I’ll be honest, I don’t really understand what the Montreal Canadiens are doing with Arber Xhekaj. Thursday night against the Bruins, he was scratched for a third straight game.

We’re at Game 75 of the season, it was an important home game, and he didn’t play.

That says a lot.

Tony Marinaro summed it up well, it hurts to see a guy like Arber Xhekaj left out of a game like that.

He brings intensity, toughness, and an energy that few players on the team can provide.

You scratch him when you need to win? That’s strange. We get that St-Louis didn’t want to change his lineup after back-to-back wins against the Panthers, but still, leaving out a player like Xhekaj in favor of Pezzetta is a real head-scratcher.

It feels like the end for Arber Xhekaj with the Montreal Canadiens, according to several insiders

Jean-Charles Lajoie thinks that Arber Xhekaj simply isn’t part of the Montreal Canadiens’ plans anymore.

Hard to believe, but at the same time, it’s starting to look that way. He’s barely playing, often the 7th defenseman, and he doesn’t seem to have the trust of the organization.

Bob Hartley also added to it:

“Arber Xhekaj will eventually be traded.

He was never able to establish himself with the coaching staff.

He has no leash, he makes one mistake and immediately pays the price, while others are given more chances.

His days with the Canadiens are numbered.”

Arber Xhekaj used as a forward, instead of Michael Pezzetta?

What’s even more interesting is Jean-Charles’ suggestion to play him at forward, in place of Michael Pezzetta, and give him those 5 minutes on the fourth line.

I think that would be a good idea. He could hold his own up front and, at the very least, stay active and in the lineup.

And if there’s an injury on defense, he could even fill in.

I know everyone loves Arber Xhekaj. He’s intense, he defends his teammates, and he has the perfect style for Montreal, but the more games go by, the more I’m afraid he’ll be traded this summer.

And that would be a real slap in the face for fans!