Recalled/Assigned: Arber Xhekaj Assigned to Laval (Taken Off IR)

[Nico Cauzuki]

I don't think it is. Xhekaj brings an element that is rare and it feels like they're trying to castrate that. Not aboard either that. Let him be the beast he is.

hes not gonna lose that but this isnt boxing he needs to also be able to play hockey with all our defs coming hes easily gonna lose hes spot if he doesnt improve defensively Struble is already better plus we have Matheson,Guhle on the left and Hutson and Engstrom coming in around year

 

[The Gr8 Dane]

There's not a whole lot else to put there. He has a big shot and a solid pass/first pass.

If your team has an injury I can see him filling in in the top 4 and doing well, but not entirely sure he would be an effective player there.

Granted, he could look below a 2nd pairing dman just because the team as a whole f***ing sucks and makes everyone look a little worse than they are

He's a guy you want in the lineup in a bo7 100%

 

[DAChampion]

Ridiculous how Xhekaj was universally beloved by this forum until he was sent down and now he's just a garbage no-talent scrub.

Some of you have no opinions or thoughts of your own other than a good slave-like deference to authority.

 

[Tyson]

Ridiculous how Xhekaj was universally beloved by this forum until he was sent down and now he's just a garbage no-talent scrub.

Some of you have no opinions or thoughts of your own other than a good slave-like deference to authority.

We sure could have used him against Buffalo. The amount of physical beatings we took probably affected the Nashville game. Toughness is still needed

 

[Runner77]

Damn guys, I'm an absolute fan of physical hockey, even bordeline plays, but not at the expense of on-ice responsibilities, yeah we need physicality, big time, but certainly not with players acting like careless goons, something Xhekaj isn't. He's tough, yeah, he can fight, absolutely, but he can be much more than just that.

Some time in the A certainly won't ruin him, he'll learn, it's not like we're a top team in desperate need of a superstar D to come back. (I can't wait til Houle is fired, though)

How do you explain that other turnover machines on D were not demoted ahead of Xhekaj (i.e. among those who are waiver claim exempt)?

No long term future for them whereas Xhekaj has one? Or perhaps Xhekaj performed more poorly than the others?

 

[Habs]

Ridiculous how Xhekaj was universally beloved by this forum until he was sent down and now he's just a garbage no-talent scrub.

Some of you have no opinions or thoughts of your own other than a good slave-like deference to authority.

This. People just change their opinions based on the weather, I don't get it. That kid proved he can play in the NHL, way more than others playing ahead of him. I bet teams would line up to take him off our hands

 

[Forum93]

This. People just change their opinions based on the weather, I don't get it. That kid proved he can play in the NHL, way more than others playing ahead of him. I bet teams would line up to take him off our hands

100%

 

[Kosseca]

This. People just change their opinions based on the weather, I don't get it. That kid proved he can play in the NHL, way more than others playing ahead of him. I bet teams would line up to take him off our hands

more then who? dont say Barron or Kova, they are RD and Xhekaj can't play RD they tried him and it failed.

 

[Habs]

more then who? dont say Barron or Kova, they are RD and Xhekaj can't play RD they tried him and it failed.

Bro Barron is not a good Dman, he does 1 thing 'ok' at times, but his defensive play and brainfarts should have kept him in Laval. He's awful out there. All I know is Harris shouldn't have been here either, he is an AHL dman that somehow slipped through the cracks.

 

[Kosseca]

Bro Barron is not a good Dman, he does 1 thing 'ok' at times, but his defensive play and brainfarts should have kept him in Laval. He's awful out there. All I know is Harris shouldn't have been here either, he is an AHL dman that somehow slipped through the cracks.

I agree, Barron is not an NHL D, but Xhekaj can't play RD and we dont have better option then Barron right now on RD. Also, Barron play should not have an impact on how best develop Arber.

Xhekaj is a bit of an odd player player, he can fight and can be physical.... You can see that he can be very good defensively, you can see that he can be very good offensively, but he's not consistent in either role. Why not let me play a leadership role in Laval so he can bring his game up and become a no3 type of D?? Saying that there are worst D in the lineup right now is not taking the long term approach in his development. Hab are rebuilding, not looking to win.

But to your argument, who of Mattheson, Guhle or Struble should give his place to Arber? They are all better then him today.

The reality is that as of right now, if you where to put this D-corp into a cup contending team, you would have Matheson and Guhle that may be ok to take a no4 role and the rest would be no5 or no6 type of D, or in the AHL. Arber being in the AHL isn't a crime. It's trying to make him a better Dman for when we need to compete for real.

 

[Habs]

I agree, Barron is not an NHL D, but Xhekaj can't play RD and we dont have better option then Barron right now on RD. Also, Barron play should not have an impact on how best develop Arber.

Xhekaj is a bit of an odd player player, he can fight and can be physical.... You can see that he can be very good defensively, you can see that he can be very good offensively, but he's not consistent in either role. Why not let me play a leadership role in Laval so he can bring his game up and become a no3 type of D?? Saying that there are worst D in the lineup right now is not taking the long term approach in his development. Hab are rebuilding, not looking to win.

But to your argument, who of Mattheson, Guhle or Struble should give his place to Arber? They are all better then him today.

The reality is that as of right now, if you where to put this D-corp into a cup contending team, you would have Matheson and Guhle that may be ok to take a no4 role and the rest would be no5 or no6 type of D, or in the AHL. Arber being in the AHL isn't a crime. It's trying to make him a better Dman for when we need to compete for real.

I wouldn't say Struble is better, the sample size is so short. I think the shoulder injury and time off hurt him, Struble needs to play a year before I'm declaring him a sure thing. I agree though with what you are saying, I get it, but I don't want him in Laval I think the team plays differently when he's in the lineup.

 

[WinterLion]

Has anyone from the team explained why Xhekaj was sent down?

 

[Habs]

Has anyone from the team explained why Xhekaj was sent down?

Rumour on twitter is MSL doesn't like him, but .. it's twitter so who knows.

 

[BLONG7]

How do you explain that other turnover machines on D were not demoted ahead of Xhekaj (i.e. among those who are waiver claim exempt)?

No long term future for them whereas Xhekaj has one? Or perhaps Xhekaj performed more poorly than the others?

I have a real issue with the inconsistencies with the habs coach and his decision making process...........and yes, I am a fan of MSL but he like the team, can learn and be better.

 

[morhilane]

Has anyone from the team explained why Xhekaj was sent down?

I read that the team wanted him to work on his gap control and D zone play.

Xhekaj was the most sheltered of all the Ds this season. Struble isn't even that sheltered in comparison and way better in the Dzone. It just made the decision easy. It's not like they were going to send Guhle down.

 

[WinterLion]

Rumour on twitter is MSL doesn't like him, but .. it's twitter so who knows.

Yeah that seems like bull. I'm curious why that haven't said anything though...

 

[BLONG7]

Ridiculous how Xhekaj was universally beloved by this forum until he was sent down and now he's just a garbage no-talent scrub.

Some of you have no opinions or thoughts of your own other than a good slave-like deference to authority.

Hasn't changed my opinion................he should be on the habs, not Laval.
Coach and GM are making a mistake here.............get him back asap.

 

[WinterLion]

I read that the team wanted him to work on his gap control and D zone play.

Xhekaj was the most sheltered of all the Ds this season. Struble isn't even that sheltered in comparison and way better in the Dzone. It just made the decision easy. It's not like they were going to send Guhle down.

This makes a lot of sense. He definitely could improve those things. This could be really good for him.... he is such a great talent!

 

[Deebs]

Has anyone from the team explained why Xhekaj was sent down?

Numerous times. He's not good enough at the moment in the defensive zone which is quite apparent when watching him.

 

[L4br3cqu3]

How do you explain that other turnover machines on D were not demoted ahead of Xhekaj (i.e. among those who are waiver claim exempt)?

No long term future for them whereas Xhekaj has one? Or perhaps Xhekaj performed more poorly than the others?

Can't really answer for that, but if Barron or Harris were sent down, I'd react the same. But Xhekaj performed poorly, now was he worse than the others, can't really say either, I think he tried to do too much and was out of position more often than not cause of that, but it can be fixed, I'm not really worried about that.

I'm worried about Houle, though.

 

[jrom]

Has anyone from the team explained why Xhekaj was sent down?

So that he can get more ice time and develop especially his defensive play.

 

[The Real Timo]

So that he can get more ice time and develop especially his defensive play.

That applies literally to every defensemen Habs have.

 

[RabbleMasterBlaster]

Wifi is def the kind of guy that can develop to be a Charoit type, but hopefully better.

Like Slaf, he'll take some time to get there and honestly, none of our other Ds bring what he can. And let's not pretend like he's worse than Matheson.

My biggest concern with Amber is how injury prone he appears to be so far.

 

[jrom]

That applies literally to every defensemen Habs have.

Agreed

“It was a little bit of a surprise,” Xhekaj told reporters Monday after the Rocket’s practice. “It made sense from their point. They just want to see me play a lot of minutes and develop my game. … It’s obviously tough. Nobody likes to get sent down. I’m here now and there’s nothing I could do about it, just go up from here.”

What the Puck: Arber Xhekaj loses his Canadiens Sheriff's badge

The Sherriff looked like a shell of himself in first game he played for the AHL's Laval Rocket after returning from injury.

montrealgazette.com

 

[1909]

I have no problem with WiFi playing in the AHL….my problem is with the lack of hockey IQ displayed by Laval’s coaching staff. we have no evidence of player development out of the alumni crew leading the rocket.

You have no proofs about that.

RHP last season was ready to play at NHL level
Ylonen is now a regular player
Struble this season is showing he belongs at NHL level
Primeau is finally showing his talent

Very few AHL teams are providing more than 1 or 2 ready players to their big NHL clubs each season.