Since Arber Xhekaj was sent down to Laval, trade rumors have been circulating widely. With the young defensive corps of the Canadiens pushing for NHL spots, it remains uncertain whether number 72 will be part of the team's future plans.
Yesterday, Martin St-Louis told the media that there's unnecessary concern and that Xhekaj is in Laval for his development. However, it's hard to ignore that Jayden Struble, Jordan Harris, Justin Barron, and even Gustav Lindstrom, to some extent, have surpassed him.
In Toronto, they have three regular defensemen injured, including veteran Mark Giordano. They initially thought to address their need for toughness with Ryan Reaves, but the enforcer is not keeping up.
They are calling for Xhekaj due to the impact he could have in the playoffs, in addition to his modest salary, which fits well with their high salary cap.
However, if they truly believe Kent Hughes will make that mistake, they are mistaken. The GM will never trade a physical presence like Xhekaj within the same division as the Canadiens, risking him coming back to haunt them.
Moreover, it's unclear if the intention is really to trade him. While one can imagine Kent Hughes not refusing a perfect offer, Arber is young and still has a lot of potential.
