Player Discussion Arber Xhekaj the Sheriff Returns Edition

[The Real Timo]

Ah, appeals to authority. Shut down the forum right now and only reopen it with threads and posts concocted exclusively by the Habs’ coaching staff! Fans cannot possibly have a say, they know nothing! All those who oppose the regime ought to be drawn and quartered, pronto. For shame.

 

[Runner77]

you're welcome man - sorry MSL hasn't provided you with an annotated bibliography for all of his media availabilities

You’re way too kind. Enjoy the game and please spread your good cheer. You wouldn’t want to limit that to just one individual!

 

[Paddyjack]

Don't worry, X will be back on game 2 after Wilson has a lot of fun tonight. People with common sense already know he could be useful tonight, but hey we don't manage a locker room.

 

[ahmedou]

Habs without Xhekaj (last 5 games): 2-3

 

[HabzSauce]

Don't worry, X will be back on game 2 after Wilson has a lot of fun tonight. People with common sense already know he could be useful tonight, but hey we don't manage a locker room.

Apparently Xhekaj's toughness does nothing to impact the game so I think we're good either way. Who needs that in the playoffs anyways? All hail the glorious MSL

 

[Habs Halifax]

Don't worry, X will be back on game 2 after Wilson has a lot of fun tonight. People with common sense already know he could be useful tonight, but hey we don't manage a locker room.

In any 7 game series, it's usually about momentum/confidence. So yeah, if the Caps knock us down tonight, we have a Xhekaj wild card to slide in for game 2. Could change some dynamics. Difficult to know.

IMO, MSL is trying to ice the most sound defensive roster he can find. Xhekaj has improved in his own zone this past season, but he has a ways to go yet and others are ahead of him. If Xhekaj is the guy he thinks he can be, he comprehends this situation well and gets very hungry to overcome his defensive flaws. This is not MSL trying to block him. This is all about the Habs wanting to avoid costly turnovers or miss coverage at a critical time.

 

[Habs Halifax]

Apparently Xhekaj's toughness does nothing to impact the game so I think we're good either way. Who needs that in the playoffs anyways? All hail the glorious MSL

Toughness and physicality are very important in the playoffs and MSL knows this. The issue with Xhekaj is does his toughness/physicality translate into sound defensive coverage? He does miss coverage at times and he has to learn this part.

Xhekaj is going to learn from this situation. Keep him hungry for ice time and make sure he comprehends the role he should play. Fighting does nothing! He has to become a defensive shut down type and he is not there yet.

 

[HabzSauce]

Toughness and physicality are very important in the playoffs and MSL knows this. The issue with Xhekaj is does his toughness/physicality translate into sound defensive coverage? He does miss coverage at times and he has to learn this part.

Xhekaj is going to learn from this situation. Keep him hungry for ice time and make sure he comprehends the role he should play. Fighting does nothing! He has to become a defensive shut down type and he is not there yet.

Totally agree with you that he blows coverage at times. He's not a perfect player by any means. And Im not implying fighting when I say toughness & physicality.

I just strongly feel that he's good enough, even with his warts, to make a positive difference for us that Struble can't provide to the same extent. I'm ok if he makes mistakes in the playoffs this year. We have no expectations so anything from here on is gravy

 

[Paddyjack]

In any 7 game series, it's usually about momentum/confidence. So yeah, if the Caps knock us down tonight, we have a Xhekaj wild card to slide in for game 2. Could change some dynamics. Difficult to know.

IMO, MSL is trying to ice the most sound defensive roster he can find. Xhekaj has improved in his own zone this past season, but he has a ways to go yet and others are ahead of him. If Xhekaj is the guy he thinks he can be, he comprehends this situation well and gets very hungry to overcome his defensive flaws. This is not MSL trying to block him. This is all about the Habs wanting to avoid costly turnovers or miss coverage at a critical time.

We all know that if the team leads by one or two goals in the third MSL will shorten the bench and roll 3 lines, leaving Laine and Demidov to dry. So it would make more sense to me to play 7D (x being the insurance) and double shift one forward the first two periods. This has been done by coaches since the beginning of times.

 

[FerrisRox]

In any 7 game series, it's usually about momentum/confidence. So yeah, if the Caps knock us down tonight, we have a Xhekaj wild card to slide in for game 2. Could change some dynamics. Difficult to know.

IMO, MSL is trying to ice the most sound defensive roster he can find. Xhekaj has improved in his own zone this past season, but he has a ways to go yet and others are ahead of him. If Xhekaj is the guy he thinks he can be, he comprehends this situation well and gets very hungry to overcome his defensive flaws. This is not MSL trying to block him. This is all about the Habs wanting to avoid costly turnovers or miss coverage at a critical time.

I suspect the coaching staff is more concerned about his lack of discipline than they are with his giveaways.

The simple fact that there are two glaring concerns makes me really shake my head at all the people that want to pretend scratching him is some sort of failing from our coaching staff.

I consider myself a big fan of Arber Xhekaj, and I don't think he has earned his spot in our defense right now.

 

[Ozmodiar]

MSL probably wants a better skater with Savard and less mistake-prone hockey on his 3rd pairing.

Jack will come in at home if they get knocked around in Washington.

… and he might replace Savard next season, depending on the plan for MM and DR.

 

[Ozmodiar]

I suspect the coaching staff is more concerned about his lack of discipline than they are with his giveaways.

The simple fact that there are two glaring concerns makes me really shake my head at all the people that want to pretend scratching him is some sort of failing from our coaching staff.

I consider myself a big fan of Arber Xhekaj, and I don't think he has earned his spot in our defense right now.

I’m a big fan of his but don’t have a problem with the decision. They still might need him this series.

Either way, I expect him to work hard in the offseason and be ready to challenge for a spot in September.

 

[Kimota]

Don't worry, X will be back on game 2 after Wilson has a lot of fun tonight. People with common sense already know he could be useful tonight, but hey we don't manage a locker room.

But we know what's gonna happen. Why wait at game number two after a loss and the guys are black and blue and Hutson has lost his freaking head? lol The first games so far have been pretty damn physical.

If anything I would put him right away to calm the Caps down and maybe sit him at game 2.

 

[Emkay]

I guess what I don't understand is the discrepancy between the narrative that the Habs are still in "learning experience" mode while sitting a young player in favor of a player who's going to retire after the season.

I sort of got it in the last handful of game of the seasons, you want to unlock those extra playoff games and you play the guys who in your mind, can make it happen.

But we're past that, I feel like players who are part of future plans should get that experience over the guys who are not. I actually really like MSL but I disagree with his approach in this case. I also fully realize it really wont make that big of a difference in the grand scheme of things. Is what it is...

 

[Ozmodiar]

I guess what I don't understand is the discrepancy between the narrative that the Habs are still in "learning experience" mode while sitting a young player in favor of a player who's going to retire after the season.

I sort of got it in the last handful of game of the seasons, you want to unlock those extra playoff games and you play the guys who in your mind, can make it happen.

But we're past that, I feel like players who are part of future plans should get that experience over the guys who are not. I actually really like MSL but I disagree with his approach in this case. I also fully realize it really wont make that big of a difference in the grand scheme of things. Is what it is...

It’s not a discrepancy.

They have the youngest roster in the playoffs. At this point, the more they can win, the better the experience gained by the whole team.

If they think Savard is the better option to get to round 2, that’s what they’ll go with because that’s what will net the most experience, collectively.

 

[JJ68]

Tonight would be a great time for the sheriff to gain some valuable playoff experience

 

[JJ68]

ok so my feeling is this....I get why MSL will not bench Savard. I do. I kinda wish he would but he wont.

So in knowing that, I'd rather sit a Struble for Xhekaj at the moment. Not because I dont like Struble, but I feel like X adds something to the team that nobody else really does, and tbh, hardly anyone else in the current NHL does. And no I dont just mean fighting. I do not think Struble easily outplays X. So that adds to my out look.

Having said that, I would prefer sitting Savard and dressing X while also keeping Struble dressed. Just go youth and let them play. This is the gravy train season....it's all gravy.

 

[Emkay]

It’s not a discrepancy.

They have the youngest roster in the playoffs. At this point, the more they can win, the better the experience gained by the whole team.

If they think Savard is the better option to get to round 2, that’s what they’ll go with because that’s what will net the most experience, collectively.

Then call it a perceived discrepancy on my end... Like I said, I don't believe it'll make much of a difference on the ice at this point, so I'd just default to the youth. Maybe MSL thinks otherwise, but I get the feeling this is more of a case of giving respect to the Vet who's on his last run, and I disagree with it.

I also believe it really doesn't matter all that much... I'm not pissed over it and it doesn't change my overall "approval rating" of MSL, I would of went in another way, that's all...

 

[Emkay]

ok so my feeling is this....I get why MSL will not bench Savard. I do. I kinda wish he would but he wont.

So in knowing that, I'd rather sit a Struble for Xhekaj at the moment. Not because I dont like Struble, but I feel like X adds something to the team that nobody else really does, and tbh, hardly anyone else in the current NHL does. And no I dont just mean fighting. I do not think Struble easily outplays X. So that adds to my out look.

Having said that, I would prefer sitting Savard and dressing X while also keeping Struble dressed. Just go youth and let them play. This is the gravy train season....it's all gravy.

I sort of agree with this, but at the same time, if they sat Struble for Arber, I'd be having the same exact discussion we're having now in the Struble thread...

 

[Tyson]

I sort of agree with this, but at the same time, if they sat Struble for Arber, I'd be having the same exact discussion we're having now in the Struble thread...

Let's see how Jayden handles himself tonight, hopefully he plays a great game.

 

[Captain Mountain]

ok so my feeling is this....I get why MSL will not bench Savard. I do. I kinda wish he would but he wont.

So in knowing that, I'd rather sit a Struble for Xhekaj at the moment. Not because I dont like Struble, but I feel like X adds something to the team that nobody else really does, and tbh, hardly anyone else in the current NHL does. And no I dont just mean fighting. I do not think Struble easily outplays X. So that adds to my out look.

Having said that, I would prefer sitting Savard and dressing X while also keeping Struble dressed. Just go youth and let them play. This is the gravy train season....it's all gravy.

The biggest reason Struble is in the lineup and Xhekaj isn't is because Struble outplayed Xhekaj when Guhle was out of the lineup. MSL needs a reason to take Struble out of the line-up and he hasn't really had a good enough reason to do so yet. It will happen this series because I don't think there's any chance Montreal wins in 4 or 5, there will be losses. Xhekaj is likely to get in and it will be on him to keep a spot.

 

[Mrb1p]

I love how its devolved into Xhekaj being a plug that cant play.

Hes literally showed through 3 years he can.

 

[HabsAddict]

If Hutson gets hurt, there is no coming back from that until next season.

If Hutson gets seriously hurt with his knees, he may never get that edgework back.

None of that, not a shred of that is worth the defensive spread between Struble and X.

But then, nobody is as smart as SMarty. Just ask him...

 

[MXD]

Struble is playing too well (not necessarily my opinion, just exposing the reasoning) to scratch him and Savard is still more stable than Xhekaj and Struble on the right side (again, not necessarily my opinion, just exposing the reasoning) to scratch him.

I think the player who'll get scratched, should X see the ice, is Struble.

I'd probably play Xhekaj over Savard right now if Xhekaj was a RHS, and while Xhekaj can somewhat play RD, he can't quite do it at NHL playoffs level.

 

[Ezpz]

X deserves to play but he's not some homerun king. He'll get in when Struble/Savard falter. Washington are big but they're not that physical. We were 7th in the league in hits this year, Washington were 23rd. Ottawa and Florida are the only eastern playoff teams that had more hits than us. We were second in blocked shots leaguewide, Washington were 7th. Washington were 19th in giveaways, we were 25th. We were 17th in takeaways and Washington were 27th. All the team metrics point to us having better play without the puck.

If they take liberties I would say put Xhekaj in immediately. Toaster Struble's been not terrible. Savard's retiring, it means the boys are playing for him; it would be braindead to sit him for game 1.