Toggle sidebar

Player Discussion Arber Xhekaj: The Sheriff

  • Xenforo Cloud will be upgrading us to version 2.3.5 on March 3rd at 12 AM GMT. This version has increased stability and fixes several bugs. We expect downtime for the duration of the update. The admin team will continue to work on existing issues, templates and upgrade all necessary available addons to minimize impact of this new version. Click Here for Updates
Estimated_Prophet said:
He is very different than Pezzetta and is definitely more skilled. Pezzetta was a better skater and more of a high energy forechecking net crasher whereas Florian is more of a play driving rangy big man who handles and carries the puck more as well as being a much better shooter.

I have no doubt whatsoever that he goes in the second round in a re draft which is not to say that he is a can't miss prospect because most second rounders don't make it in the NHL. He has demonstrated enough skill in combination with his growth spurt to justify moving him up the draft board significantly in a re-draft scenario. He is still adjusting to his sudden height gain and may take another big step when he fills out and can take full advatage of his frame.

He looks closer to Turner Stevenson than Pezzetta imo and he is a much better shooter than Turner ever was.
Click to expand...
Also faster and better hands.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Matthew McConaughay
ChesterNimitz said:
The game will also provide viewers an opportunity to see two other Bulldog players who are draft eligible: Parekh and Vanacker. I have my strong reservations whether Parekh's game is transferable to the NHL. Vanacker is a completely different matter. Largely predicted to go in the mid second round, I am hoping, really hoping, that he will still be available when we are using the Jets' pick. This kid, who has excellent skating and offensive skills, looks like he will be an offensive star at the NHL level. I am also hoping when Montreal scouts are checking up on Florian Xhekaj's progress, they have taken notice of Vanacker's level of play and promise. I'm certain other team's have. I suspect he may go in the 15-20 range. If he falls further than that , he will., in my opinion, be a steal. Let's hope our scouts are awake.

But people should use their own eyes to assess these players without their usual reliance and reference to statistics and the trite comments of the pundits.

It's a game worth watching on several accounts.
Click to expand...
Just a follow up.

Vanacker scored three goals for the Bulldogs (could have had a couple more) and set up Florian for an easy tap -in. Ignore those endless and tedious mock drafts as most have Vanacker in the mid to late second round. I doubt these oracles have ever watched him play and just are just regurgitating the prevailing consensus. The more I watch Vanacker, the more I am convinced he will go in the top 15.

I can only hope that somehow he falls and is available when we are using the Jets' first. If that happens, and we are smart enough to select this player, it will be a very good draft, regardless of whom we take with our own first pick.
 
Last edited:
  • Like
Reactions: dralaf
teamfirst said:
I would love to see more of him on PP1 , Math does a good job there but will not be there when we are ready to compete.

Shot like he has being set up by good passer like Slaf, Suz and Caufield could be lethal
Click to expand...
Its been tried, it doesnt work he's not good enough. Guhle should be the one getting the PP reps.
 
Tyson said:
Xhekaj has a Souray quality shot, it has to be implemented
Click to expand...
Souray was my first comparable for Xhekaj.

I don't know if he'll ever be able to put up close to Souray's offensive numbers, but I hope he can stick handle better in his own zone. Souray tended to cough up the puck with his stick handling mishaps.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Doc McKenna, BLONG7 and Dutronc
Mrb1p said:
Its been tried, it doesnt work he's not good enough. Guhle should be the one getting the PP reps.
Click to expand...
He doesn’t have the mobility to be an effective number 1 power play quarterback. Though the Canadiens , like most teams use the drop pass (in our case , Suzuki) to gain offensive zone entry, Matheson’s great mobility requires opponents to counter that speed in case he decides to keep the puck. That threat opens up ice for Suzuki, Newhook or who ever is playing in the drop back position. Matheson’s presence allows us a better chance of successfully gaining entry into the offensive zone.

Teams won’t have to fear that threat with Xhekaj carrying the puck and we will struggle trying to gain entry and possession in the offensive zone. You can almost hear the predictable booing of our restive fans as opposing teams will simply start stacking up their blueline and frustrating our entry attempts.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Trabdy2 and Andy
There is zero doubt that Arber has some special skills.

He has the talent to be a really unique player if he puts it all together. He just needs to stay focused and committed during these development years.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Andrei79 and Redux91
ChesterNimitz said:
He doesn’t have the mobility to be an effective number 1 power play quarterback. Though the Canadiens , like most teams use the drop pass (in our case , Suzuki) to gain offensive zone entry, Matheson’s great mobility requires opponents to counter that speed in case he decides to keep the puck. That threat opens up ice for Suzuki, Newhook or who ever is playing in the drop back position. Matheson’s presence allows us a better chance of successfully gaining entry into the offensive zone.

Teams won’t have to fear that threat with Xhekaj carrying the puck and we will struggle trying to gain entry and possession in the offensive zone. You can almost hear the predictable booing of our restive fans as opposing teams will simply start stacking up their blueline and frustrating our entry attempts.
Click to expand...
You think Weber had a lot of mobility, i think Arber has more mobility than Weber had.
 
  • Like
Reactions: BJCOLLINS, Redux91 and rickthegoon
ChesterNimitz said:
He doesn’t have the mobility to be an effective number 1 power play quarterback. Though the Canadiens , like most teams use the drop pass (in our case , Suzuki) to gain offensive zone entry, Matheson’s great mobility requires opponents to counter that speed in case he decides to keep the puck. That threat opens up ice for Suzuki, Newhook or who ever is playing in the drop back position. Matheson’s presence allows us a better chance of successfully gaining entry into the offensive zone.

Teams won’t have to fear that threat with Xhekaj carrying the puck and we will struggle trying to gain entry and possession in the offensive zone. You can almost hear the predictable booing of our restive fans as opposing teams will simply start stacking up their blueline and frustrating our entry attempts.
Click to expand...

Every teams use the drop pass now (not sure i'm a fan of it) so he wouldn't have to gain the offensive zone, Suzuki is the one doing it 99% of the time for us anyway, all i'm saying is with the shot that he has we should at least try and see what he could do being set up by talented players like we have on the first PP.

We wont see it from him playing 20 seconds on PP2.
 
Souray had a certain presence, and he didn't have to fight often to maintain it. I want wifi to get to that point.

It's a fine line for a tough a guy. You don't want to be pigeon holed as the guy who obliges all the other guys that want to make a name for themselves, for some sideshow heavyweight belt.

That was a dilemma that probert got into, and he often obliged. It's a different era with less fighting, but the same idea applies. Probert was a good player away from the sideshow too. Likewise, wifi is more than just a fighter too.
 
  • Like
Reactions: jrom, Number 57, Eegs and 8 others
You must log in or register to reply here.

Latest posts

Ad

Upcoming events

Ad

Top Bottom