Bold Idea for Canadiens Includes a Big Change for D-Man Arber Xhekaj

Arber Xhekaj‘s future with the Montreal Canadiens remains unclear, as the 25-year-old defenceman is still unsigned as a restricted free agent with training camp fast approaching. With no guaranteed spot on Montreal’s blue line, one idea gaining traction is that the Canadiens move the 6-foot-4, 240-pound Xhekaj to forward.

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It wouldn’t be entirely new territory for him. In fact, Xhekaj has played forward before. He played roughly 20 games as a forward during his rookie season with the Kitchener Rangers, and he saw one game up front for Montreal last season when Josh Anderson was sidelined due to illness ahead of a game in Carolina. Does that mean he’d be successful as a forward now? Not necessarily, but it could be a way to keep him in the lineup, give him minutes on the penalty kill, and have him available as a backup if the blue line needs a replacement.

Stu Cowan of the Montreal Gazette writes that Xhekaj is likely best used as a forward, but he’s a hard worker and open to ideas; it’s not an absurd idea. Even Xhekaj commented on his ability to go with the flow and his experience playing on the win. “I had a lot of energy and (teammates) were cheering me up and they were making me feel good,” Xhekaj told reporters after the game. “I just thought I would play simple out there and chip pucks out, be physical and get to in front of the net when I could.”

If he had to, Xhekaj could probably play spot duty there again. “I had a couple of difficult shifts, but I seemed to weather the storm there and just keep playing.”

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Xhekaj logged just over five minutes of ice time across six shifts and racked up five hits in a win over the Hurricanes, earning his team’s player-of-the-game recognition afterward.

Would This Be a Last-Resort Type of Move for the Canadiens?

Defensemen in the NHL have moved to forward before. Dustin Byfuglien did it in Atlanta with the Thrashers. Brent Burns did it with the San Jose Sharks. A player like Xhekaj isn’t seen in the same light as both of those talented players were, but there’s a precedent here.

Xhekaj’s longtime junior coach, Jay McKee — now head coach of the AHL’s Hamilton Hammers — has always viewed Xhekaj primarily as a defenceman, saying he only used him at forward occasionally to keep him engaged and game-ready as a depth player in Kitchener. McKee, who also played 14 NHL seasons as a defenceman, noted that shifting from blue line to forward isn’t as simple as it looks.

Despite the uncertainty, McKee remains confident in Xhekaj’s ability to find a role somewhere in the league, whether that’s in Montreal or elsewhere. How badly do the Canadiens want to keep the player? If moving him isn’t an option, trading him might be the play.

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