The Montreal Canadiens have signed Arber Xhekaj to a two-year contract extension. It will begin in the 2024-25 season, and carry an average annual value of $1.3 million.
The defenceman has played 95 NHL games over the past two seasons, each campaign cut short by shoulder surgery; on his right arm in 2022-23 and his left in early April. In 44 games this season, he scored three goals and added seven assists, both below the totals from his rookie year (5G, 8A in 51 games), but his goal differential jumped from -9 to +6.
Xhekaj will be 25 when the contract expires, and still a restricted free agent. That will give the Canadiens some flexibility with a number of other left-shot defencemen in the system, and Xhekaj the chance to show he deserves a larger commitment through his prime years when this deal is up in the summer of 2026.
Xhekaj was one of two pending restricted free agents the Habs had to get under contract this off-season. Justin Barron is now alone on the list.
