Arber Xhekaj has been fined $3,385 by NHL Player Safety after he roughed up Sam Carrick at the end of Game 3 in the second-round playoff series. Xhekaj dropped Carrick to the ice with a gloved punch to the face in the closing moments of the game.

The fine is small by NHL standards, but it lands at a moment when the 25-year-old defenseman’s playoff role is already under the microscope. The panel discussed how Xhekaj has been used during the postseason, where his ice time has been limited, and whether the Canadiens should re-sign him this summer as he heads toward restricted free agency.

That makes the incident more than just a late-game scrap. It is part of a broader debate around what Xhekaj is for on this roster and how much faith the Canadiens should place in him going forward. For a player who can become a restricted free agent this summer, the decision is not only about discipline or toughness. It is about whether the organization sees a long-term piece or a depth defender whose value depends on a narrow set of situations.

The Canadiens’ choice carries added weight because they are a franchise with a long memory and a strong opinion about players who can tilt a game physically. The 1986 Stanley Cup champions remain a benchmark in the club’s history, and every current roster debate is measured against the standard of whether a player helps the team win in the moments that matter. Xhekaj’s incident against the Sabres did not settle that argument. It sharpened it.

What happens next is straightforward, even if the answer is not. The Canadiens must decide whether Xhekaj’s future fits the role he has been given in the playoffs, or whether his summer status as a restricted free agent gives them reason to move in another direction. The fine is already on the books. The larger question is whether this is the last time his name is attached to a warning sign rather than a long-term plan.