PuckSleuth
72Cap hit
$1.5M
1.4% of $104M cap
Term
1 yr
Through 2026-27, then RFA
Clause
None
Surplus value
+$1.514M
vs. $3.014M market estimate
Confirmed by the public signing announcement · source
2026-27 regular season
GP
2
Goals
0
Assists
0
0 primary
Points
0
0.00 per game
TOI/GP
13:02
PP 0:00 · PK 1:35
Plus/minus
+1
Hits
2
Blocks 1
PIM
0
Game Score
+0.12
per game
Game log
Last 5 games · NHL API
| Game | G | A | SOG | HIT | BLK | TOI | PP | PK | FO | OZS% | GV | TK | +/- | GS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 3 @ PIT · OTL 6-5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 13:43 | 0:00 | 1:41 | — | 100 | 0 | 0 | +1 | +0.17 |
| Sep 29 @ TOR · W 3-2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 12:20 | 0:00 | 1:29 | — | 100 | 1 | 1 | 0 | +0.07 |
| May 18 @ BUF · W 3-2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1:52 | 0:00 | 0:00 | — | — | 1 | 0 | +1 | +0.14 |
| May 16 vs BUF · L 8-3 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 7:12 | 0:00 | 0:00 | — | — | 0 | 0 | 0 | +1.00 |
| May 14 @ BUF · W 6-3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 7:16 | 0:00 | 0:00 | — | — | 0 | 0 | 0 | +0.07 |
GS = our Game Score (credit for everything he did; goals and assists count most). FO = faceoffs won-lost. OZS% = share of his 5v5 offensive and defensive zone faceoff starts that were in the offensive zone. GV/TK = giveaways/takeaways.
Advanced metrics
5v5 unless noted · 2025-26 · 714 min · percentile vs. NHL defensemen
20th percentile
14th percentile
15th percentile
33rd percentile
49th percentile
36th percentile
18th percentile
12th percentile
74th percentile
16th percentile
31st percentile
9th percentile
29th percentile
85th percentile
xGF% is his team's share of 5v5 expected goals while he was on the ice, from our own expected goals model; HDCF% counts only high-danger chances (xG of 0.15 or more). IPP is the share of his team's 5v5 goals while he was on the ice that he scored or assisted on. Relative stats compare him with his team when he was off the ice. Goals above expected and ixG/60 use his own shots at all strengths. PDO and OZS% describe luck and deployment, so their bars are grey.
Play stylePhysical shutdown defenseman
Trait percentiles vs. NHL defensemen · 2025-26
Xhekaj is a relentless, hard-nosed defender who wins battles through physicality and forechecking intensity. He struggles with puck skills and transitioning the play, making him best suited to defensive roles.
- Shooting volume
- 41
- Playmaking
- 20
- Zone entries(est.)
- 39
- Forechecking
- 100
- Physicality
- 99
- Defensive impact
- 80
- Puck management
- 27
- Speed
- 38
Where he shoots from
Slot 2% · Mid-range 20% · Perimeter 78%(64 unblocked shots)
Strengths
- Forechecking ranks 100th percentile, constantly pressuring opponents
- Physicality at 99th percentile, dominates contact situations
- Defensive impact at 80th percentile, limits scoring chances
Watch-outs
- Playmaking at 20th percentile limits offensive contributions
- Puck management at 27th percentile, plays risky with the puck
- Speed at 38th percentile slows transition game
Similar style: Ethan Del Mastro (CHI), Brayden Pachal (CGY)
Built from play-by-play, shift data, and NHL EDGE tracking. Zone entries is an estimate (rush chances while he is on the ice) until tracking data is added.
Career stats
From the NHL's player records
| Season | League | Team | GP | G | A | P | +/- | PIM |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2017-18 | GOJHL | St. Catharines Falcons | 46 | 4 | 18 | 22 | — | 110 |
| 2017-18 (playoffs) | GOJHL | St. Catharines Falcons | 11 | 0 | 1 | 1 | — | 24 |
| 2018-19 | OHL | Kitchener Rangers | 59 | 2 | 1 | 3 | -28 | 39 |
| 2018-19 (playoffs) | OHL | Kitchener Rangers | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | -1 | 2 |
| 2019-20 | OHL | Kitchener Rangers | 51 | 6 | 11 | 17 | +26 | 88 |
| 2021-22 | OHL | Kitchener Rangers | 18 | 6 | 11 | 17 | +7 | 54 |
| 2021-22 | OHL | Brantford Bulldogs | 33 | 6 | 11 | 17 | +37 | 84 |
| 2021-22 | Memorial Cup | Brantford Bulldogs | 5 | 0 | 5 | 5 | +2 | 8 |
| 2021-22 (playoffs) | OHL | Brantford Bulldogs | 18 | 6 | 10 | 16 | +15 | 50 |
| 2022-23 | NHL | Montréal Canadiens | 51 | 5 | 8 | 13 | -9 | 101 |
| 2023-24 | NHL | Montréal Canadiens | 44 | 3 | 7 | 10 | +6 | 81 |
| 2023-24 | AHL | Laval Rocket | 17 | 3 | 8 | 11 | +3 | 34 |
| 2024-25 | NHL | Montréal Canadiens | 70 | 1 | 5 | 6 | -13 | 118 |
| 2024-25 (playoffs) | NHL | Montréal Canadiens | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | +1 | 4 |
| 2025-26 | NHL | Montréal Canadiens | 65 | 1 | 3 | 4 | -8 | 116 |
| 2025-26 (playoffs) | NHL | Montréal Canadiens | 13 | 1 | 1 | 2 | +5 | 28 |
| 2026-27 | NHL | Montréal Canadiens | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | +1 | 0 |
Every league he has played in, from the NHL's records, regular season and playoffs.
Latest news
Headlines from news outlets and team blogs
- Arber Xhekaj singled out after loss to Penguins: 'He is indirectly responsible for the third goal'
montrealhockeyfanatics.com · Oct 4
- Arber Xhekaj is joining the Nashville Predators in this blockbuster defenseman trade proposal
Markerzone.com · Oct 1
- Canadiens Blueliner Xhekaj Played A Good Prudent Game
Yahoo Sports · Oct 1
- Arber Xhekaj reveals why it took so long to get a deal done with Canadiens
awinninghabit.com · Sep 18
- Kaiden Guhle out again, Xhekaj signed, Newhook extended
bleav.com · Sep 16
Sentiment & chatter
Fans
—
Beat writers
—
Media
—
Fan, beat writer, and media scores, the 14-day trade chatter chart, and the latest mentions appear once sentiment scoring is switched on. Mentions are already being collected.
Recent Game Scores
Last 10 games · goals above average
Average +0.16 per game over these 10.
Where his Game Score comes from
+0.10 per game
2025-26 · 65 GP
Season total +6.3, or +0.10 per game.
- Scoring
- +2.9
- Shooting
- +3.0
- 5-on-5 goals
- -1.2
- Defense
- +0.1
- Penalty kill
- -0.1
- Physical play
- +5.7
- Puck battles
- -1.6
- Penalties
- -2.5
Game Score gives credit for everything a player does in a game. Goals (1.0) and assists (0.7 primary, 0.5 secondary) count most; shots, blocks, hits, takeaways, penalties drawn, faceoff wins, killing penalties, and holding down the other team's chances add to it. Only mistakes subtract: goals against at 5-on-5, giveaways, penalties taken, faceoff losses, and allowing more chances than an average player would. A player who is there to defend or kill penalties is not marked down for not scoring. Goalies are measured by goals saved above expected.
Skating · NHL EDGE
2026-27, as of Oct 2
- Top speed
- 19.3 mph
- 31st pct
- 20+ mph bursts
- 0
- Hardest shot
- —
- Distance
- 1.7 mi
- OZ time
- 38.1%
- 20th pct
- DZ time
- 46.2%
Usage
Last game: @ PIT, Oct 3
Pair 3 with Jayden Struble (4:00 together at 5-on-5)
From the NHL's shift chart.
Age curve
At 25: 100% of peak
NHL defensemen · production index
At 25, defensemen typically produce 100% of their peak (age 24).
From 24 seasons of NHL results, adjusted for league scoring and save percentage in each era. Shaded bars are the seasons left on his contract.
Contract by season
1 season left
| Season | Team | Cap hit | % of cap |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-27 | MTL | $1.5M | 1.4% |
RFA after 2026-27. $1.5M in cap hits left. % of cap uses each season's ceiling where the league has set one ($104M this season, $113.5M in 2027-28).