Player Discussion Arber Xhekaj: The Sheriff

[Andy]

KK was as the talk after he left was that he didn't listen to his coaches and had an ego and was difficult or something along those lines. Galchenyuk was clearly off-ice issues though oddly enough both of them along with Tinordi were ones that there were rumors of their dads being an issue, say giving bad advice or telling them not to listen to their coaches but it's mostly hearsay.

There was also Sekac. There was an interview with him a couple of years ago where he admitted that he was not the best behave off the ice and wasn't really responding to the coach's advice.

The KK, Galchenyuk, Tinord, and Sekac cases lead me to believe there is something a little more than performance with Arber.

 

[salbutera]

You guys are hilarious trying to paint something out of nothing.

Marty and the Habs brass all want Arber to succeed.. they don't hate him, they don't want to take him or make him into something he isn't..

Struble had a bad game.. Arber's issues have been issues for awhile now. We all get treated differently on a one off bad night vs. continuously making the same mistakes.

Arber admits his issues himself, so why can't you guys do the same?

No no your totally off base, it only makes MSL & Hughes happy when they purposely devalue one of their assets… it’s in their best interest to do so!!

 

[montreal]

There was also Sekac. There was an interview with him a couple of years ago where he admitted that he was not the best behave off the ice and wasn't really responding to the coach's advice.

The KK, Galchenyuk, Tinord, and Sekac cases lead me to believe there is something a little more than performance with Arber.

yea I'm sure a number of hockey players have gotten themselves into trouble with the night life, the Sekac stories are nuts though I'm not surprised that some NHLers use the nose sugar.

 

[salbutera]

Well then play him they need some toughness or is that not proper in Montreal - don't want a rep as being a tough team or throwing off the gloves -

More and more head coaches are coming out of NCAA ranks, more & more kids drafted out of US & Euro systems

The NHL game is going the US college route, and fighting will be banned not if but when IMHO.

Concept of “toughness” is evolving in the NHL with an increased impetus on hockey IQ… at least that’s what I’m seeing.

 

[larek]

More and more head coaches are coming out of NCAA ranks, more & more kids drafted out of US & Euro systems

The NHL game is going the US college route, and fighting will be banned not if but when IMHO.

Concept of “toughness” is evolving in the NHL… at least that’s what I’m seeing.

Going to be quite a while yet
It's fairly rare now but fans still want it
I don t see a problem
NHL better be careful with their product

Adding watched a college game last week much more physical than NHL

 

[salbutera]

Going to be quite a while yet
It's fairly rare now but fans still want it
I don t see a problem
NHL better be careful with their product

Not sure about that the new owners coming in are all analytics types who don’t value fighting game as can be seen by who they hire as GMs and construction of their teams - Canes, NJD, Pens.

Add to it the old guard teams have also changed their GM / team construct focus see Bos, Phi, NYR, Edm, Van etc

NHL is rapidly changing before our eyes, 4th lines from contending teams are fast, skilled w specialty team capability focus vs yesteryear

 

[salbutera]

Going to be quite a while yet
It's fairly rare now but fans still want it
I don t see a problem
NHL better be careful with their product

Adding watched a college game last week much more physical than NHL

And that’s what IMO MSL wants out of Xhekaj, if I can use this comparison… Shea Weber type physicality while taking a regular shift

Weber rarely ever dropped his gloves without compromising physicality - he didn’t need to be “the Sheriff”

 

[teamfirst]

More and more head coaches are coming out of NCAA ranks, more & more kids drafted out of US & Euro systems

The NHL game is going the US college route, and fighting will be banned not if but when IMHO.

Concept of “toughness” is evolving in the NHL with an increased impetus on hockey IQ… at least that’s what I’m seeing.

Have you watched playoffs hockey lately.

The NHL game is going the US college route

Could be, that's where the money is and alot more Canadian kids going there for scholarship but that wont change that hockey is and always will be a physical sport and with physical always comes intimidation not necessarely fight

 

[ryan callahan]

he's actually quite a good skater, and I've been impressed with his passes in general. Now Harris, that kids sucks in the D zone, he's always under pressure and making bad plays.

lmao what? Harris' skating looks like McDavid when he is on the ice along with Xhekaj.

 

[Nico Cauzuki]

yea I'm sure a number of hockey players have gotten themselves into trouble with the night life, the Sekac stories are nuts though I'm not surprised that some NHLers use the nose sugar.

that will never change tho even till this day i always see Habs players at Palma in Griffintown

 

[larek]

And that’s what IMO MSL wants out of Xhekaj, if I can use this comparison… Shea Weber type physicality while taking a regular shift

Weber rarely ever dropped his gloves without compromising physicality - he didn’t need to be “the Sheriff”

Some times you have to drop them
Don't turn a bull into a cow

that will never change tho even till this day i always see Habs players at Palma in Griffintown

Is that jackeyes problem his of ice life

 

[Nico Cauzuki]

Is that jackeyes problem his of ice life

to be fair personally ive never seen Xhekaj but almost everyone else Caufield and Dvorak the most

 

[yianik]

Wreaks havoc with a young player’s confidence. I see it as a major blunder by an inexperienced coach. It doesn’t solve anything when a private conversation can go a long way.

Plus, when a coach starts blaming a player publicly, it creates negative inferences when you see him not do it when other players make mistakes or take dumb penalties.

If he won’t give the player meaningful minutes, have him sent down over the rest of the year and let the player develop in a more forgiving environment.

For me one of the most classic " what an AHole of a coach moment " was Jacques Martin. Ak46 had started the year really well, playing his best hockey as a Hab. Media takes notice of his play and a reporter asks Martin to comment. Martins reply ? " Contract year "

I gasped so much I couldn't breathe for a few seconds. I couldn't believe that even Martin would make such a horrible , soul crushing comment about a player getting it together.

So yes, coaches need to keep their mouths shut at times . I would say calling out a player to the media is out of bounds and should be dealt with internally.

 

[salbutera]

Have you watched playoffs hockey lately

That’s the point, how many fights do we see in the playoffs nowadays?

IMO it’s being blown out of proportion, as happens with all Habs news. Xhekaj is simply being asked to use his size + skating assets to his benefit vs focusing on being the sheriff which simply become a detriment

 

[1909]

For me one of the most classic " what an AHole of a coach moment " was Jacques Martin. Ak46 had started the year really well, playing his best hockey as a Hab. Media takes notice of his play and a reporter asks Martin to comment. Martins reply ? " Contract year "

I gasped so much I couldn't breathe for a few seconds. I couldn't believe that even Martin would make such a horrible , soul crushing comment about a player getting it together.

So yes, coaches need to keep their mouths shut at times . I would say calling out a player to the media is out of bounds and should be dealt with internally.

Best thing would be to stop post game pressers with headcoaches. The guys are tired, pissed off by a loss, etc...

 

[teamfirst]

That’s the point, how many fights do we see in the playoffs nowadays?

IMO it’s being blown out of proportion, as happens with all Habs news. Xhekaj is simply being asked to use his size + skating assets to his benefit vs focusing on being the sheriff which simply become a detriment

That's the thing tho with players like Xhekaj, to be effecient he needs to bring energy to the team with his physical presence (not necessarely fighting) or else he becomes a non factor and you needs guy's like this.

It's just that i dont think MSL handle that situation very well and right now it's clear that he he's tentative in his play and that will only make it worse,

Anyway, hope that i'm wrong but i really dont like what i see right now.

 

[larek]

For me one of the most classic " what an AHole of a coach moment " was Jacques Martin. Ak46 had started the year really well, playing his best hockey as a Hab. Media takes notice of his play and a reporter asks Martin to comment. Martins reply ? " Contract year "

I gasped so much I couldn't breathe for a few seconds. I couldn't believe that even Martin would make such a horrible , soul crushing comment about a player getting it together.

So yes, coaches need to keep their mouths shut at times . I would say calling out a player to the media is out of bounds and should be dealt with internally.

Exactly!!! Great post!! Thumbs up!

 

[Runner77]

Exactly!!! Great post!! Thumbs up!

I liked that post too and for the record, have been beating the same drum for months now but jeez, maybe you should get out more.

 

[larek]

I liked that post too and for the record, have been beating the same drum for months now but jeez, maybe you should get out more.

LoL I will be in about 10 days going to have some fun in Sin City

 

[Runner77]

LoL I will be in about 10 days going to have some fun in Sin City

Enjoy!

 

[Tyson]

Time for Arber to seize his chance

 

[schwang26]

And that’s what IMO MSL wants out of Xhekaj, if I can use this comparison… Shea Weber type physicality while taking a regular shift

Weber rarely ever dropped his gloves without compromising physicality - he didn’t need to be “the Sheriff”

The whole time Weber was here, how often was he actually physical? I think that was very overblown. I don’t recall him actually playing that physical at all. In fact, I remember posting my frustration that he wasn’t as physical as he was billed.

 

[salbutera]

The whole time Weber was here, how often was he actually physical? I think that was very overblown. I don’t recall him actually playing that physical at all. In fact, I remember posting my frustration that he wasn’t as physical as he was billed.

Must’ve missed the constant forearm to the opponents ribs along the boards / in the corners, recall Leafs whining ad nauseam about non calls…. The thing was Weber understood how to be physical and get away with it with minimal infractions

 

[WeThreeKings]

The whole time Weber was here, how often was he actually physical? I think that was very overblown. I don’t recall him actually playing that physical at all. In fact, I remember posting my frustration that he wasn’t as physical as he was billed.

Nasty in front of the net.. which is really where it needs to be.

Big hits will happen when they are there but if you go chasing for hits, you will get victimized, the game is too fast.

That's where things have to be learned for Arber. Can't chase being physical, if you miss, or even chase too far, you have to come back to your net, and you'll be behind the play, which leads to stick infractions.. which is what has been his issue this year.

 

[schwang26]

Must’ve missed the constant forearm to the opponents ribs along the boards / in the corners, recall Leafs whining ad nauseam about non calls…. The thing was Weber understood how to be physical and get away with it with minimal infractions

Sorry. I disagree. Look at his hits. They steadily declined. Even his first year in Montreal, they were lower than Nashville for the most part. I don’t think he was any more physical than Savard or Edmunson. I’m not saying he wasn’t physical, I’m saying he wasn’t as physical (as a Hab) as he was made out to be