Montreal Canadiens prospect Arber Xhekaj has a new, but familiar home following a trade from the Kitchener Rangers on Thursday. Kitchener sent Xhekaj to his hometown team, the Hamilton Bulldogs, where he'll join fellow Canadiens prospect, Jan Mysak.
The full trade saw Xhekaj go to Hamilton for forward Navrin Mutter, a 2022 second round pick, 2025 second round pick, 2023 third round pick, 2024 third round pick as well as a 2023 conditional fourth round pick. The return the Kitchener Rangers receieved for Xhekaj is pretty significant given the fact he's an overage player. For those who aren't too familiar with the Ontario Hockey League, second round picks are the highest that can be traded, no first round picks are allowed to be dealt.
Xhekaj, who will turn 21 at the end of January, was invited to Montreal's development camp in early-September. From there, he got an invite to the main training camp where he played well enough to earn a three-year entry-level contract with the Canadiens.
In eighteen games this season for Kitchener, Xhekaj had seventeen points (six goals, eleven assists), fifty-four penalty minutes and was a plus-seven. He'll likely make his Bulldogs debut on January 14th against the Oshawa Generals.
Hamilton Bulldogs have acquired hometown defenseman Arber Xhekaj from the @OHLRangers!#HamOnt #OHL #DawgMentality
Details: https://t.co/ip8gjPA1Fs pic.twitter.com/z9K2aLIpuX— Hamilton Bulldogs (@BulldogsOHL) January 6, 2022
