Arber Xhekaj to be traded soon? Kent Hughes reveals his plan for the defenseman, and rumors need to stop immediately

Since Arber Xhekaj was assigned to the Laval Rocket on December 4th, trade rumors surrounding him have only increased. Jayden Struble's impressive performance added fuel to the fire as he earned his spot on the team.

Many speculated that the sheriff's days in Montreal were numbered, but the best way to truly understand the organization's plans is to ask Kent Hughes directly.

That's exactly what happened. In an interview with TVA Sports in the last few hours, the Canadiens' GM was eager to dispel the rumors once and for all.


This suggests that Xhekaj theoretically should have gone to Laval last year, but there was no one to replace him in Montreal. It must be acknowledged that this is a good thing for several reasons.

Xhekaj plays significant minutes in Laval, paired with Logan Mailloux. He has the opportunity to refine his defensive game and is very productive offensively as well.

Moreover, the Canadiens are quietly creating a two-headed monster. This duo could potentially remain intact once in the NHL and wreak havoc. We're talking about two big, robust guys with offensive and defensive qualities.

The plan is therefore to continue developing him, but definitely not to trade him. The sheriff will be back in Montreal one day, and he will be much better than during his first stint.