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Leafs were among suitors for Habs defenceman Xhekaj


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Jan Murphy
August 24, 2024  (9:19 PM)
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Montreal Canadiens defenceman Arber Xhekaj.
Photo credit: USA Today

Montreal Canadiens enforcer and defencemen Arber Xhekaj has revealed that the rival Toronto Maple Leafs were among clubs that expressed interest in his services before he signed with the Habs.

During the latest episode of Spittin' Chiclets, Xhekaj said he and his agent were fielding interest from NHL clubs, which included the Leafs and the current Stanley Cup champion Florida Panthers, but that he urged his agent to hold out a while longer in hopes his favourite team, the Habs, would call.
«Toronto called me, I think Florida called me," Xhekaj said on the podcast. "Me and my agent were talking and were like. We were checking the prospect pool, we were like �OK, let's go to Florida. After that, I was like �Wait, just give it a second, wait a few days.' He's like �No, we can't keep the NHL teams waiting,' and I was like �Just give it a second, something's coming,' because I knew Montreal was super interested and that's my favourite team and that's where I wanted to go."
The Habs defenceman signed a two-year, $2.6 million contract with the Montreal Canadiens earlier this summer. Xhekaj, 23, recorded 10 points (three goals, seven assists) and a team-high 81 penalty minutes in 44 games last season.
During the podcast, he also discussed his main camp Habs debut coming against the Leafs after having missed two years of hockey due to the COVID-19 pandemic, during which time he worked at Costco. Xhekaj recalled not playing well against the Leafs.
"I literally go from once again, working at Costco, two years of no hockey, and then I'm in the Rogers Centre, putting on a Habs jersey about to go play the Leafs."
"I didn't play too well that game. I think John Tavares was out in front of the net with me and I didn't even want to give him a cross-check to box him out and he scored."
The Leafs will open their 2024-25 NHL season against Xhekaj and the Habs on Oct. 9 in Montreal.
Source: Spittin' Chiclets Podcast
Spittin' Chiclets Episode 317
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Leafs were among suitors for Habs defenceman Xhekaj

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