Arber Xhekaj has come up in trade talks as the Calgary Flames reportedly explore a potential deal with the Montreal Canadiens ahead of the NHL trade deadline.
According to Herb Zurkowsky of the Montreal Gazette, the Flames have expressed interest in Canadiens defenseman Arber Xhekaj as the deadline approaches.
Calgary is expected to be among the sellers this year, falling well out of the playoffs with just over 20 games left in the season.
Xhekaj, 25, has become a fan favorite in Montreal because of his physical play and willingness to fight.
Although known for his toughness, his offensive production has been limited and he has scored 10 goals and 31 points in 216 career NHL games.
He has a $1.3 million cap hit through the end of the season and will become a restricted free agent this summer.
Montreal is currently in a playoff position, which could make a trade involving Xhekaj less likely unless it becomes part of a larger deal.
Players like Blake Coleman and Nazem Kadri have previously been mentioned in trade speculation involving Calgary as the NHL trade market begins to heat up.
