There will be a lot of interest if the Montreal Canadiens make Arber Xhekaj available in trade, but would it be a grave error?There will be a lot of interest if the Montreal Canadiens make Arber Xhekaj available in trade, but would it be a grave error?
As the general manager of the Montreal Canadiens, Kent Hughes hasn’t hesitated to make moves. While some transactions have been successful and others have not, he will make the move if he thinks it would help the team throughout their reconstruction. Defenseman Arber Xhekaj is being traded in the most recent suspected deal. The physical blueliner is the subject of much discussion, but is this a move that would ultimately prove to be a grave error? Would Hughes be unable to bounce back from it?
Whether Hughes won the deals with Ben Chiarot and Tyler Toffoli will be up for dispute among fans. Sean Monahan had a good comeback, but the center has given his career new life. Hughes may have made the best choice by picking Lane Hutson and moving Brett Kulak. Would the general manager, however, have the courage to deal a young defenseman with a unique skill set in the league?
According to one insider, the Montreal Canadiens would have no trouble dealing Arber Xhekaj, and if the defenseman were to become available, it would lead to a possible bidding war for his services. Xhekaj’s physical attributes and potential have garnered significant interest, as Darren Dreger recently noted on TSN Radio. According to reports, “double-digit” teams would be interested in signing him if he became available.
“There would be double-digit teams interested in Arber Xhekaj if Kent Hughes ever decided to put him on the trade block,” Dreger contended. The NHL insider does not imply that the Canadiens are amenable to his transfer. Nevertheless, they would receive a lot of offers if they were to consider them.
Given the strong demand for a unicorn like Xhekaj, it would be tempting to test the market despite his consistency issues. Xhekaj, who is only 23, embodies the kind of tough, impactful defenceman that is becoming more and more uncommon in the NHL today. His strength and stature provide Montreal’s lineup an advantage. It’s not just about grit, though; Xhekaj has displayed offensive potential in spurts, a skill set that, with enough time and development, could position him as a top-four defenseman.
Trading Xhekaj carries a significant risk. It might be difficult to replace him later on because players with his size, physicality, and skill don’t come along very often. The Canadiens will probably have trouble finding that aspect they just gave away once it is gone, as one fan stated on Twitter.
The Canadiens may have made a grave error by sending Arber Xhekaj to Kent Hughes.
Teams would engage in a bidding war, but the price would only rise so much. The Canadiens will not receive a difference-maker or a first-round pick for the defenceman. Since the Habs have decided it’s time to move on, they would be dealing a player, which is never a good negotiating position.
It is highly probable that the organization would regret its decision to trade Xhekaj.
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