Player Discussion Arber Xhekaj: The Sheriff

[morhilane]

Houle said Xhekaj is *better* than Barron.

"just as good as Barron" means better now?

 

[shamrun]

Houle said Xhekaj is *better* than Barron.

Barron really stepped up this year. Happy we have both. I really think the habs will have a good d in a few years times.

 

[DAChampion]

"just as good as Barron" means better now?

You stopped reading halfway through.

 

[Tyson]

https://x.com/HabsLinks/status/1742925747629813979?s=20

That's some serious praise. Talk about a hitting a home run out of nowhere.

 

[morhilane]

You stopped reading halfway through.

I'm not one of those who believe that "might even have" is supposed to be read as "has right now" and if Houle went and said more in the full article I can't read it.

 

[Wateredgarden]

Xhekaj and Barron are both 22 years old, they are still very young.

 

[salbutera]

"just as good as Barron" means better now?

“We had (Justin) Barron here, and he’s just as good as Barron, who was a first-round pick. I think he might even have more offensive skill than Barron”

 

[Matthew McConaughay]

“We had (Justin) Barron here, and he’s just as good as Barron, who was a first-round pick. I think he might even have more offensive skill than Barron”

So far, he's almost a point per game in Laval

 

[JJ68]

call the sheriff up asap. Keep struble too. establish a defensive identity with some grit and size. Do whatever you have to to make it fit and work. Trade anyone else or take anyone else out.

 

[Habs]

god I hope they set the bar higher than Barron lol

 

[StCaufield]

Leave him in the A. There’s no rush and he’s doing great

 

[Habricot]

Looking at our D core, its hard to find what we will do. We have Ghule, Xhekaj and Struble who are 3 very solid youg D men, add to this mix Harris, Matheson and the upcoming Hutson. All leftys. You have to wonder how we can eventually use these assets to improve in other areas.

To me Ghule is a no brainer he is untouchable. You have to wonder who has the more upside between Xhakaj and Struble and mostly do we seen them as a 5,6 or 3,4 Dmen. Which leaves you Hutson and Harris. I hope the groom Hutson in the AHL for a year or two. I have a feeling Matheson will become that prime trade target, Not this season but likely next one.

 

[salbutera]

Looking at our D core, its hard to find what we will do. We have Ghule, Xhekaj and Struble who are 3 very solid youg D men, add to this mix Harris, Matheson and the upcoming Hutson. All leftys. You have to wonder how we can eventually use these assets to improve in other areas.

To me Ghule is a no brainer he is untouchable. You have to wonder who has the more upside between Xhakaj and Struble and mostly do we seen them as a 5,6 or 3,4 Dmen. Which leaves you Hutson and Harris. I hope the groom Hutson in the AHL for a year or two. I have a feeling Matheson will become that prime trade target, Not this season but likely next one.

Which of the young D on Habs presently has been “groomed in the AHL for a year or two”?

Just Barron…if that?

 

[Tyson]

Looking at our D core, its hard to find what we will do. We have Ghule, Xhekaj and Struble who are 3 very solid youg D men, add to this mix Harris, Matheson and the upcoming Hutson. All leftys. You have to wonder how we can eventually use these assets to improve in other areas.

To me Ghule is a no brainer he is untouchable. You have to wonder who has the more upside between Xhakaj and Struble and mostly do we seen them as a 5,6 or 3,4 Dmen. Which leaves you Hutson and Harris. I hope the groom Hutson in the AHL for a year or two. I have a feeling Matheson will become that prime trade target, Not this season but likely next one.

While I think Guhle is a solid young D I am not sure why he is so untouchable.

 

[Rapala]

Great point! Not same skill set, but if Arber can become someone who does not have to regularly fight and can set the tone with his presence, Habs will have a gem.

One of Arber's best enforcer moments happened in a scrum where he'd had enough and delivered a straight right with his glove on.
Only 2 minutes and the guy settled right the bleep down.

 

[Kudo Shinichi]

Looking at our D core, its hard to find what we will do. We have Ghule, Xhekaj and Struble who are 3 very solid youg D men, add to this mix Harris, Matheson and the upcoming Hutson. All leftys. You have to wonder how we can eventually use these assets to improve in other areas.

To me Ghule is a no brainer he is untouchable. You have to wonder who has the more upside between Xhakaj and Struble and mostly do we seen them as a 5,6 or 3,4 Dmen. Which leaves you Hutson and Harris. I hope the groom Hutson in the AHL for a year or two. I have a feeling Matheson will become that prime trade target, Not this season but likely next one.

Just need to trade Savard for now to make room for Xhekaj

Guhle - Matheson
Xhekaj - Barron
Struble - Harris
Kovacevic

If they think one of Hutson/Mailloux/Reinbacher should be in the nhl next season, then we can trade Barron/Harris in the offseason.

 

[Heffyhoof]

I can accept the narrative of helping Arber's defence as long as he isn't subsequently traded. Barron is total garbage all the time in any zone that isn't the offensive one, and God forbid you ask him to hold the blue line.

 

[MasterD]

I see it...that's why I get annoyed whenever I see people just think he's good for fighting or his sheer presence is exclusively related to him settling scores on the ice.

He can be so much more than a face puncher.

Which is why he needs to be in the AHL. He was limiting himself to being a physical presence, which lead to his shoulder injury.

Fighting should be ONE of his tools, not what he's known for.

 

[MasterD]

While I think Guhle is a solid young D I am not sure why he is so untouchable.

Amen. He's VERY solid, but far from untouchable. If we can package him (and more) for a young/future 1st liner, you have to do it.

With Matheson/Struble/Xhekaj and Hutson coming up (and that European guy I keep forgetting about), LD is very well covered.

Just need to trade Savard for now to make room for Xhekaj

Guhle - Matheson
Xhekaj - Barron
Struble - Harris
Kovacevic

If they think one of Hutson/Mailloux/Reinbacher should be in the nhl next season, then we can trade Barron/Harris in the offseason.

Like it or not, potential or not, you need a veteran presence on the team. Savard is NOT a problem on this team, neither on the ice or contract wise.

Trade Harris. He's not a RD anyway. Or Barron.

EDIT Matheson's is not a RD either. He sucks enough at LD, you can't just move names around and cross your fingers.

 

[Runner77]

 

[OldCraig71]

Arber Xhekaj is love, Arber Xhekaj is life.

 

[FrankMTL]

The power on that wrist shot is insane...and it looks absolutely effortless for him.

 

[StCaufield]

Looking at our D core, its hard to find what we will do. We have Ghule, Xhekaj and Struble who are 3 very solid youg D men, add to this mix Harris, Matheson and the upcoming Hutson. All leftys. You have to wonder how we can eventually use these assets to improve in other areas.

To me Ghule is a no brainer he is untouchable. You have to wonder who has the more upside between Xhakaj and Struble and mostly do we seen them as a 5,6 or 3,4 Dmen. Which leaves you Hutson and Harris. I hope the groom Hutson in the AHL for a year or two. I have a feeling Matheson will become that prime trade target, Not this season but likely next one.

Trade Harris as part of a package for someone who can score and can play more than 40 games

 

[jaffy27]

call the sheriff up asap. Keep struble too. establish a defensive identity with some grit and size. Do whatever you have to to make it fit and work. Trade anyone else or take anyone else out.

Harris and Savard are the obvious choices for relocation…..probably get a decent return.

in my eyes, Struble is the real McCoy, he’s sooooo good. A bottom pairing of Strubs and the Sherriff would be scary as hell for an opposing player who’s jabbing at loose pucks around the net or skating down the wing while fumbling the puck with his head down!! lol

we may have to nickname Struble as ”the Deputy” if he’s paired up with ”the Sheriff“

 

[Bacchus1]

Trade Harris as part of a package for someone who can score and can play more than 40 games

This what I would do. Allen and Harris for a forward with potential.