What Xhekaj’s One-Year Deal Says About Where He Really Stands

There’s something interesting about Arber Xhekaj getting only a one-year, $ 1.5 million contract from the Montreal Canadiens. Kent Hughes has spent much of the offseason doing something pretty different with his young players. When he believes in somebody, he hasn’t been shy about giving them real term and making a commitment before everything is completely figured out.

Xhekaj didn’t get that treatment. And that probably tells us something.

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Xhekaj’s Numbers Don’t Tell What His Value Might Be

The numbers aren’t exactly screaming for a long-term deal. Xhekaj had one goal and three assists in 65 games last season, along with 40 shots. But he also had 116 penalty minutes and 178 hits. That’s a pretty good picture of what he brings right now. He’s tough. He’s physical. He’s willing to make life uncomfortable for people.

But there’s a difference between being a useful physical player and being somebody a team wants to lock up for five or six years. That seems to be where Xhekaj sits right now.

The one-year deal gives Montreal another season to figure out exactly what it has. Maybe Xhekaj takes another step. Maybe the offensive side of his game starts showing up more often. Maybe his defensive play becomes more consistent. There are still things to like about him. But there are also unanswered questions. Hughes apparently wasn’t ready to make the kind of long-term bet he’s made on some of the Canadiens’ other young players.

For Xhekaj, Not Getting a Longer Contract Isn’t Really Bad

A one-year contract doesn’t always mean there’s a problem. Sometimes it simply gives the player a chance to build on what he’s done and gives the team another season to gather information. But in this case, the shorter term is still worth noting. Hughes has been willing to make bigger commitments when he feels strongly about a player. The fact that Xhekaj received only one year suggests the Canadiens see plenty to like, but aren’t quite ready to decide his long-term role.

That makes this a pretty important season for Xhekaj. He doesn’t need to suddenly become an offensive defenseman. That’s probably not who he is. But if he can become a little more reliable defensively, stay in the lineup more consistently and add a bit more with the puck, the conversation could change pretty quickly.

“If Xhekaj Plays Well, the Conversation Changes Quickly

Suddenly that one-year deal becomes the first step toward something bigger. If that doesn’t happen, well, then Montreal has another decision to make. That’s what makes this contract interesting. It isn’t a vote against Xhekaj. It feels more like Hughes saying, “Show us a little more.”

And now Xhekaj gets a full season to do exactly that. For a player whose biggest calling card has always been making an impression physically, this might be the year he has to show Montreal there’s more to his game.

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