The Montreal Canadiens defender Arber Xhekaj will be out for the rest of the season with a left shoulder injury. Today’s announcement is that he will require surgery on his shoulder. This is unfortunate news for the physical Montreal blueliner, but hopefully, the timing is good. Montreal is not currently playing meaningful games, and the team expects him to be ready to go for September’s training camp.
Arber Xhekaj Gone for the Season Following Surgery on Left Shoulder Injury
Arber Xhekaj season is over. He needs a surgery on his left shoulder. @CanadiensMTL
— Renaud Lavoie (@renlavoietva) April 9, 2024
This injury news wraps up a bit of a disappointing season for Arber Xhekaj from a personal standpoint. He missed a couple of weeks back in late November with what was also a left shoulder injury. As a result, between the injury and also working on his game, he ended up playing some down with the Laval Rocket. Now, it is also related to his contract status, and being one of the few waiver-exempt options for the Canadiens.
This year statistically for Montreal, Xhekaj played in 44 games and recorded three goals and seven assists. Moreover, during his time in the AHL, 17 games worth, he scored three times and added eight assists. He continues to be a physical force when he is out there for Montreal. Thus far in 95 career games he has totaled 182 penalty minutes. Furthermore, he has thrown an impressive number of hits at 284. He is a strong piece for Montreal’s blueline future.
What Does this Mean for Montreal
With the news of the Arber Xhekaj injury requiring surgery, it doesn’t really impact Montreal’s fortune too much. Montreal has been near the bottom of the NHL’s Eastern Conference, currently 2nd last with 70 points. The main hope is that Xhekaj can come back healthy for the start of the 2024-25 season.
Main photo: David Kirouac – USA Today Sports
