The Montreal coaching staff has routinely alternated arber xhekaj and Jayden Struble in the third-pair defensive role while limiting arber xhekaj’s game minutes to roughly nine minutes in a recent back-to-back and about 11 minutes per game this season. That rotation, paired with his high physical output, is prompting the club to choose whether he earns a clearer NHL role or becomes a movable asset.
Arber Xhekaj Playing Time Concerns
In a second game in as many nights against the Los Angeles Kings on Saturday night, arber xhekaj was held to just over nine minutes of ice time, and this season his average has dipped to around 11 minutes per game; at the same time he ranks second among NHL defensemen with at least 30 games in hits per 60 minutes at 14. 42, behind Connor Clifton’s 14. 59. The pattern suggests the coaching staff is balancing his physical impact against concerns over defensive soundness, constraining his minutes even as his hits-per-60 mark signals a unique difference-making trait.
Montreal Canadiens Defensive Depth
Montreal’s roster now includes established NHL defensemen Noah Dobson, Lane Hutson, Kaiden Guhle, Mike Matheson and Alexandre Carrier, while Adam Engström is competing for NHL minutes and David Reinbacher is inching closer; Jayden Struble averages roughly 14 minutes per game and remains under contract through the 2026–27 season. The figures point to a roster context where coaching and management can no longer justify using regular NHL minutes for prolonged experimentation with a third-pair spot.
Calgary Flames Trade Interest
A tweet from Herb Zurkowsky stated the Calgary Flames have interest in arber xhekaj, and conversation about return pieces has focused less on Nazem Kadri and more on right-handed defensemen such as Mackenzie Weegar or Zach Whitecloud; Mackenzie Weegar is noted in the context as a 32-year-old in the third year of an eight-year contract with a $6. 25 million AAV, meaning any deal would likely need retention. The pattern suggests Xhekaj’s physical profile and limited minutes have created a market window where a team like Calgary could view him as a distinct, tradable asset for front-end toughness.
For now, the immediate open question is concrete: arber xhekaj becomes a restricted free agent this summer. If Montreal chooses to move him while his hit rates and profile draw interest, the club could leverage that market; if it keeps him, the team must decide whether to increase his NHL minutes and accept the occasional mistake in exchange for the physical deterrent he provides.
