Canadiens’ Bolduc and Xhekaj Contract Talks Fuel Speculation as Camp Nears

Both players are also expected to be part of the NHL roster this season. Bolduc remains an intriguing young forward who could still take another step, while Xhekaj provides physicality and depth on the blue line. That doesn’t necessarily mean either player should receive a significant commitment, though.

Short-Term Deals Make the Most Sense

If there is one thing Bolduc and Xhekaj have in common entering these negotiations, it’s that neither has completely established what his long-term role will be in Montreal.

Bolduc only has two full NHL seasons under his belt and still has plenty to prove offensively. There is certainly talent there, but he hasn’t established himself as a consistent scoring option or earned significant offensive minutes. Last season was a good example. Outside of Joe Veleno and Brendan Gallagher, Bolduc averaged fewer minutes than any Canadiens forward who was a regular in the lineup, playing just 13:38 per game.

That makes a bridge contract logical. Give Bolduc another couple of seasons to establish himself, potentially earn a larger role and prove what his offensive ceiling can be before making a more significant financial commitment.

The same reasoning applies to Xhekaj. He has established an identity in Montreal and brings an element few other Canadiens defensemen can provide, but he has primarily operated as a sixth or seventh defenseman. Players in those roles generally aren’t receiving massive long-term commitments. Montreal also has several young defensemen pushing for opportunities, making it difficult to predict exactly where Xhekaj fits two or three seasons from now.

So Why Aren’t the Deals Done?

That’s where the speculation begins. There doesn’t necessarily have to be anything wrong with either negotiation. Contract talks can take time, agents can have different valuations than teams, and there isn’t much urgency during the middle of the summer. But we’re not in the middle of the summer anymore.

Training camp is getting closer, and the longer Bolduc and Xhekaj remain unsigned, the more people will naturally start wondering whether there is a bigger disagreement between the Canadiens and the two players.

The other four unsigned RFAs around the league are Cutter Gauthier, Alexander Nikishin, Adam Fantilli and Simon Edvinsson. Those are different situations. All four could be looking at significant paydays and potentially long-term contracts, which naturally creates more complicated negotiations.

Bolduc and Xhekaj don’t appear to be in that category. That’s what makes their situations interesting. Perhaps Hughes is trying to squeeze as much value as possible out of both contracts. Maybe one or both players are looking for more money than Montreal is currently offering. There could also be disagreement over term, role or simply the structure of the contracts. Until something gets signed, though, that’s all speculation.

Hughes has built a strong reputation for handling contracts and keeping Montreal’s salary structure under control, so there is little reason to believe the situation is becoming a major concern. Still, the Canadiens would certainly prefer to have everyone signed and ready when camp begins. The easiest way to eliminate the questions is simply to get the deals done.