Player Discussion Arber Xhekaj the Sheriff Returns Edition

[dcyhabs]

Yup…if he’s not in the lineup, Wilson will run around freely intimidating our smaller skilled player.

With Xhekaj on the ice, he will still play physical but surely not imposing his will which in turn would probably allow us to play more our game.

I remember too well Boston running around beating the hell out of our players and having a grand old time doing it too all while watching the Bruin fans laughing away and dancing as our players faces are being pounded in.

I don’t think I can go through that again

I remember some of those series. Boston fans said the refs were great, totally unbiased. Same for the series against Buffalo and Carolina, back in the day. Most teams, other than the '70s Flyers with their pet refs, complain. Ideally both teams in a series will say "the reffing wasn't very unfair, but it favored the other team a bit." When fans are happy with the refs something is very wrong.

Best case the habs won't get a break because they have a young team, so they are going to have to win the physical battles while not going overboard giving away penalties. I doubt they have much hope in the series, though, so if it comes to that they might as well go for reputation and take the physical aspect. I'm opposed to fighting in hockey, I'm old, but not old school, but I'm not totally blind to reality.

 

[417]

Why does anyone think Tom Wilson is going to play different if Xhekaj is in the lineup?

He’s not worried about Arber and if there's an issue, McIlrath will gladly accept whatever challenge Arber would put out.

 

[dcyhabs]

It's funny how everyone loved Xhekaj when he joined the team. And then St Louis decided that he doesn't like him and now all the same people who would defend St Louis to the grave, naturally don't like Xhekaj. If rest of the Habs D didn't have flaws or made mistakes at the same fukcing rate, is one thing. But when you tell me "Well, but Mike Matheson plays 25 minutes a game... " GTFO. In these 25 minutes he makes 5 times the number of mistakes Xhekaj makes when he plays. In this case more minutes is not equal to better outcome. I too am f***ing tired with the p***y teams and coaching. St Louis, who himself as a player no doubt had some tough guys looking after him and other high caliber players on the team. This is so infuriating, given that Xhekaj doesn't play in favor of a good steady defenseman. He doesn't play in favor of Savard, FFS!

I'm happy with MSL overall, and I like a lot of his philosophy. I don't think he should sit the same players long term, though. Going too long with Monty over Dobes caused problems for both, and I'm pretty sure sitting Pezz and Xhekaj for a lot of games doesn't help, either. They may be the worst players on the team, but if you sit someone for them you get fresh legs twice. I hope he's just making sure Xhekaj is available against Wilson, but who knows?

 

[DAChampion]

People discuss Xhekaj like he's George Laraques.

I don't think he's a terrible hockey player.

 

[Estimated_Prophet]

People discuss Xhekaj like he's George Laraques.

I don't think he's a terrible hockey player.

He definitely is not a terrible player but he absolutely has been our 7th best dman based on each players most recent performance.

I really want Xhekaj to work out and become a trusted dman on this team. He just isn't there on an IQ level yet and can not be trusted as much as the other six dmen to make the right decision. It is very rare to see a team with it's top 7 dmen all healthy so his opportunity will come and he will need to show more confidence with the puck and translate that into better decisions.

There are some posters who are getting way too heated and are deflecting Arber's shortcomings on to his teammates and have lost their grip on a balanced, objective conversation. Silly claims that Matheson should be benched over him or overwhelmingly ridiculous and are such classic fan takes that would be ridiculed by every expert in the business.

Arber currently is indisputably our worst dman at this particular moment in time but that doesn't make him a bad player, it is more of a case that the lowest bar set in the top six is a competent, legitimate NHL defender. It also isn't a statement that asserts that he can not/will not become a valuable NHL dman. Based on his latest body of work, he cemented his place as the 7th D and that will not change until he gets another chance to prove otherwise. I will be cheering for him to do so as he is a physically intimidating player who can be extremely valuable if he can learn to become a better player in transition as well as make smarter in-zone reads. He has shown that he has better hands than you would expect from a player with his profile but he just doesn't have the correct tool box to use those tools just yet. Both Arber and Slaf have shown stubbornness and inconsistencies that align with a lack of maturity and it is my hope/belief that with age and the correct instruction both can/will be important pieces.

 

[Estimated_Prophet]

I'm happy with MSL overall, and I like a lot of his philosophy. I don't think he should sit the same players long term, though. Going too long with Monty over Dobes caused problems for both, and I'm pretty sure sitting Pezz and Xhekaj for a lot of games doesn't help, either. They may be the worst players on the team, but if you sit someone for them you get fresh legs twice. I hope he's just making sure Xhekaj is available against Wilson, but who knows?

Dobes sh*t the bed on his own and got himself benched. It was actually the long break that MSL gave him that allowed him to reset and find his game again. Xhekaj was playing poorly when Guhle returned and was the obvious player to sit imo. I was actually worried that they would sit Struble who was playing better than Arber but they made the right choice.

 

[teamfirst]

Still think the difference between Stubble and X is not enough to not use X energy and toughness during a physical series

 

[CzarDemidov]

Still think the difference between Stubble and X is not enough to not use X energy and toughness during a physical series

Xhekaj was ahead of Struble earlier in the season but Struble stuck with the coaches instructions and worked with them whereas it is clear Xhekaj couldn’t demonstrate this and lost his coach’s trust.

No one has anything to say when the possibility comes that Xhekaj has repeatedly not listened to instructions over the course of the season.

You can’t keep making the same mistakes when you’re not even a full time NHLer

 

[bud12]

Why does anyone think Tom Wilson is going to play different if Xhekaj is in the lineup?

He’s not worried about Arber and if there's an issue, McIlrath will gladly accept whatever challenge Arber would put out.

McIlrath will not play

 

[Hins77]

During the whole year. The Ratio +\- was almost the same between Xhekaj and Struble. They were following esch other in terms of points and ratio. But at the end of the year. Struble finished at +2. And Xhekaj -13. I know this statistic isnt showing everything, but clearly there is something wrong with Xhekaj.

 

[BigDaddyLurch]

Why does anyone think Tom Wilson is going to play different if Xhekaj is in the lineup?

He’s not worried about Arber and if there's an issue, McIlrath will gladly accept whatever challenge Arber would put out.

...it's not about making Wilson play different, it's about having a response when he runs around trying to kill Hutson, Caufield, etc...I like the fact that Andy can tune Wilson if required, but having Jackeye as a Nuclear Option is something that Marty at least has to consider...

 

[habdynasty]

Wilson has 33 goals , the Caps probably want him on the ice and not in the box.

 

[Hannibal]

During the whole year. The Ratio +\- was almost the same between Xhekaj and Struble. They were following esch other in terms of points and ratio. But at the end of the year. Struble finished at +2. And Xhekaj -13. I know this statistic isnt showing everything, but clearly there is something wrong with Xhekaj.

Struble played with Hutson
Xhekaj played with Savard.

Enough said.

 

[teamfirst]

Xhekaj was ahead of Struble earlier in the season but Struble stuck with the coaches instructions and worked with them whereas it is clear Xhekaj couldn’t demonstrate this and lost his coach’s trust.

No one has anything to say when the possibility comes that Xhekaj has repeatedly not listened to instructions over the course of the season.

You can’t keep making the same mistakes when you’re not even a full time NHLer

I have no idea what those instruction was and if Xhekaj did or didn't listened to it, i'm just sayin that to me there is not enough difference defensively between the Strubble i saw and the Xhekaj i saw to not use all the energy and toughness that a guy like Xhekaj bring to the team and his teammates to not use him during that series unstead of Strubble.

More so beceause we're talking about 2 guy's that will play less than 10 minutes per games.

 

[Hins77]

Struble played with Hutson
Xhekaj played with Savard.

Enough said.

And Struble and Hutson played more minutes, and against tougher opposition, especially away.
I find Struble better defensively than Xhekaj on a regular basis. Even if Xhekaj bring something else

 

[BigDaddyLurch]

And Struble and Hutson played more minutes, and against tougher opposition, especially away.
I find Struble better defensively than Xhekaj on a regular basis. Even if Xhekaj bring something else

...based on talent, I think we ALL know who SHOULD sit, but he won't...especially cuz he's retiring at the end of the Season...

 

[Rapala]

...it's not about making Wilson play different, it's about having a response when he runs around trying to kill Hutson, Caufield, etc...I like the fact that Andy can tune Wilson if required, but having Jackeye as a Nuclear Option is something that Marty at least has to consider...

It's always been about the comfort of having Arber around for our players than anything else.
I thought everyone knew this?

 

[Kennerback]

Another guy he could help with is Protas. He’s 6’6. He scored 30+ goals all at even strength just sticking his big body in the slot to get a puck and shoot. And zero (0) goals on the PP! Someone’s going to need to move this giant’s ass out of the way.

 

[TomKosto]

He’s gonna play after 1- 2 games, WSH gonna bully Sam net.

 

[morhilane]

Another guy he could help with is Protas. He’s 6’6. He scored 30+ goals all at even strength just sticking his big body in the slot to get a puck and shoot. And zero (0) goals on the PP! Someone’s going to need to move this giant’s ass out of the way.

The giant ass is injured (week-to-week) and haven't even begun to skate again.

 

[Kennerback]

The giant ass is injured (week-to-week) and haven't even begun to skate again.

I heard he was expected for Monday, but maybe it doesn’t mean game-time readiness.

 

[Adriatic]

Still think the difference between Stubble and X is not enough to not use X energy and toughness during a physical series

Ya that's not gonna be the difference between winning or losing this series.

 

[OldCraig71]

Why does anyone think Tom Wilson is going to play different if Xhekaj is in the lineup?

He’s not worried about Arber and if there's an issue, McIlrath will gladly accept whatever challenge Arber would put out.

Are you kidding? Playoff hockey is nothing like the regular season, and guys like Wilson are looking for every edge possible. I guarantee you he will be going after Laine Hutson, just wait and see.

He doesn't have to fear Xhekaj, but he has to be held in check, and knowing that Arber would return the favor against Strome or some other forward would make him think twice.

 

[Kimota]

People discuss Xhekaj like he's George Laraques.

I don't think he's a terrible hockey player.

And he was better before MSL played with his f***ing mind.

 

[OldCraig71]

People discuss Xhekaj like he's George Laraques.

I don't think he's a terrible hockey player.

He was praised many times on this board during the season for his steady play and physical presence. It's the old appeal to authority complex in action yet again. If person X makes a certain decision, then it must be the correct action.