Player Discussion Arber Xhekaj the Sheriff Returns Edition

Savard is not going to be scratched for x. It’s laughable even to suggest that, it’s never going to happen in these playoffs.

This idea that x would have made any difference in that game is silly. He’d have barely played if he was in the lineup and no one is fighting in the playoffs.
 
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His TOI needs to be a lot less than what it currently is. But doing so means you need some other D who is at least as competent as he is to take those minutes. Defensemen like Guhle, Hutson, and Carrier, who are better than him, are already logging heavy minutes, and they cannot reasonably take on more. As for Savard, Struble, or X, it would be tough to increase their minutes.
I see that, ans I prefer to live with the younger guys' mistakes. We know there are going to be turnovers anyway. Balance the TOI more. Are the Habs competing, our are they preparing the actual real future runs?

I'm not saying MM should play 12 minutes a night, just skip an occasional shift here and there. And I'm sure he's going to be more focused and fresh that way.
 
Ovechkin is 6'3 238 lbs, and Wilson is 6'4 225 lbs. Both play a very physical game and are as big as Xhekaj.
Playing physically against them won't throw them off their game.

Xhekaj might scare Strome and McMichael, but definitely not Wilson and Ovy.
Anderson is 6’3” and 226
Slafkovsky is 6’3 and 230
Armia is 6’3” and 216
Savard is 6’1 and 235

Arber Xhekaj knocks very large people to the ice with his fists, and crushes them into the boards with glee. He hits everyone and does not shy away from creaming star players like Ovi if they take liberties with our players. His nickname is the sheriff.
 
Guess it’s something we will need to learn the hard way, just like Toronto did . A team of talent players built by a nerdy GM who likes advanced stats can only go so far.

MSL did the same thing last season with Kovacevic. A bottom pair of X and Kovi might not have sexy stats but it would certainly not play scared
 
Struble also has sat out for long stretches this season, even longer than Xhekaj

Pezzetta has less margin for error than anyone and he's barely played this year.

Y'all need to stop with the Xhekaj martyrdom. The coach is trying to win games, that's all, he's not trying to alienate your favourite player.

Its not that deep
To go out of your way to not play your most physical player against a physically-punishing team is not sound strategy.

Coaches make mistakes. It happens all the time. It's not that deep.
 
Xhekaj is a better defenseman then Savard. Period. Savard has no athleticism left in his body and it’s apparent in all its action. He’s slow and clunky. Maybe better IQ but it’s useless when you can’t execute.

I think Marty knows it has well but he doesn’t have the balks to sit him.
 
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If and when we fall against the CAPS, im not surprised that he will be traded this summer.

If you look at the GA and TA stats from this year compared to last, we went from worst to best. (not sure it adds value but MLS sees something).
 
I see that, ans I prefer to live with the younger guys' mistakes. We know there are going to be turnovers anyway. Balance the TOI more. Are the Habs competing, our are they preparing the actual real future runs?

I'm not saying MM should play 12 minutes a night, just skip an occasional shift here and there. And I'm sure he's going to be more focused and fresh that way.
MM played 24:39

Guhle 24:00

Savard 11:57 most of it on PK
 
Don't know if it's already been posted, but from article in Lapresse yesterday (French) :

1745408110150.png


These numbers are the worst amongst Habs D and he's the one facing the weakest opposition.

Article also highlights, that the coaches want him to not only kill players into the boards, but most importantly also kill the plays (kill the puck). Which he's not very good at lately.

BTW, I still think he should be in the lineup somehow.
 
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Arber going in has 2 effects:
1. Physics. WIFI taking up space and battering anyone coming into his orbit protects part of the slot.

2. Morale. Even non hitting Caps are hitting and the hitters are who get them going. We need the same, especially in front of our net.
The wifi nick pokes fun at his family name, it’s disrespectful and he has stated he does not like it.
 
The wifi nick pokes fun at his family name, it’s disrespectful and he has stated he does not like it.

1. Didnt know.
2. Thought it was a cool nick name that he liked since his teammates have referred to him by that name.
3. My last name has been butchered since I was a kid ( there is a sound not in english language ) , have had various nicknames , some were good , most I didnt care for.
4. Where did you see that he didnt like it ?
 
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Don't know if it's already been posted, but from article in Lapresse yesterday (French) :

View attachment 1020736

These numbers are the worst amongst Habs D and he's the one facing the weakest opposition.

Article also highlights, that the coaches want him to not only kill players into the boards, but most importantly also kill the plays (kill the puck). Which he's not very good at lately.

BTW, I still think he should be in the lineup somehow.
Thats the issue with a rookie GM and coach who think advanced stats tell the whole story, even Julien Brisebois had to learn thats not how you build a team to win in the playoffs
 
Savard provides leadership, an indispensable commodity for this young team. But his decline is noticeable as he has become largely immobile. For this writer, I would have little hesitation going with 7 defencemen and sitting one of our less effective forwards.
I'm of this opinion as well I wouldn't mind double shifting a number of our top players. Suzuki in particular could take on a couple of additional shifts.
Chances are PP opportunities will be down so finding ways to give him more minutes might be a good idea.
 
Anderson is 6’3” and 226
Slafkovsky is 6’3 and 230
Armia is 6’3” and 216
Savard is 6’1 and 235

Arber Xhekaj knocks very large people to the ice with his fists, and crushes them into the boards with glee. He hits everyone and does not shy away from creaming star players like Ovi if they take liberties with our players. His nickname is the sheriff.
He’d never be on the ice with ovi if he was in the lineup
 
1. Didnt know.
2. Thought it was a cool nick name that he liked since his teammates have referred to him by that name.
3. My last name has been butchered since I was a kid ( there is a sound not in english language ) , have had various nicknames , some were good , most I didnt care for.
4. Where did you see that he didnt like it ?
interviews live; I just thought you’d like to know you seem like a fan
 
1. Didnt know.
2. Thought it was a cool nick name that he liked since his teammates have referred to him by that name.
3. My last name has been butchered since I was a kid ( there is a sound not in english language ) , have had various nicknames , some were good , most I didnt care for.
4. Where did you see that he didnt like it ?
I can attest that he doesn’t like it and that he prefers the Sheriff.
 
Anderson is 6’3” and 226
Slafkovsky is 6’3 and 230
Armia is 6’3” and 216
Savard is 6’1 and 235

Arber Xhekaj knocks very large people to the ice with his fists, and crushes them into the boards with glee. He hits everyone and does not shy away from creaming star players like Ovi if they take liberties with our players. His nickname is the sheriff.

He's going to hit people, doesn't mean he will scare them and put them off their game
 
Tom Wilson had one hit in game one. I think you guys be overreacting.
Hits were 42 to 33 for Wash. The eye and ear test state that the Washington hits were much heavier.

Yeah, the big issue with X playing is it weakens our game and exposes us to more goals against, especially on D. I hope they are working with him on fundamentals, and maybe on pk too, because I do think he could be a candidate to replace Savard going forward, if it isn’t Reimbacher.

I still think he should be in the lineup in some capacity to keep Wash forwards honest.
 

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