Player Discussion Arber Xhekaj: The Sheriff

[morhilane]

Neither are Harris, Kovacevic and whatever other young player who has been making mistakes. I'm not for the coach calling out anyone or getting defensive about anyone, especially players who are not vets -- don't see what good it does. MSL specifically chose to publicly call out Xhekaj before he was sent down to Laval, while he was not alone in taking bad penalties. Stuff like that can best be dealt with privately with the player, it seems to me.

MSL doesn't single out players, it's the media who ask questions about specific players and most of them are clearly just asked to cause drama since they cherry pick the sound bits that makes the round.

 

[MasterD]

Heard this from Laraque and Marinaro too. I’ve got a theory about this. Hear me out.

What if MSL has told Xhekaj that we know he can hit and be physical, now he wants him to go out there and learn to defend. No more hitting. Defend Every situation by good positioning, good reads, strong stickwork, and every other defensive tool except hitting. There will be another time to hit but now he wants him to go out and learn a different game. When he picks that up, he can mix that up with his aggressive hits and fighting again.

If he teaches it like this, he knows that this will be hard on Xhekaj and hurt his confidence but he has push through that to get to the next level.

if that’s what’s happening, then you see his answers in a new light where he’s trying to get the best of Xhekaj because he thinks that’ll work with him and is annoyed by the questions from reporters who he can’t disclose that Xhekaj won’t be going for the big hit or maybe even fighting for a while.

Two cents

Contrary to most, I'm happy MSL and Hughes have the balls to against what the fans demand and ask Xhekaj to improve instead of just giving him NHL icetime because he's very physical.

He'll get there, and he'll be good. Very good.

Neither are Harris, Kovacevic and whatever other young player who has been making mistakes. I'm not for the coach calling out anyone or getting defensive about anyone, especially players who are not vets -- don't see what good it does. MSL specifically chose to publicly call out Xhekaj before he was sent down to Laval, while he was not alone in taking bad penalties. Stuff like that can best be dealt with privately with the player, it seems to me.

Maybe it was, multiple times? We have no idea what goes on in the room and in the coach's office.

 

[417]

Neither are Harris, Kovacevic and whatever other young player who has been making mistakes. I'm not for the coach calling out anyone or getting defensive about anyone, especially players who are not vets -- don't see what good it does. MSL specifically chose to publicly call out Xhekaj before he was sent down to Laval, while he was not alone in taking bad penalties. Stuff like that can best be dealt with privately with the player, it seems to me.

But no one bats an eye when Harris or Kovacevic is benched or when Justin Barron is sent to the AHL.

Xhekaj though? Fans have created an almost mythical player who's above being scratched, demoted or even critiqued on his play (which if we're being honest, hasn't been good).

I think MSL strategically called him out because maybe he was starting to read his own press and play like a guy who thought he could get away with repeating the same mistakes (whether we choose to admit it or not, some players can get away with more than others, it's not fair, it's just how it is).

Also, none of this indicates that the team wants to trade him or he's fallen out of favor...I just think they're trying to reign him in.

It's also a bit of their own fault because he probably made the jump earlier than he was ready for and the Habs did it out of necessity because of injuries....I thought they recalled him too early, I probably would have preferred he spend the year in Laval.

 

[The Gr8 Dane]

But no one bats an eye when Harris or Kovacevic is benched or when Justin Barron is sent to the AHL.

Xhekaj though? Fans have created an almost mythical player who's above being scratched, demoted or even critiqued on his play (which if we're being honest, hasn't been good).

I think MSL strategically called him out because maybe he was starting to read his own press and play like a guy who thought he could get away with repeating the same mistakes.

Also, none of this indicates that the team wants to trade him or he's fallen out of favor...I just think they're trying to reign him in.

It's also a bit of their own fault because he probably made the jump earlier than he was ready for and the Habs did it out of necessity because of injuries....I thought they recalled him too early, I probably would have preferred he spend the year in Laval.

Very well said , Jackeye puts in these great games in between some of his bad ones so I don't see why people get mad when he's scratched and asked to work on other things in his game he's still a young developing player and he needs to work on his consistency.

Barron was averaging 18:47 minutes and got sent down!!! 18!!!!

And i'm not suprised that laraque (and fans) cry themselves to sleep at night thinking about poor Jackeye's fate in this world as a undrafted bottom pairing defenseman paving his way in the league , poor kid amirite george.

 

[417]

Very well said , Jackeye puts in these great games in between some of his bad ones so I don't see why people get mad when he's scratched and asked to work on other things in his game he's still a young developing player and he needs to work on his consistency.

Barron was averaging 18:47 minutes and got sent down!!! 18!!!!

And i'm not suprised that laraque (and fans) cry themselves to sleep at night thinking about poor Jackeye's fate in this world as a undrafted bottom pairing defenseman paving his way in the league , poor kid amirite George.

They think they're doing him favors, but they're not.

 

[Shred]

Just heard MSL answering a question about Arber. Sounded to me that he is annoyed about having to broach the subject, using lots of cliches and generalities.

Meantime, Arber has been playing some 13 minutes a game and not hitting opponents like he was last year. Is Arber holding back or changing his style in order to not get on the coach’s bad side? And yet, under the same coach last year, he played differently.

Not sure what’s going on but for now, he is not the same player as last season and he is not using his physical attributes. There is obviously still time to the season. Good news is how he wasn’t benched nor taken bad penalties last game.

I’d hate to see him traded as there is no one quite like him on the team but wouldn’t be surprised if his agent asked for a trade at some point or if MSL himself became a catalyst in the GM’s ultimate decision on this — there’s plenty of interest for him from what insiders have been reporting.

Bears watching further.

MSL is usually very good at dealing with the media but he has slipped up a few timws where Arber is concerned. He seems smart enough to realize calling him out in the media won’t accomplish anything positive, especially when he routinely protects the likes of Gallagher and other hopeless liabilities. So hopefully more cliches and generalities in the media while he handles Xhekaj’s development behind closed doors.

 

[JoelWarlord]

But no one bats an eye when Harris or Kovacevic is benched or when Justin Barron is sent to the AHL.

Xhekaj though? Fans have created an almost mythical player who's above being scratched, demoted or even critiqued on his play (which if we're being honest, hasn't been good).

Someone on here said that as a fanbase we have hockey parent syndrome for Xhekaj which sounds about right to me.

 

[417]

MSL is usually very good at dealing with the media but he has slipped up a few timws where Arber is concerned. He seems smart enough to realize calling him out in the media won’t accomplish anything positive, especially when he routinely protects the likes of Gallagher and other hopeless liabilities. So hopefully more cliches and generalities in the media while he handles Xhekaj’s development behind closed doors.

It's not like MSL called a press conference to talk about Xhekaj...he's been grilled about a player who was undrafted, doesn't even have a full NHL or AHL season under his belt, hasn't been playing well, so he's answered accordingly.

How he treats Brendan Gallagher is completely irrelevant to Arber Xhekaj and to expect him to treat them equally, isn't consistent with the reality of pro sports.

 

[Shred]

I think MSL strategically called him out because maybe he was starting to read his own press and play like a guy who thought he could get away with repeating the same mistakes (whether we choose to admit it or not, some players can get away with more than others, it's not fair, it's just how it is).

Xhekaj himself said something to that effect when he got sent down. Paraphrasing, that he didn’t feel that anything he did or didn’t do gave enough ammo to management to demote him.

Now that he is back, he said he didn’t think that he had entitlement issues when he was sent down but in hindsight he thinks it is possible that was the case. Also hints that he wasn’t working as hard this year - and we have all seen the burger commercial, charity work (not that it isn’t commendable) that have been distractions.

Kid has worked insanely hard for years to make it this far, and now has realized the hard work doesn’t stop when you “make it”. I’d be surprised if he makes the same mistake next season.

 

[Runner77]

MSL doesn't single out players, it's the media who ask questions about specific players and most of them are clearly just asked to cause drama since they cherry pick the sound bits that makes the round.

Yes, but MSL has been on the job for two years. He’s singling out a player whenever he’s choosing to take bait — he should know better.

He doesn’t initiate a subject as we all know that’s not how a presser works. It’s up to MSL to set the tone and draw a line about these types of questions, is the point.

 

[Runner77]

I think MSL strategically called him out …

Beg to differ. The player never made waves in the media. There is no “strategic” calling out for a young player who is developing and looking to build his confidence. Modern coaches deal with this kind of stuff privately — where did you lift that epithet from, the 60s?

 

[417]

Beg to differ. The player never made waves in the media. There is no “strategic” calling out for a young player who is developing and looking to build his confidence. Modern coaches deal with this kind of stuff privately — where did you lift that epithet from, the 60s?

Meant more for the media, he's not shielded from criticism or being benched/demoted.

 

[rik schau]

Don't forget the roadrunner probably shrank some as well which happens to the aged.

When you add up all the tidbits, what can we all deduce from this?

 

[Scriptor]

Xhekaj may or may not get traded, but, if he does, the return will have to be worth it.

 

[jfm133]

Awful game taday for Xhekaj, I don't understand why they called him up. He was doing well with Laval, why not play Harris and let Xhekaj play big minutes in Laval? Some say Struble could fell next year like Xhakaj this year. Sorry, Xhekaj was never as solid in the NHL as Struble is, not close. Struble has been steady since his first game with Laval last spring. He was a plug and play D from day 1. Xhekaj played in the NHL last year by default. Fans like him as a fighter and also his offensive touch, but defensively there is still a lot to improve upon.

 

[tazsub3]

Awful game taday for Xhekaj, I don't understand why they called him up. He was doing well with Laval, why not play Harris and let Xhekaj play big minutes in Laval? Some say Struble could fell next year like Xhakaj this year. Sorry, Xhekaj was never as solid in the NHL as Struble is, not close. Struble has been steady since his first game with Laval last spring. He was a plug and play D from day 1. Xhekaj played in the NHL last year by default. Fans like him as a fighter and also his offensive touch, but defensively there is still a lot to improve upon.

Arber fell into the trap many players fall into and why there is something called sophomore slump. He stoped working as hard .
I’m not worried he will continue to develop and become a very solid d . Not just a big hitter fighter d

 

[teamfirst]

Send the guy to Laval, as far away as possible from MSL

 

[Hannibal]

Are we going to scratch him ever again?

We need him in the lineup.

 

[Habs]

the team has a noted history of trading tough, big NHL prospects and young players away, and it comes back to haunt us. Since the mid 90's, it's been a policy to get rid of big tough players that need time, and keep the wankers who can skate fast and get throttled into the ice. I hope they keep the kid and get some real legit coaches to help him and the other kids on the blueline, we need it badly.

I for sure have ptsd from watching the team ditch so many young big, tough players away, but that's my brand of hockey so I'm probably in the minority here. I loved Odelein, Souray, Ewen, Kordic, Knuckles, LeClair .. all of them. The meat and potatos of your team. St Louis is a BIG team full of guys that can play any way you want to, it's what we should be doing.

 

[montreal]

I said I thought he would get benched as his 2nd game had a drop in TOI and yet he still ended up with 4 pims. If they are trying to send a message to him about the pims, it doesn't appear he's getting it so as a coach he's got to work with him to figure out what he needs to be doing better.

 

[habdynasty]

He hasn’t been the same since he hurt his shoulder fighting last year. No more big hits

 

[Canadienna]

He hasn’t been the same since he hurt his shoulder fighting last year. No more big hits

Honestly.

I think it was this moment right here.

This was after the surgery, he went straight to the locker room, and he missed time after it. Hasn't been very physical since.

His shoulder isn't right for sure imo.

 

[1909]

Xhekaj, Harris, Barron should not had started at NHL level last season. We know why they did, but it was not the proper way to introduce them to NHL hockey level. They were not ready, and they are still not. This year, Struble should had stayed the whole season in Laval. Once again, injuries had played a great role, not only on our D-corps, but on the whole team as well.

I also agree with a poster above who thinks that Xhekaj injuries had a huge impact on him.

 

[Estimated_Prophet]

Xhekaj, Harris, Barron should not had started at NHL level last season. We know why they did, but it was not the proper way to introduce them to NHL hockey level. They were not ready, and they are still not. This year, Struble should had stayed the whole season in Laval. Once again, injuries had played a great role, not only on our D-corps, but on the whole team as well.

I also agree with a poster above who thinks that Xhekaj injuries had a huge impact on him.

Sorry but I have to disagree with the entire premise that you are presenting.

This young D corps is in a learning mode and the Habs are still very much in a building/teaching mode. The idea of introducing these young players to new concepts/tactics etc and using both Laval and Montreal as methods to regulate difficulty is a very smart move imo. Giving all of these kids access to great veteran leaders and world class instruction while not being under the pressure of having to produce on a playoff bound team is an opportunity that upper management has correctly identified and taken advantage of. When players struggle they go to Laval to work on implementing the aspects of the game that they are struggling with and are given a chance to try again at the NHL without getting torn down by tyrannical/ego driven coaches for their mistakes. Transparency and communication are clearly paramount with management and there is a reason that their young prospects are dealing with this well. It is because they put an emphasis on bringing in prospects/players and coaches who are not only competent but are of the highest character and are good people on and off of the ice. I know the EA sports/stat junkie types have openly mocked and memed the crap out of the character/culture topic but this is why management did it and will continue to do so as it has been successful so far imo.

It is absolutely vital that we get as many kids as much NHL time as they can effectively handle in order to build momentum and to raise the collective floor so that when the prospects that we draft today are ready, the prospects that we drafted previously are ready to move up in the lineup.

This management group has created a very progressive and comprehensive template for others to follow with regards to organizational principles and team building. There will always be human error and unforeseen failures/complications but that is true of all systems that are dependant on subjective comparisons and will always be the case with professional sports franchises.

 

[ryan callahan]

You guys are ridiculous with the so called ''message'' we are sending him. MSL is not benching him because of the penalties, it's because he skates like Lucic and fumbles the puck more than Matheson despite having half the icetime.