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Canadiens Face Critical Negotiations with Restricted Free Agent Xhekaj — The Hockey Writers



What kind of contract would you give Xhekaj?

by Qi_Traditions

18 Comments

  1. ChrisvsWorlds

    I expect him to get a deal similar to Harris. But I also wouldn’t be surprised if the FO gave him a longer-term deal.

    With two shoulder surgeries, I’m sure they’ll do their due diligence.

  2. djohnston02

    Critical is a bit excessive for a mid-tier defender.

  3. HarryBalsaque

    Lifetime. He loves the team, and I love him. That’s enough for me.

    Also a fellow Hamilton kid

  4. dadoudelidou

    He’s a RFA without arbitration right for the next 2 seasons coming from 2 shoulders injuries and a stint in Laval last year.

    I’d assume something like a 2 years prove-it bridge deal with AAV around RHP or Harris between 1.1 and 1.4M

  5. ukrainianhab

    Well watching some of these playoff series we certainly need a mean player. He’ll get done .

  6. Plane-Ad4820

    I mean we all want him signed but I have next to no doubt it gets done…

  7. theReal_nicholasxj

    Realistically what isWiFi (xhekaj) worth?
    Is he a mid pair or bottom pair? For sure he brings the grit and has a booming shot. How is his defence? Takes some poor penalties at times.
    I like him, he bring an aspect this team and D core doesn’t have. Big rough D man, with a clapper.
    Kind of like Sourray, back in the day?

  8. Jimbo_Imperador

    Do they?

    It’s not like he showed he deserves more than 1-2 mil MAX.

    Like fan popularity is cool and all, same for intangibles, but he’s easily the worst on defense and the most inconsistent in that regard. Can only really play left side.

    His upside is super interesting, but he’s still hella overrated, no matter how much I do appreciate his story and potential. If he wasn’t our prospect, we would be mocking him the same way we mocked Trent Frederic and Ryan Reaves.

    But he’s a project.

  9. Article241

    You need someone like him in the lineup if you’re going to have Lane Hutson too.

  10. Jagrmeister_68

    If we don’t resign him, someone will throw him a good chunk of change aka Carolina.

  11. NoSize2735

    I would go 3 years at 1.5 mil and hope he takes it

  12. LoadOk7149

    Let’s hope someone throws a mid first at us for him like Romanov

  13. eriverside

    Cap is going to 87M, the average contract is 3.6M, SZK and CC are the new standard for the Habs at just below 8M.

    You should expect hutson, Slaf, maybe this year’s draft pick to demand about as much, if not more if they over perform. Quick math is about 40M, add in Savard or Reinbacher or Matheson and we’re still below 50% of the cap for our top 6 (top line, top pair, 2nd line anchor). That’s a good mix. Relieves a lot of cap pressure for the rest of the roster.

    Our depth is a mixed bag as long as we have DVo, Andy, Gally and Armia not living up to their contracts.

    So if we have 45M for 17 players they need to average so about 3M apiece. Discount that groups 20M, we’re down to 25M for 13 players, so an average of about 2M. Consider we have Dach, New hook and Savard closer to 4M, some of the rest of the guys need to be paid under 2M to make it work.

    So it makes sense to try to sign X at 1.5

    This is all a rough approximation, ignoring the length of contracts, that some of these contracts will expire, that slaf/hutson are paid elc rates this season…

  14. OkAnything4877

    4 years @ $2M AAV? Would that take him right to UFA?

  15. Possible-One2608

    I like Arber and hope they keep him in the team, he is improving and his physicality will be more important as Montreal becomes more competitive in the coming years. 

  16. spydersens

    Critical for him to chooses if he wants in or wants less income tax elsewhere. Our Dynasty isn’t hnging on Wifi even if I do like his overall game.

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