Arber Xhekaj and Alex Newhook sign new deals with the Montreal Canadiens

Xhekaj's contract is for one year and is only worth a total of $1.5 million.

Newhook's deal is for four seasons and is worth $5.55 million per season.

Xhekaj, known to fans as "The Sheriff," had been the Canadiens' last unsigned restricted free agent this summer.

The 25-year-old defenseman brings a physical dimension the roster otherwise lacks, leading Montreal in hits and penalty minutes last season while providing a level of grit that a young, undersized group badly needs.

Financial terms were not immediately disclosed, but locking in a player of his physicality and fan appeal at a reasonable term protects the Canadiens from having to negotiate from a weaker position later, especially with a crowded left side of the blue line already carrying significant cap commitments.

Getting Xhekaj signed also removes any lingering trade speculation and ensures head coach Martin St. Louis has him available from day one of camp.

Newhook is coming off arguably his best stretch as a professional, posting strong underlying numbers in limited regular season action before carrying that momentum into a deep playoff run.

Extending him now, before he hits unrestricted free agency, buys the Canadiens cost certainty on a versatile forward who can play up and down the lineup.

With Cole Caufield, Nick Suzuki and Ivan Demidov forming the young core, Newhook gives Montreal proven secondary scoring and center depth without having to overpay in a rising RFA market.

Together, the two signings give the Canadiens a fully settled roster as they open camp against a Toronto Maple Leafs team that will be watching closely.

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