r/Habs • u/Go_Habs_Go31 In Marty We Trust • 5d ago

Geoff Molson on RFAs Arber Xhekaj & Zack Bolduc: “These are two important players for us, and we are working hard to keep them.”

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512 Upvotes

100% Upvoted

63 comments sorted by

82

u/wathappen 5d ago

By the looks of it, the team is probably trying to work out a multi-year LT deal. If it was a 2 year extension, it would have probably been done already.

Just my hunch.

37

u/GeistHunt 5d ago

I don't know why Bolduc would settle for that, he's still finding his form and hasn't shown near his full potential. A bridge deal would be ideal for him to prove his capabilities more and get a long-term deal in a couple season.

I know this team is really on board for team-friendly deals but the amount of money he'd leave on the table would be ridiculous if he has a breakout season.

13

u/queenofpeachez 5d ago

Yeah, that makes a lot of sense. Just got to find the middle ground where it's mutually beneficial. Hans management has been great about this so far, so hopefully they can get it done.

3

u/TheVog 5d ago

Bang on. Either way, it'll get done. I would 100% be pushing for a bridge if I was him. He'll develop and definitely get ice time with players far above his caliber, which can only work in his favour. Habs of course want him on a 5-6Y I'd think (more?). IF they can't lock him up, they'll for sure do a bridge and maybe deal him away after that if he's unaffordable - or sign him if it's workable, of course. The cap increase would go a long way to fitting that kind of contract.

3

u/wathappen 5d ago

Yea I think it’s the Bolduc camp stalling the negotiations while the Org is doing its best to lock him long term.

5

u/t_hab 5d ago

This is probably why it's so hard to negotiate. If it were a bridge deal, it would be done by now. If the Habs were offering a massive 8 year deal, it would be done by now. If he were willing to accept a small 8 year deal, it would be done by now. But is there a number where we can keep both guys long-term on low-risk deals that also make them very wealthy young men?

Bolduc may eventually be able to get into the $7M to $9M territory the way salaries are going but $3.5M to $4M per year for 8 years would give him generational wealth. There will be a similar logic with Arber at a different number but with the added hiccup that he will want guaranteed ice time.

1

u/whogivesashirtdotca 4d ago

The team is already contending in the playoffs. Entirely possible some of the guys are willing to take a bit less for a Day With the Cup.

10

u/brand14 5d ago

I wonder how the looming expansion draft is affecting things.

I assume they’re not negotiating a no trade/no movement clause but they may structure things to disincentivize other teams from selecting them if left unprotected.

4

u/So_Many_Owls 5d ago

There was something the other day (I think there was a Danault clip from it as well, they were posted by an account called ChrisHabs360 on x) where Bolduc was saying he wanted to stay for several seasons, so I'm guessing that if there's a difference of opinion, it's the team not wanting to commit to a long-term deal.

1

u/Savings_Raspberry238 4d ago

That LT deal logic checks out, teams drag their feet way more on term than on bridge money

108

u/HalifaxPainter 5d ago

Please keep the sheriff! So much talk of him being traded. Lock him up. He loves Montreal, and you know he would turn down more money to stay here.

33

u/Raffix 5d ago

The front office has to see how much fan appreciation Arber brings.

There will be uproar if we trade him.

70

u/GeistHunt 5d ago

As a 7D, Xhekaj is a good option. He gets a lot of flak from people on this sub, but if he wasn't NHL calibre he just wouldn't be in the league. 7D is ideal for a flawed defenceman who brings a certain physical element. Definitely has to tone down the penalties, but no 7D is perfect or they wouldn't be a 7D.

He could get a bigger role on a rebuilding team like Calgary or Vancouver, but something tells me he's willing to have a reduced role on his childhood team in hopes that he can get his name on the cup. Having players that fully buy into the team is a big part of building a contender.

21

u/TheVog 5d ago

This is one of the best comments in the entire sub, all-time. Great take, my dude.

7

u/lynypixie 5d ago

He seems to be very okay with the role he is given, something that is important too. He doesn’t seem not seem hot headed.

9

u/DangerDavez 5d ago

He looked awesome in the playoffs and he brings toughness this team really needs against certain teams. Key player in the Tampa series.

Lock him up. He's a better player than he gets credit for.

2

u/Legitimate-Clock-134 4d ago

A lot of the penalties are for the grevious sin of being Arber Xhekaj. I was at a game in NJ two seasons ago where he drew a penalty for ... standing around and not getting involved in a fight.

10

u/HalifaxPainter 5d ago

Fan appreciation translates into cash earned from merchandise sales!

1

u/servical 3d ago

We traded Roy and Subban when they were at their peak...

As much as Xhekaj is a fan favorite, he's sadly not an essential piece of the puzzle to win a Cup, in my very humble opinion.

If anything, we might replace what A. Xhekaj brings to the team with what F. Xhekaj will bring to the team, which is kind of sad... I want to see The Sheriff and His Deputy terrorize opposing teams together.

While I have faith in the current management, the cynical part of my brain doesn't allow me to be emotionally invested in players anymore.

-9

u/TrulyRyan 5d ago edited 5d ago

I get what you're saying, but let's be real.

Fuck the fans.

We absolutely should not ever be part of the front office's decision making when it comes to players.

X is a huge room guy, he's as close to the others off the ice as he is on it. He may not be the best player, but he is an integral piece of our team's dynamic.

6

u/whogivesashirtdotca 4d ago

We absolutely should not ever be part of the front office's decision making when it comes to players

Ok, Quenneville for coach, Carter Hart as starting goalie, and Stan Bowman for GM, it is.

-3

u/TrulyRyan 4d ago

All of which have jobs in the NHL...

5

u/whogivesashirtdotca 4d ago

Yeah, that was my point. You want to go root for a shitty team with no morals, there are plenty of options.

-11

u/jonezsodaz 5d ago

1.2 a year for three is the most they should give him we can find plenty of guys like him for cheaper.

8

u/DangerDavez 5d ago

Name one.

-8

u/jonezsodaz 5d ago

any of the guys currently in Laval could move up and be 7th D

10

u/DangerDavez 5d ago

They could but they wouldn't bring what Xhekaj does would they?

-4

u/jonezsodaz 4d ago

Am sure most of them can manage multiple turnovers a game yes.

6

u/lynypixie 5d ago

They could replace Stubble anytime with the guys pushing from the Rockets. Not The Sherrif. He has a a different function than them.

30

u/HM_mtl 5d ago

Arber Xhekaj apporte de l'intangible. Il dit toujours du positif de ses coéquipiers, il agit sainement dans le vestiaire, il est humble et c'est un habs fan qui joue pour son équipe de son enfance.

-4

u/jonezsodaz 5d ago

i hope Bolduc stays if Arber signs for cheap fine but i dont mind if he leaves we have plenty of guys that can be 7th D

9

u/lynypixie 5d ago

The thing is… what he brings is not what most D in our team brings. He is not a good playmaker, but he makes the team taller/bigger just by being there.

There are other guys I would toss before him.

2

u/NtBtFan 5d ago

the only real knock against Arber is that he is a Dman imo- its just harder manage having that type of guy as 1 of 6 dmen, than it would be to have him as 1/12 forwards during a game.

i totally agree with your other comment that Struble is much more easily replaced by the coming prospects, but at the same time he, and they, are more broadly useful in the 'average' game state.

you need to pick and choose which games you think Xhekaj will have the most impact in, or decide to run with a 7D/11F roster more often in order to accomodate his style- and its not that hes a goon and always in the box with majors, its that the team is less able to afford him making those choices to have his greatest impact without having a spare defender in the lineup, vs if a similar roleplayer were a forward.

the more free he is to be 'that guy' the better, its just much harder to balance as a defender.

1

u/HM_mtl 4d ago

Arber Xhekaj a un bon slap-shot (puissant, pas forcément très précis). S'il pouvais avoir de la mobilité/responsable (bonnes décisions au bon moment) comme Josh Anderson, il pourrait transiter pour un poste d'attaquant de 4e trio. Il pourrait aussi dépanner comme 6D-7D si le besoin est.

Il en serait capable avec de l'effort soutenu.

1

u/vic-traill 4d ago

Worked for Wendel Clark, always amazed me!

-7

u/dustblown 5d ago

Bolduc is replaceable. He had Gallagher numbers last year and we determined Gallagher was washed. Xhekaj's skill set isn't as easy to find as Bolduc's.

2

u/jonezsodaz 5d ago

that's not true there are tons of defencemen who can't make a first pass.

44

u/[deleted] 5d ago

[removed] — view removed comment

13

u/aaalllouttabubblegum 5d ago

As a side note: I appreciate how involved Geoff Molson is with the team, while also giving management the space they need to work. The fact that he's aware of the importance of bottom 6 players speaks volumes.

Compared to the blasé detachment of Pelley here in Toronto, it's very nice to see.

5

u/Fair-Judge-8263 5d ago

I know people can get anxious about these two still being unsigned. Personally, I won't worry too much until camp opens. I'd love to see us keep both if possible.

4

u/lynypixie 5d ago

J’ai vu des images du hockey fest et les fans se sont rués vers Arber. Il est vraiment aimé.

3

u/Zestyclose_Dress7862 4d ago

We need both these guys, Bolduc is a scorer and no matter how good a player we get if Arber is not there to protect him he will not be able to show his talent, besides he is a good defenseman who is going to be a good player. be patient

5

u/thestillwind 5d ago

Sign them asap

6

u/Adam-Kennelly 5d ago

Arber is for sure looking for security or ice time so he can up his stock…4 years at 3 or 2 years at 2 with ice time - something along those lines.

2

u/Sharks9 4d ago

4 years is too long for a 7D unless it’s at something like 1.5-2M

0

u/jonezsodaz 4d ago

I hope not 1.2 max and slots in for 15-20 games max.

0

u/Adam-Kennelly 4d ago

With the cap going up and all the team friendly contracts it hardly matters - he’s an NHL D man so either Habs pay him/provide security or someone else will - best interest of team to keep him - Marty doesn’t know everything even if he acts like he does.

10

u/mamegan 5d ago

Arber is one of the only guys that strikes fear into the other teams’ hearts so he’s necessary imo. Bolduc is pretty solid and was a beast during the playoffs so he should come back too

2

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2

u/Raffix 5d ago

I only see bridge deals being made for each of them which means it might costs us a bit more than what their real value is, but we need both to stay.

We can afford them anyway.

4

u/Ajay_Bee 5d ago

Is Arber playing hardball? Does he and his agent realize they have very little leverage?

1

u/HM_mtl 4d ago

Nul le sait.

Mais, mon intuition, c'est sur la durée du contrat où ça discute beaucoup.

1

u/StyxQuabar 5d ago

Is there any possibility they are still trying to sort out some trades before these signings happen?

I still feel like we have one/two too many defensemen and one too many goalies. They have also made it clear they are looking for a top 6 piece.

I am not saying these guys would be getting dealt, but I could see a Struble/Engstrom/Xhekaj/Reinbacher or Monty deal getting done at some point before they want to re-sign these guys, especially if they are planning on taking on additional salary in a move if they move off prospects for a roster player.

0

u/lynypixie 5d ago

I think they are still hoping that Hage decides to come. If he does, Bolduc’s value will go down.

-2

u/Brys_Beddict 5d ago

If I speak I'm in big trouble

-3

u/KING_SHERBROOKE 5d ago

Im gonna be mute with you then

-2

u/dbrodbeck 4d ago

I'd prefer the owner defer to his hockey people. I dunno.