The 2024 year was supposed to be different for the Montreal Canadiens. They believed their rebuild was starting to end, and they wondered whether 2024 would end with them looking ahead to a run at the playoffs in 2025. The year ended with a string of wins that elevated them to sixth place in the Atlantic Division, but they are still seven points behind in a playoff race. This series will examine how each player performed over the 2024 calendar year. Next up is rugged defenseman Arber Xhekaj.
No player had a more up-and-down year in 2024 than Arber Xhekaj. It feels like Xhekaj was on the trade block numerous times, but he still holds a spot in the Canadiens lineup. The trade talks surrounding Xhekaj could've been overblown, or they could've been real, but the truth is that he is part of the Canadiens' immediate future.
AJ Greer and Arber Xhekaj drop the gloves and Xhekaj told the refs to let 'em go 👀🥊 pic.twitter.com/qltsOrikhI
— Gino Hard (@GinoHard_) December 28, 2024
Xhekaj missed three games earlier this season as a healthy scratch, leading to many outlets, including ours, discussing whether he could be on the trade block. He was also a candidate to be a healthy scratch at the beginning of the regular season, as he had a poor training camp. However, Xhekaj appeared in all but three of the Canadiens' games this season.
It's a big improvement over last season when Xhekaj spent 17 games in the American Hockey League. Xhekaj played in 60 NHL games in 2024, totaling 12 points and 84 penalty minutes. However, his defensive chemistry with Jayden Struble significantly contributes to Xhekaj's staying in the lineup. There is little chance of Xhekaj losing the spot now, as it looks like the six defensemen for the foreseeable future will be David Savard, Mike Matheson, Lane Hutson, Alexandre Carrier, Kaiden Guhle, and Xhekaj.
Could the Canadiens start looking at extending Xhekaj's contract? I wouldn't personally go that far yet, as there are plenty of defensemen in the pipeline. Montreal has one more season to figure it out before his $1.3 million annual deal expires, but the end to Xhekaj's 2024 sets him up to get another opportunity.