Arber Xhekaj signs a new contract with the Montreal Canadiens

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MarcO
July 30, 2024 (9:09)

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Defenseman Arber Xhekaj has just signed a new two-year contract with Kent Hughes and the Montreal Canadiens.

Some fans were starting to get anxious because August is literally around the corner and Xhekaj still didn't have a valid contract for the upcoming season.

The matter is now settled.

Montreal Canadiens general manager Kent Hughes announced on Tuesday that the team has agreed to terms on a two-year, $2.6 million contract (2024-25 to 2025-26) with defenseman Arber Xhekaj. The deal will pay him an average annual salary of $1.3 million.

Xhekaj played 44 games with Montreal last season, recording 10 points (3G, 7A) and ranking second on the team with a plus-6 differential. The 6-foot-4, 240 lb rearguard led the Canadiens with 81 penalty minutes and topped all team defensemen with 125 hits.

The 23-year-old blue-liner also skated in 17 games with the Laval Rocket in 2023-24, contributing three goals and eight assists.

Xhekaj originally joined the Canadiens organization when he signed a three-year, entry-level contract on Oct. 4, 2021.

- Montreal Canadiens

Once again, a very good contract negotiated by Kent Hughes!

It's a contract with an annual value of 1.3 million dollars for Xhekaj, which isn't really expensive at first glance.

Arber Xhekaj, 23 years old, is a 6-foot-4, 240-pound defenseman. He collected 10 points in 44 games with the Montreal Canadiens last season (81 penalty minutes) in addition to 11 points in 17 games with the Laval Rocket. (34 penalty minutes)

Last season, in his rookie NHL season, he had 13 points (and 101 penalty minutes) in 51 games.

Details to follow.