xhekaj isnt available.
there are numerous articles about this.

Canes pass. Not the right type of return, even putting value aside

Once again, Anaheims not interested in a quantity return. You want Zegras, offer quality.

You have the pick on the wrong side for that Dvorak trade.

youll be waiting for that 'quality' offer like he waited you guys out for his current contract

he wants out. you dont get top dollar in this kind of situation.

Dvorak is a cap dump. You’re not getting a 4th for him. Attach a 3rd to him and you’ll get FCs back.

Oh please give us some info on him wanting out

do your own reading?

stuff like this: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qAutRfmU-10

the fact that negotiations for a bridge contract took till a week or so before first game

the dozens of articles, youtube videos about zegras' availabbility...

this is what a strong negotiator also looks like. Montreal also "wasn't" shopping Subban.

Yeah and our GM said that he was not shopping Trevor and that they were all on the same page (GM Coach & Player)

Montreal wasn't shopping Subban


Next on GMs Say the Darnest Things

I like Xhekaj but there's probably a better defenseman available at 9th.

Canes are still interested in winning?

You are losing up to 4 of your playoff Defense. Matheson has been great and sets in as an offensive D with a great contract for your team. He himself is almost worth Necas.

Kovacevic is a solid 3rd pair RD, and super cheap again. Skates well for being a big man too.

Heineman is a close to NHL ready winger if not already. Again, cheap.


Look at your roster, and all those "RFA" and "UFA" guys, they are getting raises. Good luck running it back without cheaper contracts on the books.

better in what way? and also, not addressing that there is risk to drafting. Calgary keeps calling for him, despite being told hes not available. That means they are willing to up their trade. We'll see.

Also, Xhekaj is not "off limits". Habs fans need to stop falling in love with their guys. Everyone can be traded for the right price. And if 9th overall isnt your price, you love him too much.

There are 4 defensemen with #1d potential that could drop to 9th. I haven't seen anything linking him to the Flames.

Pagnotta has been reporting on it.

4-6 defensemen are being taken in the top 9. There are no forwards good enough to jump ahead of them in this draft. They also aren't Xhekaj who is good offensively, defensively, will fight anyone, and hits like a truck. There is a reason why teams are calling despite being told hes not getting traded.

you offering your captain?

I am not offering anything, i am saying Montreal is listening, and Calgary (among other teams) is calling still. The price i set on Xhekaj is 9th overall. and actually moving the 2nd for a 1st. Montreal would be dumb not to do this.

Xehkaj isn't worth remotely close to that.

Romanov got us 13th overall 2 years ago. Xhekaj is better than Romanov, and a more rare style/size of player. We can sit here and argue all day about value, i'll go with precedence and NHL Gm's loving a big physical D.

Potentially losing 3 - chatty pesce and Skjei. We already have Orlov and Slavin on the left side so Matheson doesn’t make sense regardless of what you and Habs fans think of him because we need a 3LD, and paying that much is a poor usage of our cap space (as you’re trying to allude to but without understanding the context in CAR).

As far as young cheap talent, we’ve got 3-4 guys who are nhl ready and will battle for spots on the roster already without having to go looking elsewhere. Appreciate your concern there, but we’re good without Matheson and the rest. Surprised how much Habs fans want to move him with how great of a player he is.

If canes move on from Necas they’ll likely target a 2C, RD or an elite level goalie (eg Saros). Either in a hockey trade or flipping some assets. Or they could keep Necas if they don’t find a deal to their liking, they’ve got the leverage over the player in this situation.

They’ll prioritize Jarvis, Guentzel if it can get done (or a replacement top line winger), figure what to do with Necas and then fill in the rest. Guys like Morrow, Nadeau, FUS, Blake will be those cheap contracts you’re looking for.

Habs have a young core, Matheson's value is high. Trade him and open a space for the younger players. We can want to trade him, while still seeing he is a great player that doesnt fit our timeline.

That’s great - I’m sure there will be teams who go after him with those types of needs. Canes are a bad fit unfortunately.