The hard-hitting defenceman will earn an average annual salary of $1.3 million.
The 23-year-old defenceman, who was a restricted free agent, will earn an average of US$1.3 million over each of the next two seasons.
Four years ago, when the OHL’s 2020-21 season was cancelled due to COVID-19, Xhekaj was working at Costco.
When he went undrafted at the NHL level — as had happened in the OHL — the Canadiens invited him to training camp in 2021 before signing him to a three-year contract worth US$2.485 million.
This article will be updated