Canadiens re-up Barron, Xhekaj with 2-year deals

The Montreal Canadiens announced Tuesday they re-signed restricted free-agent defensemen Justin Barron and Arber Xhekaj to two-year contracts.

Barron's contract carries a cap hit of $1.15 million, while Xhekaj's contract is worth $1.3 million annually. Both players will be RFAs at the end of their contracts. Xhekaj won't hit unrestricted free agency until 2028, while Barron can't become a UFA until 2029.

Barron recorded 13 points in 48 games with the Canadiens in 2023-24, averaging 18:38 per contest. Montreal acquired the 6-foot-2, right-shot blue-liner from Colorado in the 2022 trade that sent Artturi Lehkonen to the Avalanche. The Avs originally drafted Barron 25th overall in 2020.

Xhekaj recorded three goals and seven assists in 44 games last season while averaging 15:56 per contest. The 6-foot-4, 240-pounder brought physicality and toughness with 125 hits and 81 penalty minutes, including seven fights. The Canadiens signed him as an undrafted free agent in 2021.

Both players will have to compete for playing time on Montreal's crowded blue line in 2024-25.