The Montreal Canadiens have commerce choices in the marketplace, however defenseman Arber Xhekaj just isn’t one in every of them. Not but, anyway.
NHL Rumors: Montreal Canadiens Not Prepared to Half with Arber Xhekaj
As NHLRumors.com documented, Xhekaj continues to be creating as a defenseman. He performs with an edge that generally will get him in bother with the referees. Being bodily tall in nature is nice, however he must develop the remainder of his recreation defensively.
Nothing is assured within the NHL, even with a brand new two-year contract that he signed this previous offseason. However that has not stopped the rumor mill from spinning about this attainable commerce.
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Groups Are Considering Arber Xhekaj
Former Montreal Canadiens enforcer Georges Laraque advised French-Canadian radio that groups are all for Xhekaj, and the Canadiens ought to make the most of his good commerce worth.
“There are groups which can be all for him and, in the event that they had been to get him out of Montreal, could be prepared to play him frequently of their lineup,” Laraque stated. “In the event that they don’t play him each recreation, what’s the purpose of maintaining him? Many groups need him, and he’s received good commerce worth. Pull the set off.”
Look, there’s a logjam on protection in Montreal. The Canadiens have Xhekaj, Kaiden Guhle, Lane Hutson, David Savard, Mike Matheson, Jayden Struble, and Justin Barron, to not point out Logan Mailloux and David Reinbacher, the latter of whom is injured, creating within the system.
Once more, as TSN Hockey Insider Darren Dreger advised TSN Radio in Montreal on Friday, there could be curiosity within the younger ahead from groups across the league.
“I’ll inform you this: if Kent Hughes ever determined to place Arber Xhekaj on the commerce block, there could be double-digit groups with curiosity in Arber Xhekaj and never simply the groups which have a transparent want for five, 6, seventh defensemen,” Dreger stated.
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Would It Be Sensible To Commerce Xhekaj, and What Would the Return Be?
Nevertheless, wouldn’t it be the wisest of choices to commerce a defenseman like Arber Xhekaj and deplete an space of power for the Montreal Canadiens?
Dennis Bernstein of the Fourth Interval was on TSN Radio in Montreal on Friday. He doesn’t suppose so, though there shall be curiosity. As he says, what is going to the return be for a man like this?
“Yeah, he’s younger, he’s inexpensive, he has measurement, he’s imply, which, there’s not a variety of that going round on this league. So I completely agree with it. However what’s it recreation 11? We’re speaking about buying and selling guys after you already traded guys within the low season for the offers you bought,” Bernstein stated. “You bought to determine, okay, perhaps you wish to determine what your prime seven is, and I get it, there’s going to be curiosity. However what’s the return going to return again? What’s it going to be? Mid-round decide for that man? So what’s the purpose?
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I don’t suppose the return would profit sending the man out until you completely positively say, okay, he’s not a part of our core. He’s not a part of our seven, and he’s not a part of our future. I don’t know, you bought him on a deal at $1.3 million for this yr and subsequent yr, after which he’s restricted after that, and he’s nonetheless, what, 23 years previous. I wouldn’t hand over on the man, since you don’t actually have that kind of defenseman, like there. You want a type of guys.”
You see it firsthand from groups across the league when accidents occur and they don’t have the depth or gamers to fill in when a participant goes down. There’s a cautious story to observe, as we’re seeing in Los Angeles.
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“So I don’t see giving up on this man, since you’ve made modifications already on this blue line and I might determine you’re going to commerce one other defenseman off this crew,” Bernstein continued. “And I noticed it in Los Angeles. They’d depth on the proper aspect, after which they traded on the proper aspect defensemen, and now they actually don’t have any depth when Drew Doughty goes right down to an harm, so I’d be actually cautious on that, as a result of he’s nonetheless younger, and I simply query, sure, you would commerce him, however what are you going to get in return? Is it going to essentially higher the group?”
Arber Xhekaj was again within the lineup in opposition to the Pittsburgh Penguins within the Canadiens 3-1 loss. It will likely be about matchups and utilization, however it’s nonetheless too early to surrender on a participant.
Nevertheless, Montreal’s best choice proper now’s to maintain Xhekaj until GM Kent Hughes can not refuse the return.
