Georges Laraque Hints Arber Xhekaj Could Be on His Way Out as Trade Talks Heat Up

With players like David Reinbacher, Logan Mailloux, and Lane Hutson leading the way and the divisive Arber Xhekaj possibly becoming the odd man out, the Montreal Canadiens blue line has a bright future. The young defenseman was extremely irritated when it was announced on Tuesday that The Sheriff would miss his second consecutive game as a healthy scratch.

Xhekaj is 23 years old and has demonstrated that he can compete with any player in the NHL in terms of physicality. However, his output has been so poor that he no longer has a guaranteed spot in the lineup.

Former NHL enforcer Georges Laraque now thinks Xhekaj will probably be traded by Montreal soon, which could take it a step further.

Although the former undrafted defenseman can make a difference as a physical threat, his future in the league is uncertain. He has scored 23 points, 184 penalty minutes, and a -7 differential in his 100 games as a player. Kent Hughes would be wise to investigate if Laraque is correct and there is interest in the league. If he can find a willing trading partner, don't be surprised if this occurs within the next 12 months.