Bold Idea for Canadiens Includes a Big Change for D-Man Arber Xhekaj

Arber Xhekaj‘s future with the Montreal Canadiens remains unclear, as the 25-year-old defenceman is still unsigned as a restricted free agent with training camp fast approaching. With no guaranteed spot on Montreal’s blue line, one idea gaining traction is that the Canadiens move the 6-foot-4, 240-pound Xhekaj to forward.

It wouldn’t be entirely new territory for him. In fact, Xhekaj has played forward before. He played roughly 20 games as a forward during his rookie season with the Kitchener Rangers, and he saw one game up front for Montreal last season when Josh Anderson was sidelined due to illness ahead of a game in Carolina. Does that mean he’d be successful as a forward now? Not necessarily, but it could be a way to keep him in the lineup, give him minutes on the penalty kill, and have him available as a backup if the blue line needs a replacement.

Stu Cowan of the Montreal Gazette writes that Xhekaj is likely best used as a forward, but he’s a hard worker and open to ideas; it’s not an absurd idea. Even Xhekaj commented on his ability to go with the flow and his experience playing on the win. “I had a lot of energy and (teammates) were cheering me up and they were making me feel good,” Xhekaj told reporters after the game. “I just thought I would play simple out there and chip pucks out, be physical and get to in front of the net when I could.”