BehindTheTimes
Registered User
- Jun 24, 2018
- 7,642
- 10,726
Player Discussion Arber Xhekaj: The Sheriff
- Thread starter Adam Michaels
- Start date
LesCanadiens
Hardcore Curmudgeon
He's not quite there yet, IMO. Still needs to clean-up his defensive game and discipline. Matheson is also a trainwreck defensively, but not worse than X at THIS point and does generate tons of offense. Plus, of the 3 you mentioned, he's the only LD. I agree we should move Savard and Kovacevic, though...but not particularly to make room for X.
My guess is that they'll let X finish the season in Laval and help them make a run down the stretch. They'll use that time to work a lot on his minuses, and have him ready to make a strong case for getting his job back with the Habs. I don't know if they'll be willing to trade Matheson either now or over the summer. I do hope they do, though if he can't tighten-up his defensive game.
My guess is that Harris will wind up being the big trade chip by next season as we clearly do need to make room on the left side if we plan on keeping Struble and X slotted into our bottom 2 LD slots. Lots of ifs ands or buts, I guess. But I have confidence in Hughes and MSL to make the best decisions for the team.
Last edited:
LesCanadiens
Hardcore Curmudgeon
Playing the left side. His usual RD partner is Mailloux.
dackelljuneaubulis02
Registered User
- Oct 13, 2012
- 12,350
- 8,393
BLONG7
Registered User
This would be a nice pairing in the pros in a couple of seasons.
I am not sure matheson or savard are going anywhere this soon. But maybe "someone"
Mrb1p
PRICERSTOPDAPUCK
Mrb1p
PRICERSTOPDAPUCK
As if he ever would say such a thing. Its a clear trend since hes arrived. Theres no hitting outside of forecheck and very little on the defensive side.
Settle on:
Guhle - Reinbacher
Hutson - Struble/Engstrom
Xhekaj - Mailloux
Outside of Hutson, physically, facing a Hab D won't be any fun. With Hutson, opponents mightn't get physically dominated, but facing him could prove embarrassing quite regularly.
Mrb1p
PRICERSTOPDAPUCK
Ill settle for most scenarios that dont have Harris long term in the top 4, let alone top pair.
Also Hutson isnt soft.
Beendair Donedat
You sold a dead bird to a blind kid????
Pretty obvious that MSL doesn’t like Kovacevic, as he went from being our steadiest defenseman to being a professional bench warmer. I honestly don’t want to move him but it sure seems like the writing is on the wall there.
Id say the most likeliest players to move at or before the deadline will be Kovacevic, Monahan, Savard, and Allen.
Kovacevic should be worth a 2nd or 3rd, cheap depth and physical right hand shot defensemen are always at a premium at the deadline.
Monahan should either get a top prospect, or a first and a middle prospect from a contender. Colorado and Winnipeg are two teams that should be in the mix. I’d prefer Winnipeg as they have more top prospects in their pool.
Savard is a wildcard. IF the Habs retain 50 percent on his contract? He will get return a first round pick plus. He’s won a cup and he’s a stabilizing force on the back end. Someone will pay up to have him for two playoff runs. If the Habs don’t retain? I doubt he returns much and will probably be dealt at the 2025 trade deadline.
Allen - again a wildcard. There is a market for goalies out there but does anyone want him? I don’t think he’s done much to improve his value. Doubt he returns much.
Id say the most likeliest players to move at or before the deadline will be Kovacevic, Monahan, Savard, and Allen.
Kovacevic should be worth a 2nd or 3rd, cheap depth and physical right hand shot defensemen are always at a premium at the deadline.
Monahan should either get a top prospect, or a first and a middle prospect from a contender. Colorado and Winnipeg are two teams that should be in the mix. I’d prefer Winnipeg as they have more top prospects in their pool.
Savard is a wildcard. IF the Habs retain 50 percent on his contract? He will get return a first round pick plus. He’s won a cup and he’s a stabilizing force on the back end. Someone will pay up to have him for two playoff runs. If the Habs don’t retain? I doubt he returns much and will probably be dealt at the 2025 trade deadline.
Allen - again a wildcard. There is a market for goalies out there but does anyone want him? I don’t think he’s done much to improve his value. Doubt he returns much.
Watching Xhekaj in Laval it is evident that he is a very good player who is also very tough.
He is not a prototypical goon and needs to adjust his game to playing hockey and stepping in to help his teammates when needed.
He is clearly too good for the AHL but the time in Laval is definitely helping him.
Some players are only in the league because they are enforcers, Xhekaj is not an enforcer, he is a solid Dman who can fight when needed. These guys are rare and the Habs better be cognizant of that.
He is not a prototypical goon and needs to adjust his game to playing hockey and stepping in to help his teammates when needed.
He is clearly too good for the AHL but the time in Laval is definitely helping him.
Some players are only in the league because they are enforcers, Xhekaj is not an enforcer, he is a solid Dman who can fight when needed. These guys are rare and the Habs better be cognizant of that.
CHwest
Talent sets the floor, character sets the ceiling.
- May 24, 2011
- 3,893
- 5,236
I agree. He should be fighting less but when he does, go crazy. As someone said about Robinson in another thread, not a goon but more of a nuclear deterrent.
the valiant effort
settle down, bud
- Apr 17, 2017
- 5,834
- 7,362
It's only been 20(?) months since he was an OHL overager. Absolutely nothing wrong with some recalibration in the AHL after rocketing straight to the NHL.
Habs
Jake Evans will steal your wife
- Feb 28, 2002
- 23,899
- 19,748
Kovacevic, not unlike Kulak, should fetch a 2nd round pick, IMO. Signed for this year and next at 776K, he's valuable depth piece, as you say, as a RHD to boo
I'm not certain that Monahan would land a premium young attacker in a trade (a blue chip prospect), but he's definitely worth what we got for Toffoli, a late first round pick and a B prospect. I'd target a team that ion the line between making and not making the playoffs -- and looking for a quality, veteran C to make it happen -- rather than front runner for the Cup as a trade partner.
The advantage with Monahan is that, with what's left of his 2M salary come trade deadline, most teams should be able to afford him without any retention from the Habs. Many potential suitors might drive up the payday to unexpected heights for his services.
Savard is a tougher case. At his age (he is slower and slower out there on the ice, TBH, but willing to take a puckin the chicklets for the team, nonetheless, plus the younger Ds see him as their big, burly brother), he might not be as useful next season. That might force Hughes to hold back salary if Savard is moved at this trade deadline?
I wouldn't hold back salary on Savard this early. I'd rather use him most of next season to eat up more minutes that would be suicidal to a younger, less experienced D and to allow more time to mature for Mailloux, and perhaps Reinbacher, in the AHL. Holding back salary at next year's deadline, after having used up what's left of Savard's value the younger Ds, would be betters of this clause the CBA, IMO.
I really don't see Savard being worth a 1st round pick as a return, much less a 1st round pick and a prospect like we got for the Chia - rot.
I'd be ecstatic we got a 2nd round pick this year and a 3rd round pick next year for Savard, but I wouldn't hold back salary for that return since I think he'd still be worth a 2nd round pick as a rental at next year's deadline if healthy and at 50% then.
We'll be lucky to unload Allen and we'll need to hold back 50% if we do. I don't think it's worthwhile to lose a retention spot for this year and next just to move Allen for a measly return.
I'd put him on waivers and allow him a chance to find a team, even if that means zero return. I still don't think that teams will be in a position to taken his full salary before the offseason. I'd make sure he was available on waivers again at that point and, if he isn't claimed, as I dislike having salary on the books for two years due to a buyout (even if lower than the full current Cap hit), I'd bury him in the minors next year.
Allons Cap hit in the first year of a buyout would be 2,317M, followed by 776Kin the 2nd and final year.
Allen's NHL Cap hit for the lone season he would be buried in the minors, next year, would be 3.85M - 1.125M or 2.75M!
For the 408K difference, I'd rather not have the 776Kon the books the next season.
Mind you, that's a matter of stubborn principle and, since the 776K cap hitting two years likely won't have much incidence on Montreal's overall Cap situation at that point, buying out Allen might carry more goodwill across the league with onlooking players.
I honestly think he should finish the year with Laval. Help them make the playoffs. He and Mailloux could be a future pairing in Montreal. That could very well be the plan.
Hutson is not soft -- He's competitive like a small dog who thinks he's big -- but let's not kid ourselves and pretend he can clear the crease in front of Montembeault at the NHL level.
Guhle, Reinbacher, Struble, Xhekaj, Mailloux and Engstrom will be able to do that, though.
Puck control will be Hutson's value, though, and keeping the puck in the O-zone, with opposing Ds chasing their own tails will physically tire them out. It's an indirect way of dishing out physical punishment against opposing Ds.
Lafleurs Guy
Guuuuuuuy!
- Jul 20, 2007
- 82,009
- 55,387
I know Harris has taken some beatings on the board but he’s played really well lately. He’s improving. If he’s the one to go, so be it but he’s got some talent.
Pluses to Xhekaj currently playing in Laval:
-Reality check after getting things handed to him very quickly out of Juniors
-Resting his knuckles
-Playing tons of minutes in all game situations
-Developing all aspects of his game
-Rebuilding his confidence
-Developing chemistry with Mailloux as a potential pairing in the NHL one day
-Mailloux developing new/different confidence with a better partner
Habs
Jake Evans will steal your wife
- Feb 28, 2002
- 23,899
- 19,748
Trade bait, not a guy I want out there with 4 mins left play defending a lead, he's got zero physical play at all. I just can't stand players like that, sorry. They watch everyone else take a beating, and avoid traffic the entire time. Also, I hate how he refuses to engage and clear the crease, the other team just does whatever they want. Not my type of player, never will be.
Mrb1p
PRICERSTOPDAPUCK
No, but a guy like Torey Krug was part of probably the most intimidating D in recent memory. Hes not gonna be a problem.
A small guy that will mix it up is a lot better than a bigger one that is actively doding contact.
Harris is a legitimate NHL D, but the Habs have many other Ds with better upside in the system, IMO.
Like Barron, Harris is too soft, though. Harris doesn't have any real offensive upside like Barron does, but he is better positionally and with his stick, defensively.
Neither, because of their lack of physicality and there individual weaknesses (defensive for Barron and offensive for Harris) should be considered future top-4 cornerstones for this team, IMO.
3rd pairing Ds should be more physical, while having similar skating, IMO.
Xhekaj and Mailloux are better 3rd pairing options for the future, IMO, with more intangibles than either Harris or Barron.
If Xhekaj and Mailloux end up forming our 3rd pair, that will mean we will also have top-4 Ds better than Xhekaj, Mailloux, Barron and Harris.
The Habs would have solid D-Corps with a 2nd pairing RHD that would perhaps just be a physical, mobile, stay-at-home D to insulate Hutson.
Struble has the speed, mobility, defensive acumen and physicality to perhaps play that role. His previous play on the right side does not make me nervous that he is not a natural righty. Besides, Hutson will be al lover the place, so it might be better to have a stay-at-home lefty that can play both sides than a righty as a pairing partner for the offensive dynamo.
Haven't seen enough of Engstrom up close, but word is that his defensive game is solid and that he has a physical edge, combined with mobility and good skating.
He's also a lefty, but, as a European skater, he has also played RD.
The future looks bright on D with Guhle, Reinbacher, Hutson, Mailloux, Xhekaj and both Engstrom and Struble, but not everything is guaranteed and we still need to see how things pan out at the NHL level.
Out of that projected D-Corps, we can only certify that Guhle and Xhekaj can hold their own in the NHL and that remains only one top-4 D and a 3rd pairing D with top-4 upside.
Struble is showing he is a dependable D at the NHL level, but the sample size is still limited, with the rookie getting sheltered minutes for the moment.
He's alose 3rd pairing D, for now, with some upside to play a role as atop-4 D (potential pairing partner for Hutson)
Latest posts
-
GDT: 2025 Trade Deadline | Y’all Got Anymore of Them Trades?- Latest: John Mandalorian
-
