Player Discussion Arber Xhekaj: The Sheriff

[Adam Michaels]

He is also cut from camp and sent to Kitchener where he'll play as an overager in the OHL.

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[Seb]

Yessssssss!!!!!

 

[Pompeius Magnus]

Cool, I love a nice underdog story He took his small opportunity and made it work. Props to the kid !

 

[Vachon23]

Good, he can maybe become a 3rd pair D in the futur

 

[le_sean]

Much deserved. He won’t ever wow anyone, but he has the potential to be a bottom pairing defenceman that doesn’t hurt the team.

 

[Dutronc]

Philippe Myers vibe

 

[Gainesvillain]

Nice. Glad the organization is taking a flyer on this guy.

 

[Tim Wallach]

As a Habs and Rangers fan, this is the absolute ideal scenario. I have been pumping his tires for a while. I thought he'd be a great under-the-radar camp invite for someone and I'm thrilled it was the Habs and that he proved himself.

Definite Chiarot comparisons with him. Size, skating, toughness, etc.

 

[Captain97]

Very nice

 

[Le Tricolore]

nice! he's looked good in the games I saw. no risk here at all either.

 

[JianYang]

Was he not eligible for the AHL?

Anyways, good for him. He didn't really give the habs a reason to cut him, but the numbers game was eventually going to come into play.

 

[Adam Michaels]

Because he's 20 years old, his contract will not slide. So even if he's in the OHL, a year of his ELC will be burned.

 

[CheldishGamibno]

From working to Costco to a NHL contract

 

[Adam Michaels]

Was he not eligible for the AHL?

Anyways, good for him. He didn't really give the habs a reason to cut him, but the numbers game was eventually going to come into play.

Yes he was eligible for the AHL. But this is the best course of action. Laval will be deep on defense and he will be kind of lost in the shuffle. This way, he goes to Kitchener and will play a key part.

He also hasn't played in over a year since the OHL was shut down last year. So this is also a way to let him get his game going at Junior.

 

[Schwang]

Awesome. I really liked him. Wonder why he couldn't play echl at least?

 

[Tim Wallach]

Yes he was eligible for the AHL. But this is the best course of action. Laval will be deep on defense and he will be kind of lost in the shuffle. This way, he goes to Kitchener and will play a key part.

He also hasn't played in over a year since the OHL was shut down last year. So this is also a way to let him get his game going at Junior.

I couldn't agree more. In KIT, he'll log over 25 minutes a night in all situations. And there is some untapped offence there if he's allowed to carry and move the puck, which he will be in junior.

Awesome. I really liked him. Wonder why he couldn't play echl at least?

I'm a big believer in the junior leagues when you have guys eligible to play there who haven't fully honed their skill game. In the ECHL he'll likely linger with less ice and get challenged to fight more.

 

[Pompeius Magnus]

Awesome. I really liked him. Wonder why he couldn't play echl at least?

He didn't get to play at all in 20-21, he's basically just having the final junior season that he would have had in a non-covid world. There's still a lot of room for development.

 

[Adam Michaels]

From working to Costco to a NHL contract

Jake Evans earning an extension after being a 7th round pick and not taking any shortcuts to the NHL followed by an undrafted player who worked at Costco earning an ELC, it shows that it doesn't matter how you get there, you can always work your way to having.

 

[expy]

Well deserved.

Solid pre-season showing.

 

[Skip Bayless]

I liked him a lot.

Surprised to see his stats in junior, he's good with the puck and has excellent mobility for a guy his size.

 

[Ezpz]

If he ever plays an NHL game he may be the first initial letter X surname player in league history.

 

[windycity]

If he ever plays an NHL game he may be the first initial letter X surname player in league history.

Another reason to root for him

 

[overlords]

He's gonna hurt some kids in junior. Love this signing <3

 

[TheNumber4]

I don’t believe it. That’s a made up computer randomly generated name.

 

[Tuggy]

Awesome!

I think majority are going to be happy with this.