The 23-year-old Zack Bolduc will be entering his fourth NHL season, third full-time. His numbers took a small step back in his first season with the Montreal Canadiens, 12 goals and 18 assists in 78 games, after a 19-goal, 17-assist rookie season with the St. Louis Blues.
The 25-year-old Arber Xhekaj is coming off a two-year deal with a $1.3 million cap hit. The rugged defenseman saw his ice time drop last season and was a healthy scratch at times. You’re not looking at Xhekaj for offense, but his physical game is what teams desire.
Will the Montreal Canadiens re-sign Zack Bolduc and Arber Xhekaj before the start of training camp?
The Sick Podcast with Tony Marino: John Marino and Brian Wilde on Montreal Canadiens RFAs Zack Bolduc and Arber Xhekaj, and if they’ll be signed before the start of training camp.
** NHLRumors.com transcriptions
Marino: “Are you expecting RFA’s signing new deals before training camp?”
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Wilde: “I am. Yeah. I don’t think there’s going to be any holdouts here. I think everybody’s ready to go and want to be a part of this.”
Marino: “I, um, listen.”
Wilde: “What do you think?”
Marino: “I think…”
Wilde: “Xhekaj and Bolduc.”
Marino: “I think, I think Bolduc will definitely sign for sure. I think Xhekaj will sign. But should the Montreal Canadiens go out and acquire that big right-handed defenseman to play with Lane Hutson. At that point, it becomes a numbers game, and maybe somebody might be on the out.
I know this. I know Xhekaj is a great teammate. I know the guys absolutely love him, and they love having that guy on that team. They love having that guy in that room.”
Wilde: “And they need that guy. That’s the footprint that they lack.”
Marino: “You know what? He’s a real one. He’s a, he’s a, he’s a, that, that guy there. You know what? When you go out and, and if there’s trouble, you want to have that guy on your team.”
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Wilde: “I love him. I love him for what he brings. Sometimes, you know, I feel like he loses his confidence and he’s having a really great game, and then one mistake, and he kind of goes off the rails. You almost look for that first mistake, and then no, maybe the rest of the game won’t be great. But sometimes he carries a no mistake game, and he stays high level of confidence, and he brings everything that you want from him as a hockey player at those moments. But then the other part, my God, Tony, you absolutely have to have that on your team.”
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