Arber Xhekaj traded? Kent Hughes received a concrete offer for a strong forward, but he refused it

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David St-Jean
January 27, 2024 (11:21)

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Since being reassigned to the AHL in early December, there have been numerous trade rumors surrounding Arber Xhekaj.

In his first game back with the Canadiens after the recall, there were over 25 scouts from various NHL teams present at the Bell Centre, including three from the Dallas Stars.

This only fueled the already abundant trade rumors, and insider David Pagnotta added another layer to the speculation.

Significant offer for Xhekaj

Not only are teams inquiring about the availability of the defenseman, but some have also made concrete offers to the Canadiens' GM.

"Teams have not only called the Montreal Canadiens about the robust defenseman Arber Xhekaj, but some have also presented concrete offers. In fact, it is learned that the Canadiens received an offer for a young NHL forward, a former first-round pick, with second-line potential. Montreal declined." - David Pagnotta

Despite the Canadiens needing offensive firepower and having to sacrifice one or more defensemen, especially left-handed ones, Hughes turned down an offer for a promising young player.

This reveals a lot about the team's plans. This isn't speculation; it's information provided by one of the top insiders. Either Kent Hughes is waiting for the best offer, or he is absolutely unwilling to trade Xhekaj.