Arber Xhekaj sends a clear message to Canadiens fans amid trade rumors

Arber Xhekaj is showing up for the fans, even while the rumors keep swirling around him.

The Montreal Canadiens defenseman will appear at a meet and greet in Joliette, Quebec on Saturday, August 22nd, sharing the stage with fellow blueliner Lane Hutson and Habs legend Chris Nilan.

It's a low key event on paper, but the timing says a lot.

Xhekaj heads into training camp without a new contract, and his name has been floated in connection with teams like Calgary and Philadelphia for weeks now, with insiders going back and forth on whether either club is still in the mix.

None of that seems to be changing his plans this weekend.

Xhekaj is expected to spend time with fans, sign autographs and take photos, the kind of appearance that reads a little differently when a player's future with the team is technically up in the air.

For a guy who has built his reputation on being present, physical and all in for this market, showing up in person feels like its own kind of answer.

Xhekaj's camp has already pushed back on the idea that a trade is close.

His agent told reporters recently that the goal is still to find a way to make things work in Montreal, pointing to how much the 25 year old defenseman enjoys the city, the fans and playing for the Canadiens.

Standing next to Hutson and Nilan in Joliette this weekend only reinforces that message, whether it was planned that way or not.

Hutson brings the offensive flash that has quickly made him one of the most exciting young defensemen in the league, while Nilan remains one of the most beloved figures in franchise history.

Xhekaj fits somewhere in between, a physical, fan favorite blueliner who has built a real connection with this city in a short amount of time.

With no deal in place and training camp getting closer by the day, every public appearance gets read through the lens of his contract situation.

Saturday won't resolve anything on paper, but it's another chance for Xhekaj to remind fans exactly why so many of them want him to stick around.

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Maple Leafs reportedly place veteran defenceman on trade block with three teams linked