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Calgary Flames still trying to trade for Montreal Canadiens tough guy: report

Colton Pankiw
Colton Pankiw
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Aug 4 2026, 9:43 pm
Calgary Flames still trying to trade for Montreal Canadiens tough guy: report
David Kirouac/Imagn Images

The Calgary Flames might not be done making adjustments to their blue line just yet.

The Flames are currently set to enter the 2026-27 season with the following defencemen: Kevin Bahl, Simon Nemec, Jake Middleton, Zach Whitecloud, Zayne Parekh, Yan Kuznetsov, Hunter Brzustewicz, Joel Hanley, and Brayden Pachal.

Given that the list above features nine blueliners, the expectation was that the Flames wouldn’t be making any more roster adjustments on the back end. Based on a new report, however, that may not be the case.

Flames fans may remember some speculation going into the 2026 trade deadline that GM Craig Conroy was reportedly showing interest in Montreal Canadiens defenceman Arber Xhekaj. Nothing wound up coming to fruition, though it sounds like the interest from the Flames remains.

“Another source revealed Calgary’s interest in Xhekaj last season at the trade deadline. And this summer, the Flames and Philadelphia Flyers have been linked to the Montreal fan favourite,” Herb Zurkowsky of the Montreal Gazette wrote this past Thursday.

Xhekaj, 25, is currently an RFA. There has been speculation surrounding his future with the Habs given that they have a bit of a logjam on their blue line. Interestingly enough, so do the Flames.

There is certainly some value in Xhekaj, who has registered north of 100 penalty minutes in three of his four NHL seasons. He’s as tough as they come and provides a ton of size at 6-foot-4, 240 pounds.

Despite Xhekaj’s positives, it’s hard to see this deal coming to fruition for the Flames. They are going to want to provide a ton of ice time to newcomer Simon Nemec, while also making sure the likes of Parekh, Kuznetsov, and possibly even Brzustewicz are given plenty of opportunity. Acquiring Xhekaj would impact that.

On top of that, Xhekaj, while providing plenty of toughness, is nothing more than a third-pairing option. He’s not the type of acquisition that would move the needle, making it hard to envision Conroy pulling the trigger on a trade.

Regardless of personal opinions, it’s clear that Conroy does like the game Xhekaj provides given the multiple reports of interest shown. Though it does feel unlikely that the Hamilton, Ont., native will end up in Calgary, it’s something for the fan base to monitor for the remainder of the summer.

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