Montreal Canadiens general manager Kent Hughes is weighing potential sign-and-trade options for restricted free agents Arber Xhekaj and Zachary Bolduc ahead of the NHL’s upcoming collective bargaining agreement changes on September 16, as the team actively searches for a second-line center and an experienced right-shot defenseman.
Kent Hughes and the Search for Immediate Roster Upgrades
As summer winds down and training camp approaches, Montreal Canadiens general manager Kent Hughes remains active on the trade market. Speaking candidly about his offseason priorities, Hughes made it clear that his main targets are a top-six forward—specifically a second-line center to slot in behind Nick Suzuki—and an experienced right-shot defenseman to partner with Lane Hutson.
Hughes added that there could be a trade in September or October,
noting that he refuses to execute a short-term move just to appease the fan base. Patience has defined the leadership tenure of Hughes and president of hockey operations Jeff Gorton, who have guided the franchise through steady improvements. The club climbed from 55 points in the 2021-22 campaign to 68 points, 76 points, 91 points, and finally 106 points this past season, reaching the postseason in each of the last two years.
Arber Xhekaj and Zachary Bolduc as Trade Chips
To acquire high-end roster help, Montreal may need to part with valuable assets. Unsigned restricted free agents Arber Xhekaj and Zachary Bolduc have surfaced as prime trade candidates. Bolduc, 23, recorded 30 points across 78 games last season and added seven points in 19 playoff contests while ranking second on the team with 47 postseason hits behind Kaiden Guhle’s 51 hits. Meanwhile, Xhekaj offers a physical defensive presence that has attracted attention from multiple organizations around the league.
Interest in Xhekaj is high, though the Canadiens have shown no initial indication of rushing to move the 25-year-old defenseman. However, roster construction mathematics complicate his future in Montreal. With the long-term extension for Lane Hutson carrying an $8.5MM AAV, the Canadiens have roughly $21MM of their $35MM defensive cap allocation tied up on the left side. Xhekaj averaged just 11:25 of ice time during the regular season and saw his ice time drop to 8:05 per game in the playoffs, making him the team’s least-used defenseman.
Anaheim Ducks Emerge as a Potential Trade Partner
Among potential suitors, the Anaheim Ducks face significant defensive needs and a tight salary cap situation following the offer sheet contract that awarded Leo Carlsson an $18 million annual salary over the next five seasons. Analysts note that the Ducks might be willing to overpay in a trade to acquire Xhekaj’s physical style of play, which could help replace the grit lost with the departures of Jacob Trouba and Radko Gudas.
A hypothetical trade framework suggests Anaheim could part with forward Nico Myatovic alongside a 2027 second-round draft pick originally belonging to the St. Louis Blues and a seventh-round selection. Executing such a deal would require Anaheim to shed additional veteran contracts, but their urgent need for blue-line help makes a deal plausible if contract negotiations stall in Montreal.
The September 16 CBA Deadline Pressure
Time is of the essence for resolving the contracts of both restricted free agents. A major external factor shaping these decisions is the implementation of the NHL’s new collective bargaining agreement on September 16. Under the revised terms, players will no longer be eligible to sign maximum eight-year contracts with their current teams, dropping the limit to seven years, while signing bonuses will face a hard cap of 60 percent of a contract’s total value.
These incoming rules create a distinct window for general managers to evaluate sign-and-trade possibilities. Last summer, the Canadiens successfully utilized a similar mechanism to acquire Noah Dobson from the New York Islanders after Dobson agreed to an eight-year, $76-million contract as a restricted free agent. With available cap space heading into the campaign, Hughes must decide whether to commit that financial flexibility to retaining Xhekaj and Bolduc or preserve it for a splash addition.
Samuel Montembeault and Goaltending Asset Management
Beyond the skater market, Montreal faces critical decisions in the crease. Goaltender Samuel Montembeault looks to rebound following a difficult campaign where his save percentage dipped to .872 after three consecutive steady seasons with marks of .901, .903, and .902.
Team management must balance the development paths of their goaltending pipeline. Twenty-one-year-old Jacob Fowler requires regular playing time rather than sitting as a backup, and because he does not require waivers to be assigned to the American Hockey League’s Laval Rocket, starting him in the minors is a viable option. Consequently, Montembeault could open the year backing up Jakub Dobes, giving the veteran a chance to stabilize his performance in the final year of his contract while keeping valuable developmental minutes flowing in Laval.
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