As the March 6th NHL trade deadline approaches, more names are being added to the Montreal Canadiens rumor list, including defenseman Arbor Zekaj.
According to Herb Zarkowski of the Montreal Gazette, the Calgary Flames are interested in potentially acquiring Szekaj.
I'm hearing Calgary is interested #hubs'Defenseman Arbor Zekaj
- Herb Zurkowsky (@HerbZurkowsky1) 3 March 2026
As always, we should take every rumor seriously, but this isn't the first time a team has shown interest in Montreal's rough and tumble defenseman.
The 25-year-old Zekaj has performed well on several occasions throughout his career, including Saturday's matchup against the Washington Capitals, as well as Tuesday's matchup against the San Jose Sharks.
They currently lead the Canadiens in hits, and that too by a wide margin. Arbor Zekaj has 137 hits in 51 games, while the second-highest hitter, Joe Veleno, is credited with 115 hits.
Given that the Habs traded Emil Heinemann, and allowed Michael Pezzetta to sign with another team, moving a player like Szekaj would result in a significant drop in physicality. For the record, Heineman and Pezzetta led the team in hits per 60 last season.
On the other side of the coin, Zekaj's underlying numbers have been underwhelming at 5v5, though it should be noted that there is no lack of consistency in his usage. If Czekaj is inserted into the lineup, he is often given only a few shifts, reducing his chances of making upward progress in his fourth season in the NHL.
Interestingly, the Canadiens have expressed interest in forward Nazem Kadri, a Flames player this year. The problem is that Kadri is 35 years old, and his contract, which has an annual average value (AAV) of $7 million, expires in 2028-29.
Click this link for an in-depth look at what Kadri could potentially bring to the Habs.
