Canadiens sign defenceman Arber Xhekaj to one-year deal worth US$1.5 million

at 5:48 p.m. Last Updated: September 16, 2026 at 9:38 a.m. Arber Xhekaj will join his teammates Wednesday morning at the CN Sports Complex in Brossard when training camp opens with medical exams.

The Canadiens announced at 5 p.m. Tuesday that Xhekaj, who was a restricted free agent, has agreed to terms on a one-year, US$1.5-million contract. After the signing, the Canadiens have just over US$2.7 million remaining in salary-cap space for this season.

When asked about Xhekaj’s contract situation as the Canadiens’ annual golf tournament Monday at Laval-sur-le-Lac, president of hockey operations Jeff Gorton said he was confident the defenceman would sign before the start of training camp.