The Canadiens have five first-round picks in the next three drafts. Additionally, Kent Hughes and his scouting team will be selecting 23 players in 2024 and 2025, barring any trades.
That's a significant number of selections, and it could potentially increase. According to Mathias Brunet and Simon Boisvert, Hughes should seriously consider trading Arber Xhekaj for another first-round pick.
Personally, I wouldn't do it. Xhekaj has valuable skills and is just starting to come into his own. He's not just a physical player; he can score goals, contribute offensively, play a robust game, and more.
His value won't decrease overnight, and in my opinion, Kent Hughes has no reason to trade him in the short term.
Now, it remains to be seen what the plan will be when David Reinbacher, Logan Mailloux, Lane Hutson, and Adam Engstrom enter the picture.
