Montreal Canadiens defenseman Arber Xhekaj has declined to file for salary arbitration before the July 5, 2026 deadline, making him eligible to receive offer sheets from rival NHL franchises.
Unlike teammate Kirby Dach, who opted into the arbitration process, Xhekaj will pursue direct contract discussions with Canadiens General Manager Kent Hughes.
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The decision signals confidence that a deal can be reached without the adversarial nature of an arbitration hearing.
Xhekaj's Performance and Role
Xhekaj recorded one goal, three assists, and 116 penalty minutes in 65 games last season.
He led the Canadiens with 178 hits, though his average ice time dropped for a second straight year to 11 minutes and 25 seconds under head coach Martin St-Louis.
Hockey analyst David Pagnotta noted that Xhekaj and Pittsburgh's Yegor Chinakhov were among players who did not file for arbitration.
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Chinakhov signed a contract immediately after his decision, while Xhekaj remains without a deal but avoids straining organizational ties.
If a rival team extends an offer sheet below $1,544,424, Montreal can match it or let him leave without draft pick compensation.
Other Canadiens prospects who bypassed arbitration include Brett Berard, Sean Farrell, Jared Davidson, Hunter McKown, and Maksymilian Szuber.
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Zach Bolduc did not have arbitration rights.
