What happened: The 25-year-old defenseman signed a one-year contract carrying a $1.5 million cap hit. Brian and Scott Bartlett represented him in the deal.
Why it matters: The short term keeps Arber Xhekaj headed for another restricted-free-agent negotiation next summer rather than a longer commitment now. It also closes an offseason contract file that had sparked repeated trade chatter around his future.
By the numbers: Xhekaj gets a one-year term at a $1.5 million cap hit; his qualifying offer at expiry is $1.575 million, and he remains one season from unrestricted free agency.
What to watch: The next marker is camp usage and whether he locks down a regular role for the upcoming season. This structure also sets up next summer as the bigger contract decision point.