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Canadiens Rumours: Calgary Reportedly Interested in Xhekaj
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- Canadiens Rumours: Calgary Reportedly Interested in Xhekaj
Eric Bolte-USA TODAY Sports
As the March 6 NHL Trade Deadline looms, more names are being added to the Montreal Canadiens rumour list, including defenceman Arber Xhekaj .
According to Herb Zurkowsky of the Montreal Gazette, the Calgary Flames are interested in potentially acquiring Xhekaj.
As per usual, we must take every rumour with a grain of salt, but this is not the first time a team has shown interest in Montreal's rough-and-tumble defenceman.
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Xhekaj, 25, has been a healthy scratch on several occasions throughout his career, including Saturday's game versus the Washington Capitals , as well as Tuesday's game versus the San Jose Sharks .
He currently leads the Canadiens in hits, and by a wide margin, too. Arber Xhekaj has landed 137 hits in 51 games, whereas the player with the second-most hits, Joe Veleno , has been credited with 115 body checks.
Given that the Habs traded Emil Heineman , and allowed Michael Pezzetta to sign with another team, moving a player such as Xhekaj would lead to a significant downtick in physicality. For the record, Heineman and Pezzetta led the team in hits per 60 last season.
On the flip side of the coin, Xhekaj's underlying numbers have been underwhelming at 5v5, though it should be noted that his usage lacks any semblance of consistency. If Xhekaj does get included in a lineup, he's often given just a handful of shifts, mitigating any chance he'll maintain an upward trajectory in his fourth season in the NHL.
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Interestingly, the Canadiens have shown interest in a Flames player this year, forward Nazem Kadri . The sticking point is that Kadri is 35 years old, and his contract, which carries a $7 million annual average value (AAV), expires in 2028-29.
For an in-depth look at what Kadri could potentially bring to the table for the Habs, click on this link .
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