Arber Xhekaj will join his teammates Wednesday morning at the CN Sports Complex in Brossard when training camp opens with medical exams.
The Canadiens announced at 5 p.m. Tuesday that Xhekaj, who was a restricted free agent, has agreed to terms on a one-year, US$1.15-million contract. After the signing, the Canadiens have just over US$2.7 million remaining in salary-cap space for this season.
When asked about Xhekaj’s contract situation as the Canadiens’ annual golf tournament Monday at Laval-sur-le-Lac, president of hockey operations Jeff Gorton said he was confident the defenceman would sign before the start of training camp.
“It’s a negotiation,” Gorton said. “I don’t want to talk too much. But we have a few days before we get on the ice. I’m confident that Arber will be there and be part of our group. We’re looking forward to that. I would say if he doesn’t have a contract, we’re not going to put him on the ice. He wouldn’t be on the ice without a contract.”
Shortly after the Xhekaj signing was announced Tuesday, the Canadiens announced that forward Alex Newhook had agreed to terms on a four-year contract extension that will kick in for the 2027-28 season with an annual salary-cap hit of US$5.5 million. Newhook, 25, had 13-12-25 totals in 42 games last season, missing 40 games with a broken ankle suffered in November. He had 7-3-10 totals in 19 playoff games.
Newhook joins the long list of players the Canadiens have locked up with long-term contracts. Zachary Bolduc, captain Nick Suzuki and goalie Jakub Dobes are signed through the 2029-30 season. Cole Caufield, Mike Matheson, Kaiden Guhle and Newhook are signed through 2030-31. Juraj Slafkovsky and Noah Dobson are signed through 2032-33, Lane Hutson through 2033-34 and Ivan Demidov through 2034-35.
Xhekaj, 25, earned US$1.3 million last season when he posted 1-3-4 totals and a team-leading 116 penalty minutes in 65 games. The 6-foot-4, 240-pounder had 1-1-2 totals and 28 penalty minutes in 13 playoff games and was a healthy scratch six times in the postseason.
Xhekaj will earn slightly more this season than Jayden Struble, who he has battled for the sixth defence spot with the Canadiens. Struble, also 25, will earn US$1,412,500 this season. Xhekaj and Struble can both become restricted free agents next summer.
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Struble had 2-10-12 totals and 58 penalty minutes in 59 games last season and had no points and 14 penalty minutes in 12 playoff games.
Xhekaj and Struble will be battling for a spot on the blue line again this season, along with David Reinbacher and Adam Engstrom, who will be hoping to make the jump from the AHL’s Laval Rocket.
It looks like the Canadiens will start the season without Guhle on the blue line. Renaud Lavoie of TVA Sports reported Monday that Guhle will miss the start of the season after having surgery following last season’s playoffs. Lavoie said Guhle probably won’t be ready to play until November. Guhle appeared to injure his left knee during Game 4 of the Eastern Conference final against the Carolina Hurricanes, but played in Game 5, in which the Canadiens were eliminated.
The Canadiens did not offer any medical update on Guhle after Lavoie’s report.
Canadiens players will hit the ice for the first time at training camp on Friday morning in Brossard. They will play their first two pre-season games on Saturday with split squads against the Maple Leafs for games at the Bell Centre and in Toronto. Both games start at 7 p.m.