Eastern team in love with Arber Xhekaj and could trade for him, per insider
Earlier this summer, Kent Hughes granted a contract extension to young defenseman Arber Xhekaj .
While some believe that this two-year deal given to the one nicknamed The Sheriff means he is part of the management's plans, others see this agreement differently.
This is the case for Jim Parsons, from the site The Hockey Writers, who thinks that, on the contrary, this contract could attract attention from other teams in the league.
Jim Parsons' Take on a Trade Involving Arber Xhekaj and the Canadiens: The Philadelphia Flyers Have Shown Interest Before, and His Signing Could Reignite Discussions
He stated in a recent column that the rumors surrounding Xhekaj won't die down anytime soon after this signing.
Canadiens' Signing of Xhekaj Might Spark New Trade Conversations
- Jim Parsons
Parsons isn't wrong!
When you look at the deal (1.3M$ for two years) and know that Xhekaj will still be an RFA at the end of it (the team retains control), it's very enticing. Especially if the young man continues to progress during the season and doesn't get injured again.
In his article, the columnist reminds us that Kent Hughes received calls last season regarding his defenseman. Several rumors also suggested that the Philadelphia Flyers were one of the teams that picked up the phone to call the Canadiens' GM.
The real question is whether Kent Hughes wants to capitalize on Xhekaj's high value right now or not. It's certain that waiting can be risky, especially if Xhekaj doesn't progress as expected. Kent Hughes could very well regret not trading him sooner.
But he could also regret it if he trades him too quickly and Xhekaj turns into a reliable and solid defenseman.
Imagine how angry the fans would be in that situation.
It's a double-edged sword.
The Hockey Writers reports the Flyers are even more interested in Xhekaj after his bargain contract signing:
Xhekaj gets linked to the Flyers a few hours after signing his new contract.
| POLL | ||
AOUT 15 | 1059 ANSWERS Eastern team in love with Arber Xhekaj and could trade for him, per insider Would you trade Arber Xhekaj to the Flyers for a 1st round pick? | ||
| Yes | 162 | 15.3 % |
| No, I would keep him | 897 | 84.7 % |
| List of polls | ||
