restricted free agents, were listed as trade chips to acquire the previously mentioned needs for the Canadiens in forward Zachary Bolduc and defenseman Arber Xhekaj. The 23-year-old Bolduc scored 30 points in 78 games for Montreal and further impressed in the playoffs, registering 7 points in their 19-game stretch. He was also second in hits behind Kaiden Guhle during the postseason. This is a depth piece that, at such a young age, the Canadiens would ideally want to retain.

However, if Bolduc can be a trade chip that gains Montreal the coveted second-line center it is looking for, that may have to be a deal that Hughes will have to make to address something they’ve been lacking.

On the other hand of things, if Xhekaj were not to re-sign in Montreal, their blue-line from a cap standpoint wouldn’t be too overcrowded, especially in the left-handedness department. The 25-year-old defenseman, who played 65 games this past season, would be the fifth lefty defender in a group that has quite the cap tied down in that department, around $21M of its $35M being paid on the left, with the Hutson extension of $8.5M AAV kicking in, as well as Noah Dobson and Alexandre Carrier being the lone righties.

That being said, Xhekaj brings a playstyle that Montreal should covet and needs in their buildup to a Stanley Cup. He’s a physical player and excels consistently in his ability to deliver hard hits. Despite this profiling, the Canadiens did not use his services to the full extent, averaging just 11:25 of ice time per game. That made him the least-used defenseman last season in Montreal, and he averaged just 8:05 per game during the team’s playoff run.

All in all, as previously reported by David Pagnotta, the Habs value Xhekaj. But if the door opens to other NHL teams for a potential move, there will be many suitors for not just the physical defenseman, but also Bolduc, whose proven his worth in a contending team for years to come.

Montreal could take as long as it wants; it has done so in this build-up back to a magical Eastern Conference Finals run, where, with all the young talent they have, it seemed a bit premature for a team that had lost a first-round series in 2025 to Washington and, before that, three straight playoff misses in the post-COVID NHL era. The seat isn’t hot for a trade to be made, but if Hughes wants to maximize value in either player as a trade chip, he has a deadline to consider before the 2026-27 season.

The CBA turnover date on Sept. 16 is nearing. After these changes, Players can’t sign for more than seven years with their team, and signing bonuses will be capped at 60% of the total value of the contract. Pivotal shifts nonetheless. The Canadiens must also ask themselves how much they’re willing to spend on these two players in comparison to the intrigue of filling that money with a big-name addition if the chips fall their way. Just around $9M in cap space heading into next season begs that very question.