Arber Xhekaj has given Martin St-Louis and the Canadiens another reason to watch his next move closely.
The defenseman's future remains one of Montreal's unresolved pieces with training camp approaching.
There is still business to settle, but his actions are beginning to say plenty about where he wants to be.
Xhekaj has returned to Brossard and is already training with Canadiens teammates despite not currently being under contract.
That matters. A player with an unsettled contract could easily stay away from informal team sessions until an agreement is reached.
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Instead, Xhekaj has put himself right back around the locker room and the teammates he hopes to rejoin officially.
Arber Xhekaj makes his intentions clear in Montreal
Cole Caufield, Oliver Kapanen, Alexandre Texier, Noah Dobson and Lane Hutson were among the Canadiens players taking part in the session.
Phillip Danault, Alex Newhook, Josh Anderson and Jake Evans were also part of the group as Montreal's players begin ramping up ahead of camp.
For Xhekaj, his presence carries a different weight. He doesn't have the security of a signed deal tying him to the Canadiens right now.
Yet he's back in Montreal, skating with the group and preparing as though his next chapter will be played in the same sweater.
That doesn't guarantee an agreement is around the corner. Contract negotiations can move on their own timeline, and Montreal still has decisions to make before camp.
But Xhekaj's choice removes any doubt about his willingness to be there. He's not distancing himself from the organization while negotiations continue.
His camp has also indicated this summer that he feels comfortable in Montreal despite reported interest from elsewhere, making his return to Brossard even more notable.
The message is becoming difficult to miss: Xhekaj wants to remain a Canadien, and he's already acting like someone preparing to earn his spot back on St-Louis' blue line.
Should the Canadiens sign Arber Xhekaj before training camp?
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