Arber Xhekaj is facing another uncomfortable summer question as Martin St-Louis and the Canadiens look toward their next lineup.
The trade noise around Xhekaj isn't disappearing. Jeff Marek has now added his voice to the conversation, identifying the 25-year-old defenseman as someone Montreal could entertain moving.
Marek made his position clear on the DFO Rundown. He likes Xhekaj, but still sees the rugged blue-liner as a possible trade piece if the Canadiens decide to reshape their defense.
That's bad news for a player whose place in Montreal has repeatedly drawn attention. Xhekaj dressed for 65 regular-season games in 2025-26, recording 1 goal and 3 assists.
He then appeared in 13 playoff games, adding 1 goal and 1 assist. Those games mattered, but they haven't completely removed the questions surrounding where he fits long term.
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And this is where Marek's comments carry weight. This isn't simply speculation about whether another team would want Xhekaj. The suggestion is that Montreal itself could listen.
Trade chatter around Xhekaj is getting louder
For Xhekaj, that's a dangerous position to occupy. Once a team starts viewing a player as someone it could move, every roster addition and every battle for ice time takes on a different meaning.
The Canadiens have reached a stage where sentiment can't dictate every decision. If management believes moving Xhekaj can strengthen another area, his popularity won't necessarily keep him off the market.
Marek's wording also matters. He didn't declare that a trade is completed or inevitable. He said Xhekaj is someone he believes the Canadiens would entertain trading.
That distinction keeps this firmly in the rumor category, but it doesn't make the warning insignificant. Another prominent hockey voice putting Xhekaj's name into trade discussions adds pressure around his future.
The original report can be found here:
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Now Xhekaj enters the rest of the offseason with uncertainty hanging over him. Instead of simply preparing to reclaim his spot on St-Louis' blue line, he has to do it while his name circulates as a possible asset.
For a fan favorite who built his identity around bringing an edge Montreal doesn't have in abundance, that's a sharp change in tone. Xhekaj may still open the season with the Canadiens, but his future suddenly feels far less secure.
Should the Canadiens trade Arber Xhekaj before the season starts?
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