Arber Xhekaj's camp just put months of speculation to rest, and the message is clear: he wants to stay in Montreal.
Agent Brian Bartlett said this week that his client has no desire to leave the Canadiens, despite contract talks that remain complicated.
The 25-year-old defenseman has been a restricted free agent since July, a stretch that's drawn attention from around the league.
Both the Philadelphia Flyers and Calgary Flames have reportedly shown interest in the rugged blueliner, according to the report.
Xhekaj finished last season with four points in 65 games, including one goal, and carries a $1,300,000 cap hit on his current deal.
His physical game has made him a fixture on Montreal's blue line, appearing in 13 playoff games as well, adding two more points during that run.
Bartlett stressed his client's genuine attachment to the city, pointing to the fans, the coaching staff and life in Montreal as real factors in wanting to stay.
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The agent didn't stop at his client. Bartlett also praised Kent Hughes directly, describing the Canadiens GM as candid, direct and methodical at the table.
That's a notable compliment from someone actively negotiating against him. Agents rarely hand out praise mid-negotiation unless they mean it.
Hughes, a former agent himself, is said to bring a human, pragmatic approach even in tricky RFA standoffs like this one.
Xhekaj has played more than 200 NHL games over his career, establishing himself as a well-liked presence in Montreal's locker room along the way.
Both sides appear to be taking their time here, with no reported urgency or panic pushing either party toward a rushed deal.
That's usually a good sign in restricted free agency. Panic tends to produce bad contracts, and neither side seems interested in that outcome.
Training camp is closing in, though, and every RFA situation eventually needs a resolution before puck drop actually arrives.
Whether Xhekaj signs before camp opens or this drags a little longer, his camp has made one thing unmistakably clear: Montreal is where he wants to be.
Should the Canadiens lock up Arber Xhekaj with a long-term extension?
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