Contract Negotiations Stall for Canadiens’ Bolduc and Xhekaj

Montreal Canadiens players Zachary Bolduc and Arber Xhekaj remain restricted free agents as the off-season progresses, leaving their status for the upcoming campaign uncertain. As of July 29, 2026, neither player has reached a new agreement with the organization, preventing them from participating in games should the season begin immediately.

While the most common explanation for such delays is a simple impasse in contract term negotiations, a new theory has gained traction among observers. During a recent episode of The Sick Podcast, Stu Cowan suggested that general manager Kent Hughes might be intentionally delaying the signings to retain flexibility for potential trades. This strategy would allow the Canadiens to package the players—or move them as unsigned assets—to facilitate larger roster adjustments, such as acquiring a target like Kirill Marchenko from Columbus.

History shows that the Canadiens are not strangers to this approach; players like Kirby Dach and Alex Newhook were in similar positions before finding their way to Montreal. While no official confirmation exists that Hughes is pursuing this path, the lack of movement on Bolduc, Xhekaj, and other prospects like Sasha Pastujov and Maksymilian Szuber has kept the speculation alive. For now, both players remain under the club’s control, as the Canadiens retain the right to match any offer sheets they might receive.