Montreal Canadiens: Arber Xhekaj makes team but is not listed on roster

Montreal Canadiens prospect Arber Xhekaj made the roster, or did he?

The Montreal Canadiens announced their roster across social media and on their website on Monday. They announced which players will be on the roster as opening night approaches.

The press release on the Habs website included a roster of six defensemen with three defenders listed as extras. None of those players listed are Arber Xhekaj. The Montreal Canadiens also tweeted out a roster graphic that fails to name Xhekaj.

Just an hour before this tweet was sent, the Habs Twitter account announced that Xhekaj was assigned to Laval Rocket. Here’s that for reference.

So, Xhekaj has been sent down to the minors to join Laval Rocket. It’s all fine and dandy, making perfect sense. However, Hockey360 tweeted out a video on their Twitter account that was an interview with Xhekaj talking about making the team. Here’s that clip

Xhekaj mentions that Jordan Harris, Kaiden Guhle, and Juraj Slafkovsky were all informed simultaneously that they made the team. He goes on to talk about it being a special moment and reflects on the good news. This report, a literal video of Xhekaj talking about being informed he made the team, conflicts with the information later released by the Habs.

So what’s the deal?

Montreal Canadiens prospect Arber Xhekaj will likely be called back up.

For the Montreal Canadiens, Xhekaj came into training camp and won over the fanbase quickly. His physical style of play and willingness to step in for his teammates made him a fun player to watch. He seemingly won over the coaching staff quickly as well.

Since he was informed he was making the team, it’s a bit confusing that Xhekaj was sent down. But there are a few plausible reasons for this. Eric Engels of Sportsnet released this quick set of tweets about the matter.

Xhekaj was informed he made the team, but things could have changed quickly. For cap reasons to get things in order, he may have been shifted to Laval with impending roster moves that could change the scope of the roster before the Habs opening night game on Wednesday.

The Habs may be running through the waiver wire one last time and wanted to make sure the roster was in order for a pending move if the opportunity allowed after they already grabbed Johnathan Kovacevic from the Winnipeg Jets off the waiver wire.

But, beyond that, he could easily get called back up in time for Wednesday’s match-up with the Toronto Maple Leafs. It’s a weird turn of events and something to monitor before Wednesday. But Xhekaj was informed he made the team, an achievement in itself.

Now the question is if the news comes to fruition or if a last-minute change leaves Xhekaj starting in Laval.