Player Discussion Arber Xhekaj: The Sheriff

[HuGo Sham]

I believe he can become a good number 4 and produce around 25 pts per season and averaging 18-20 min per night.

I'm a fan of this guy!!

In 2 years, Matheson will probably be ship for picks or prospects and our LD will still be very strong.

Guhle
Xhekaj
Hutson/Engstrom

Norlinder
Trudeau
Konyushkov
Struble

A pairing Xhekaj-Mailloux, how does that sound?

you woke up and chose violence

Anderson is not a great fighter but he is one of the strongest guys in the league from a pure strength standpoint. Nobody wants to fight him because you never know what could happen. He could break your face if he lands a good punch.

true. I think he fights less because of the shoulder, but now it seems like he has less pressure because of Arber and Pezzetta. I was hoping he'd kill Bertuzzi last night lol.
I also think Pezzetta is going to surprise people with his fighting this year

 

[Kudo Shinichi]

Crazy to think he's only 22 years old

Good luck with that Atlantic

I really hope Florian Xhekaj pans out and becomes at least a 4th liner in the nhl. Having 2 Xhekajs in the lineup is going to be so fun to watch.

 

[ChesterNimitz]

Who would be willing to mess with a 6.ft4 240 pounds heavyweight fighter and another 6ft3 230 pounds nasty hitting defenceman?

Bergevin did a lot of stupid thing in MTL but these 2 moves were pretty solid if you ask me. Getting Xhekaj for nothing and drafting Mailloux at the end of the 1st round is awesome.

You guys have not watched Mailloux play enough. I have repeatedly posted that Mailloux, despite his size, is not a bruising defenceman. In fact, one of the areas that he needs the most improvement/development is his strength on his skates. Mailloux's great value to this team in the future is not his physical play/prowess but his elite offensive vision.

 

[TomKosto]

You guys have not watched Mailloux play enough. I have repeatedly posted that Mailloux, despite his size, is not a bruising defenceman. In fac,t one of the areas that he needs the most improvement/development is his strength on his skates. Mailloux's great value to this team in the future is not his physical play/prowess but his elite offensive vision.

He's not a bruiser but he can drop them et play rough stuff in front of the net after whistle. The era of a soft Habs team is done.

 

[Gustave]

He's not a bruiser but he can drop them et play rough stuff in front of the net after whistle. The era of a soft Habs team is done.

I don’t know that it’s done per say, I’d like to find a couple of forwards for lines 3 and 4 to carry some kind of load in that department.

Andy fits on a role for sure but we are thin there.

We are on our way though, I’m sure.

 

[Hannibal]

It’s Lucic that’s scaring me for him. Avoid him at all cost.

 

[Shutdown]

It’s Lucic that’s scaring me for him. Avoid him at all cost.

Anderson lost to Lucic two years ago but held his own. I don't like the idea of Xhekaj having to fight every mid-30s former heavyweight trying to hold on to some title by proving they're still relevant by taking on the New Guy, but I'm sure he'd be fine against Lucic - he's a much better fighter than Anderson.

 

[Tyson]

Anderson lost to Lucic two years ago but held his own. I don't like the idea of Xhekaj having to fight every mid-30s former heavyweight trying to hold on to some irrelevant title by proving they're still relevant against the New Guy, but I'm sure he'd be fine against Lucic - he's a much better fighter than Anderson.

Xhekaj's pulse won't exceed 60 if faced with fighting Lucic.

 

[Habaneros]

I think Reeves felt one (or both)of those right hands from Xhekaj and it stunned him...wasn't much fight in him after, as Xhekaj's easily was moving him up ice and had Reeves back on his heels, he was going to fall down backward even if the net was not there.

 

[Skip Bayless]

I think Reeves felt one of those right hands from Xhekaj and it stunned him...wasn't much fight in him after, as Xhekaj's easily was moving him up ice , he was going to fall down backward even if the net was not there.

I was expecting round 2 since it was more a wrestling match, but I think Reeves felt the strength he said hell naw to the no no no.

 

[Habaneros]

I was expecting round 2 since it was more a wrestling match, but I think Reeves felt the strength he said hell naw to the no no no.

I watched the fight over and over and over....After Xhekaj cracked him with the 2 right hands,
keep pausing it and look close at Reeves skates as Xhekaj started pushing him up ice...you can
see at the 18 second mark Reeves was going back on his heels(watch his skates) before he
even hit the net....He was going to fall down backward regardless.

 

[MilesNewton]

Season is early lets see how he pans out. Media and fans putting pumping his tires a little too much.

 

[Rapala]

I watched the fight over and over and over....After Xhekaj cracked him with the 2 right hands,
keep pausing it and look close at Reeves skates as Xhekaj started pushing him up ice...you can
see at the 18 second mark Reeves was going back on his heels(watch his skates) before he
even hit the net....He was going to fall down backward regardless.

FRICKIN BOARDING HAS TO BE CALLED ON THIS PLAY. GHULE'S BACK WAS ALREADY TO HIM BEFORE REAVES ARRIVES. GOT HIM RIGHT IN THE NUMBERS. FME

 

[Tyson]

FRICKIN BOARDING HAS TO BE CALLED ON THIS PLAY. GHULE'S BACK WAS ALREADY TO HIM BEFORE REAVES ARRIVES. GOT HIM RIGHT IN THE NUMBERS. FME

9 out of 10 times that's a penalty.

 

[Habs Halifax]

FRICKIN BOARDING HAS TO BE CALLED ON THIS PLAY. GHULE'S BACK WAS ALREADY TO HIM BEFORE REAVES ARRIVES. GOT HIM RIGHT IN THE NUMBERS. FME

I agree it should have been a boarding penalty but one area I have noticed is Guhle is showing trends off turning his body like that before hits. I noticed him do it a few times in the game.

He's not fully filled into his frame so I hope he does and gets a bit more stronger on his skates. He's a really hard worker and puts his body in the rough areas. Body position as you take contract is a key area for a Defenseman.

Maturity and experience will surely help as he ages to his prime years.

 

[CaptainKirk]

9 out of 10 times that's a penalty.

The other 1 out of 10th time it’s a Leaf.

 

[OldCraig71]

9 out of 10 times that's a penalty.

Just not in Toronto but if Xhekaj had done that to Marner he probably would have gotten tossed from the game.

 

[sandviper]

9 out of 10 times that's a penalty.

Unless the game is reffed by Chris Lee, in which case Guhle would had been called

 

[ChesterNimitz]

He's got some offensive potential too. I don't think there was ever any expectation in this regard but he is really good at getting pucks to the net. He's going to put up points if he keeps doing that. Nothing fancy, nothing complicated, no high-end playmaking. Just get pucks to the net.

He’s been elevated to the second power play unit so he has more offensive skill than most give him credit for. There are few ‘heavyweights’ who could consistently hit the net let alone shoot the puck through the net.

 

[ChesterNimitz]

See

Just not in Toronto but if Xhekaj had done that to Marner he probably would have gotten tossed from the game.

He’d probably been in jail. You can’t touch sweet little Marner.

 

[TennisMenace]

you woke up and chose violence


true. I think he fights less because of the shoulder, but now it seems like he has less pressure because of Arber and Pezzetta. I was hoping he'd kill Bertuzzi last night lol.
I also think Pezzetta is going to surprise people with his fighting this year

Why is Pezz going to surprise people with his fighting? He gets killed every time he fights.

 

[TennisMenace]

Xhekaj's pulse won't exceed 60 if faced with fighting Lucic.

I’m not so sure X would beat Lucic. The latter knows how to fight…X is mostly about wrestling and using his strength to take down his foe. You saw what happened when X squared off against VD.

 

[Rapala]

I agree it should have been a boarding penalty but one area I have noticed is Guhle is showing trends off turning his body like that before hits. I noticed him do it a few times in the game.

He's not fully filled into his frame so I hope he does and gets a bit more stronger on his skates. He's a really hard worker and puts his body in the rough areas. Body position as you take contract is a key area for a Defenseman.

Maturity and experience will surely help as he ages to his prime years.

Ghule's job is to retrieve pucks and move it back the other way PERIOD. Reaves also has a job and a responsibility. Ghule's back was to him well before contact and the hit has to come from the side at that point . The player has to be completely turned for that to happen. Putting this on Ghule or any defenceman in that situation for that matter is wrong. This is typical of a video the league would send teams as a blatant boarding penalty.

 

[Paddyjack]

Such a unicorn, these types of guys barely exist. With him and Anderson we have two guys that can go with anyone. How many teams have one guy that can beat Reeves, and another in Anderson that can go with him, and both guys are key contributors.

Very special player that will only get better.

You can add Pez to that mix, when needed. In fact, that's the only reason to keep him really

 

[Habs Halifax]

Ghule's job is to retrieve pucks and move it back the other way PERIOD. Reaves also has a job and a responsibility. Ghule's back was to him well before contact and the hit has to come from the side at that point . The player has to be completely turned for that to happen. Putting this on Ghule or any defenceman in that situation for that matter is wrong. This is typical of a video the league would send teams as a blatant boarding penalty.

I understand. However you are talking about the particular play and I'm talking about the trend. Guhle has been hit like that several times now because he's not afraid to get in those situation to keep or retrieve the puck. It's a good asset but he needs to learn how to do it better IMO.

Guhle has development required as well. Regardless of how Reaves hit him in that situation. I'm a huge fan of Guhle's potential but there is growth required in body position. He knew a hit was coming bud or he should have known it was coming. Personally, I think Xhekaj is better at the body position in that same exact situation.

Guhle is still young too so there are things to learn from a situation like that... even if it should have been a boarding penalty