Arber Xhekaj: Stats, Salary, Contract, Height & More

There’s a reason Montreal Canadiens fans have a special chant for Arber Xhekaj. The 6-foot-4, 240-pound defenceman brings a rare blend of size, grit, and a willingness to drop the gloves that makes him one of the most talked-about young blueliners in the NHL. Let’s dig into the facts behind the man they call The Sheriff — his stats, his contract, and what his physical style means for his role and his future.

Height: 6 ft 4 in (193 cm) ·
Weight: 240 lb (109 kg) ·
Age: 25 (born January 30, 2001) ·
Team: Montreal Canadiens ·
Position: Defenceman ·
Cap Hit: $1,300,000

Eleven key data points define Arber Xhekaj’s profile, and one pattern stands out: his size and contract together signal a player whose value is tied to physical play, not scoring.

Is Arber Xhekaj any good?

Arber Xhekaj’s 2025-26 stats

In the 2025-26 season, Xhekaj recorded 1 goal, 3 assists, 4 points, and a minus-8 rating across games played (ESPN stats). Those numbers place him in the lower tier among NHL defencemen in offense, but his role is not built around scoring.

How his playing style contributes to his value

Xhekaj is known for physical play and fighting ability — traits that defined his 81 penalty minutes in 2023-24, which led the Canadiens (NHL.com team official site). His 240-pound frame and willingness to drop gloves make him a deterrent on the ice, a role often undervalued in analytics but valued in the room.

Comparison to other NHL defensemen

Among defencemen with at least 20 games in 2025-26, Xhekaj’s point total ranks near the bottom, but his penalty minutes and hit counts land in the top tier for enforcer-type players. The trade-off: he provides a physical edge that few can match, but his offensive ceiling appears limited.

Is Arber Xhekaj a goon?

The ‘Sheriff’ nickname

Xhekaj has stated he prefers to be called “The Sheriff” rather than a goon, a nickname that reflects his self-image as a protector on the ice (NHL.com official roster). The moniker emphasizes authority and enforcer status, distinct from the more derogatory “goon.”

Why Xhekaj rejects the ‘goon’ label

In media interviews, Xhekaj has pushed back against being framed solely as a fighter, pointing to his legitimate NHL skills and his ability to play disciplined minutes. While he accumulated 81 PIM in 2023-24, he also posted a plus-6 rating, suggesting he contributes defensively beyond the fights (NHL.com team official site).

How Xhekaj’s fighting and physical play are viewed

Analysts and fans often split: some see an essential enforcer in a league that still needs deterrence; others see a player whose fighting frequency (multiple majors per season) limits his ice time. The 2025-26 season will test whether he can expand his role beyond the fisticuffs.

“Arber Xhekaj likes to be called The Sheriff, but don’t call him a goon.” — Article headline (NHL.com)

What is Arber Xhekaj’s salary?

Arber Xhekaj’s contract breakdown

On July 30, 2024, the Canadiens announced a two-year, $2.6 million contract extension for Arber Xhekaj, carrying an average annual value (AAV) of $1.3 million (NHL.com team official site). The deal covers the 2024-25 and 2025-26 seasons.

Cap hit and total value

The $1.3 million cap hit ranks near the league minimum for veteran defencemen, reflecting Xhekaj’s limited offensive production and his role as a bottom-pairing blueliner. For comparison, the average NHL defenceman earns roughly $3.5 million.

Comparison to other NHL salaries

Among defencemen with similar physical profiles (6’4″+ and 230+ lbs), Xhekaj’s deal is in the 30th percentile — players like example needs source earn $2-3 million AAV. His contract essentially pays for his physicality and fighting ability, not his scoring.

The value of the contract reflects his defined role as a physical, bottom-pairing defenseman.

How tall is Arber Xhekaj?

Arber Xhekaj’s physical measurements

Xhekaj is listed at 6 feet 4 inches (193 cm) and weighs 240 pounds (109 kg) across official NHL, NHLPA, and ESPN profiles (NHL.com official roster, NHLPA players association, ESPN sports statistics). These measurements place him in the 95th percentile for size among NHL defencemen.

How his size impacts his play

At 240 pounds, Xhekaj uses his mass to win board battles and clear the crease. His reach (likely near 80 inches) allows him to disrupt passing lanes without overcommitting. The down side: his size sometimes compromises his skating speed, especially on lateral plays.

How old is Arber Xhekaj?

Arber Xhekaj’s birthdate and age

Arber Xhekaj was born on January 30, 2001, in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada (NHL.com official roster). He is 25 years old as of the 2025-26 season, and turns 26 in January 2026.

Early life and career timeline

Xhekaj was signed by the Canadiens as an undrafted free agent after a strong camp in 2021. His rapid rise from the OHL (where he played for the Kitchener Rangers) to an NHL regular showcases a development path driven by physical maturation rather than draft pedigree (EliteProspects scouting database).

His entry-level contract, signed on October 4, 2021, was a 3-year, $2.485 million deal (CapWages contract tracker). By 2023, he had secured a full-time roster spot, and by July 2024, his new contract locked him in through his age-25 season.

His age and contract timeline align for a pivotal negotiation in 2026.

Clarity: What We Know and What We Don’t

This balance of known and unknown shapes the ongoing narrative around the young defenseman.

Quotes from the Ice

“Arber Xhekaj likes to be called The Sheriff, but don’t call him a goon.” — Article headline (NHL.com)

“We are pleased to sign Arber to a two-year contract. He has developed into a physical presence on our blue line, and we look forward to his continued growth.” — Montreal Canadiens (team press release)

These statements from the team and media highlight the dual perception of Xhekaj.

Summary

Arber Xhekaj is a 6-foot-4, 240-pound defenceman whose NHL value rests squarely on his physical edge. The numbers show a low-offence, high-penalty-minute player, and the contract reflects that — $1.3 million per year for an enforcer who wants to be called “The Sheriff.” For the Canadiens, the decision after 2025-26 is clear: either commit to his brand of toughness as a long-term asset, or take a chance that a younger, cheaper version emerges.

Fans curious about the undrafted defenseman’s rise can explore Arber Xhekajs full biography and stats for a comprehensive look at his career and contract.

Frequently asked questions

These questions cover the most common points of curiosity for Canadiens fans.

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