Former NHL Enforcer Now Turned Analyst Confirms Arber Xhekaj Will Be Traded By The Montreal Canadiens

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Tom Banks
November 1, 2024 (8:47)

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Arber Xhekaj has been in and out of the Canadiens lineup this season, and now it appears as though Georges Laraque believes a trade is on the way.

This season has been an up-and-down one for young defenseman Arber Xhekaj, and while he has shown promise and works well as a physical threat in the lineup, he has been healthy scratched many times. This has led to some trade speculation surrounding The Sheriff, and after his latest healthy scratch against the Washington Capitals, one former NHL enforcer has given his take.

Donned in a fantastic Halloween costume, Georges Laraque has gone on a massive rant about the young Xhekaj,

If Xhekaj isn't playing against Washington, he's useless! Trade him!

Xhekaj is going to be traded, forget it... Look at the team the Canadiens are up against! McIlrath, Duhaime, and Tom Wilson.

If Xhekaj, even though we agree he could improve defensively.. But if you're not using him in a game where you've got three guys who'll be physical, on the road, and make a difference.. Who will you use him against? Against the Ice Capades? This is the type of game where you need Xhekaj in the lineup, exactly!

Given Laraque's reasoning, it's hard to argue with him, as Xhekaj has been used exclusively as muscle this season, and with a team full of players like this, it makes no sense to keep him out of the lineup, and even after improvements, he's just not an every day player. Xhekaj has already been linked to the rival Ottawa Senators, and with several other Stanley Cup Playoff contending teams needing muscle on their blue line, he could potentially play this same role for them, so if Laraque is right, we could be looking at a big trade in the near future.