Rugged blue-liner Arber Xhekaj stands at a pivotal crossroads with the Canadiens, as insiders debate his next contract amid physicality debates. Habs management weighs his enforcer edge against roster needs, a balancing act we've seen swing careers in Montreal. With the Olympic break highlighting depth issues, Xhekaj's future hangs in the balance for the rebuild.

Montreal's prospect pipeline ranks Florian Xhekaj at No. 9, spotlighting the bruiser's truculent style that echoes his brother's NHL nastiness. Scouts rave about his physicality paired with skill, positioning him as a future enforcer with upside. Habs management dreams of deploying this Xhekaj duo to bully opponents in playoff grinds.

The Canadiens sit pretty in the playoff hunt, but GM Kent Hughes faces a ticking clock with pending RFAs like Kirby Dach, Zachary Bolduc, and Arber Xhekaj demanding tough calls. These aren't just summer worries; they could force Montreal's hand at the deadline, turning question marks into trade chips for immediate playoff muscle. With cap space tight and the Atlantic Division breathing down their necks, Hughes' next move hinges on who stays and who goes.

Arber Xhekaj's ice time has dipped under ten minutes in most recent games, fueling whispers from scouts and fans alike that the Canadiens might shop their enforcer ahead of the deadline. Jeff Gorton just dropped a bombshell, insisting there's no plan to add a defenseman and praising the young blue-liners like Xhekaj and Struble. With Martin St-Louis scratching his head on lineup choices, this saga tests Montreal's rebuild patience as playoff hopes simmer.

Florian Xhekaj keeps turning heads down in Laval, stacking points and laying the body like only a Xhekaj can in the AHL grind. Scouts whisper he's exceeding every projection after a brief NHL taste, blending snarl with skill that screams future Hab. With Arber holding down the fort in Montreal, the pressure builds for Florian to force his way up sooner than expected, especially as injuries thin the big club's forward ranks.

Kings winger Kevin Fiala suffers a devastating injury against Canada, sidelining him for the rest of the NHL campaign. LA's top line crumbles without him, forcing GM Rob Blake to rethink deadline strategy amid the Olympic chaos. The ripple effects hit hard as playoff dreams fade for a contender already thin on scoring.