Hamilton's Arber Xhekaj signs 2-year deal worth $2.6M US with the Montreal Canadiens

The Montreal Canadiens have signed restricted free agent defenceman Arber Xhekaj to a two-year, US$2.6-million contract, the club announced Tuesday.

The bruising blueliner played 44 games with Montreal last season, recording three goals and 10 points.

The six-foot-four, 240-pound Hamilton native led the team with 81 penalty minutes and topped all Canadiens defencemen with 125 hits.

Xhekaj has eight goals, 23 points and 182 penalty minutes in 95 career NHL games.

The 23-year-old also skated in 17 contests with the American Hockey League's Laval Rocket in 2023-24, putting up three goals and 11 points.

Xhejak originally joined organization as an undrafted free agent when he signed an entry-level contract in October 2021.

He joined the Canadiens after his Ontario Hockey League (OHL) career ended, playing for the Hamilton Bulldogs in 2022. The Bulldogs won the OHL's J. Ross Robertson Cupin a game-seven win overthe Windsor Spitfires. He lead all defencemen in scoring during the playoffs with 16 points in 18 games.

His brother FlorianXhekaj, 20,signed a three-yearentry-level contract with the Canadiens in April, the NHL said.Xhekajplayedforthe Brantford Bulldogs in the 2023-24 OHL this season. The Bulldogs have movedto Brantford whileHamilton's FirstOntario Centre undergoes renovations.