Canadiens' Young Defenseman Continues To Get Trade Interest

The Montreal Canadiens continue to get asked about defender Arber Xhekaj in terms of a trade, but general manager Kent Hughes keeps turning them away according to The Fourth Period.

The Canadiens have a surplus of young defenseman and there is already not enough room for everyone to play where they are capable of. This type of loyalty to Xhekaj indicates that he will be a full time member of the Canadiens next season to see what the team has in him.

Hughes is instead open to moving another young d-man without listing names of course. This is likely Jordan Harris, Jayden Struble, or Johnathan Kovacevic (not so young anymore - 26).

Xhekaj recorded three goals and 10 points in 44 games last season in the NHL and three goals and 11 points in 17 games in the AHL. Without even more players trying to earn spots, Xhekaj found it tough to play.

With Lane Hutson and Logan Mailloux making their NHL debuts at the end of the season and David Reinbacher in North American and playing games, the young talent that will be around a while is pushing for spots immediately. There has to be an offseason trade before a defenseman the Canadiens were looking at trading loses value.

The ideal trade would include a young forward coming back as the forward prospect pool and roster players aren't nearly as strong as what the Canadiens are working with on the back-end.