If we listen to pundits, the future of Canadiens’ tough guy Arber Xhekaj with the team could be in jeopardy. Adding fuel to the speculations is the fact that two games ago in Carolina, Martin St-Louis decided to dress 11 forwards and 7 defensemen. The 24 year-old saw the ice for a total of 3:52. Yesterday in Florida, he was a healthy scratch.
There’s no denying that Xhekaj isn’t playing his best hockey right now, but it’s also clear that his defense partner isn’t doing him any favours. David Savard has noticeably slowed down and is getting beaten more often than ever in the past.
There’s also something off about how St-Louis handles some of his young players compared to others. He preaches patience with Hutson, Slafkovský, Struble, and Guhle, yet seems quick to lose confidence in Xhekaj—just as he did with Cayden Primeau last season and now Jakub Dobeš.
Hockey is a demanding, highly skilled game, but the mental side—especially confidence—is much simpler. Years of data reveal clear patterns.
When players fear that one mistake could cost them their next shift, they play tentatively, make more errors, and the pressure only builds. This snowball effect is even more pronounced with younger players.
Panthers Game
Last night in Sunrise, with just seconds left and Montreal leading 4-2, Panthers’ defenseman Niko Mikkola fired a shot at David Savard’s head from his own zone, and barely missing Brendan Gallagher who wasn’t looking.
Mikkola fires a headshot at David Savard after the horn, and the Habs didnt appreciate that
— Scott Matla (@scottmatla.bsky.social) 2025-03-30T19:40:00.123Z
So what happens when the Canadiens face the Panthers again in Montreal on Tuesday? My guess? Nothing.
All season long, Martin St-Louis has shown reluctance to change his lineup—not just after wins, but even after losses.
Trade Rumblings
There’s been chatter that Xhekaj’s days in Montreal might be numbered. To be clear, none of this is coming from reputable sources—just speculation based on his inconsistent playing time and seemingly up-and-down relationship with St-Louis.
Since joining the Canadiens, Xhekaj has defended his teammates multiple times, and their appreciation has been obvious—perhaps with the exception of St-Louis.
Just the other night, when 6’6″, 240-pound Keaton Middleton was going after Josh Anderson, Xhekaj stepped in and fought the Avalanche’s big man. Anderson has been battling through injuries for a long time now, and Xhekaj had his back.
What a view of the Arber Xhekaj vs Keaton Middleton fight 🤜 (Video: @OlivierBerube20 on Twitter)
— /r/Habs (@habsonreddit.bsky.social) 2025-03-23T00:36:57.045Z
Yes, Arber Xhekaj should be in the lineup. And yes, his presence would immediately hold the Panthers—or any team—accountable for their actions.
Given that St-Louis doesn’t trust Michael Pezzetta even when he dresses him, and with Joshua Roy struggling to make an impact (or just eating hot dogs from the press box), why not send Roy back to Laval and call up Florian Xhekaj? Imagine the energy boost of having the Xhekaj brothers on the ice, together or consecutively, feeding off each other—and firing up the team in the process.
I sincerely hope the trade rumours aren’t true. If Kent Hughes moves Xhekaj, the Canadiens will spend years trying to replace him, with no guarantee to be able to do so.
No, Xhekaj is not a goon. Players who can intimidate while still taking a regular shift are rare. This season, only a handful—Tom Wilson, Mathieu Olivier, Marcus Foligno, and to a lesser extent, Tanner Jeannot—fit that mold. In past years, younger versions of Matt Martin and Nicolas Deslauriers did the same.
The enforcer role has evolved, and Xhekaj is a rare breed in today’s NHL. Expecting perfection from a player like him is a mistake—just as it is to underestimate the impact these guys have in the dressing room and, more importantly, on the ice.
Rest assured that if Xhekaj was ever made available, there would be a list of 31 other teams picking up the phone to talk to Mr. Hughes.
