Player Discussion Arber Xhekaj: The Sheriff

[Supersonic]

Does anyone have the Arber meme where he’s giving out free knuckle sandwhiches at CostCo? Looking to meme some family/friends

 

[Corky]

Would it be crazy to say that at this point, he is the Habs most complete defensemen purely based on his play in the past 10.

 

[Habs]

Would it be crazy to say that at this point, he is the Habs most complete defensemen purely based on his play in the past 10.

the fact he was in Laval was insane, he's always deserved a spot this year. You are correct he's been the best over the last 10

 

[Walrus26]

Based solely on the eye test, he appears to be playing a subtly different type of game now. He's doing more on his skates, looking to make plays and looks improved positionally.

It's as if he's unlocked the "time slow-down" perk; he's seeing things that little bit faster and processing the game at a higher speed.

He's starting to look like a player with more to give than third-pairing minutes, for sure.

 

[Leto]

Does anyone have the Arber meme where he’s giving out free knuckle sandwhiches at CostCo? Looking to meme some family/friends

This one? Credit to @Runner77 (I think).

 

[Saku K]

He's looked better with the #4 guy audition than Kovacevic/Struble/Harris. I know a lot of young defenseman are coming in but I am amazed that a lot see Arber simply as a third pairing defenseman. He has enough skills to be in the top-4 for a long long time if he continues to develop properly.

 

[McEsenpi]

Would it be crazy to say that at this point, he is the Habs most complete defensemen purely based on his play in the past 10.

Yes he is actually our best Dman.

And I think they should use him on the first wave has an option for his slapper (a la Sourray/Subban) and instead of Matheson who cant catch a Suzuki pass to save his life.

 

[Beendair Donedat]

Yes he is actually our best Dman.

And I think they should use him on the first wave has an option for his slapper (a la Sourray/Subban) and instead of Matheson who cant catch a Suzuki pass to save his life.

He’s pretty good at randomly falling down though, you have to give Matheson that… it’s not quite as frequent as the Habs doing the drop pass zone entry horseshit, but it’s close.

 

[Matthew McConaughay]

Yes he is actually our best Dman.

And I think they should use him on the first wave has an option for his slapper (a la Sourray/Subban) and instead of Matheson who cant catch a Suzuki pass to save his life.

He doesn't have enough quality PP time on the second wave, his 107mph shot can certainly help on the first wave.

 

[Goalfield13]

Leafs radio said Wifi looked like he was "barely an NHLer" when the Habs played the leafs recently. I didn't watch the whole game. Was he that bad or is it just the leaf media coping? They were very negative towards Slaf all year until recently (and kinda avoid talking about him), so I would assume the latter. Also, pretty ironic that they trash talk our D with their core looking as it does lol.

 

[Captain Mountain]

Leafs radio said Wifi looked like he was "barely an NHLer" when the Habs played the leafs recently. I didn't watch the whole game. Was he that bad or is it just the leaf media coping? They were very negative towards Slaf all year until recently (and kinda avoid talking about him), so I would assume the latter. Also, pretty ironic that they trash talk our D with their core looking as it does lol.

Which "Leafs radio"? Who in particular?

I only ask, because I live in Toronto and listen to "Leafs radio". And a lot of the more connected radio guys trash the Leafs D core too.

 

[Goalfield13]

Which "Leafs radio"? Who in particular?

I only ask, because I live in Toronto and listen to "Leafs radio". And a lot of the more connected radio guys trash the Leafs D core too.

Not sure his name. I listen to fan 590 on my commute to work a couple times a week, so around 6:30 AM to 7:30ish. They are two young guys, and one is very negative towards the habs.

 

[shamrun]

Leafs radio said Wifi looked like he was "barely an NHLer" when the Habs played the leafs recently. I didn't watch the whole game. Was he that bad or is it just the leaf media coping? They were very negative towards Slaf all year until recently (and kinda avoid talking about him), so I would assume the latter. Also, pretty ironic that they trash talk our D with their core looking as it does lol.

Leafs dont know what defensemen look like. Dont take what they say seriously. Arber's stint in the ahl smoothed him out for sure. he looks more polished and he plays with savard againt tough match ups and he is not out of place at all.

 

[Goalfield13]

Leafs dont know what defensemen look like. Dont take what they say seriously. Arber's stint in the ahl smoothed him out for sure. he looks more polished and he plays with savard againt tough match ups and he is not out of place at all.

Oh, I don't take them seriously at all, which is why I was asking if he was really that bad during that game. I have been hearing he has been great recently, but I haven't been able to catch much of the games.

 

[Captain Mountain]

Not sure his name. I listen to fan 590 on my commute to work a couple times a week, so around 6:30 AM to 7:30ish. They are two young guys, and one is very negative towards the habs.

The FAN morning show is absolute garbage, don't bother listening to it. Frankly, their Leafs takes are pretty garbage too and they know even less about other sports. Most of the Fans' lineup is pretty bad tbh.

 

[Goalfield13]

The FAN morning show is absolute garbage, don't bother listening to it. Frankly, their Leafs takes are pretty garbage too and they know even less about other sports. Most of the Fans' lineup is pretty bad tbh.

Oh, I know. I usually just laugh at them. It's more for entertainment than anything else, but the "barely NHLer" statement caught me off guard, and I was just wondering how he actually played that game.

 

[teamfirst]

Ahh.... the early 1970s. A good time to be alive. The TIKTOK crowd doesn't know what they missed: the Vietnam War, Nixon, bad T.V. and hair cuts and $0.99 MacDonald's meals.

What could be finer?

Dont forget people being able to talk to each others face to face not on an electronic devices, kids playing outside with other kids unstead of sitting in front of their computer-tv

 

[BenchBrawl]

From Sheriff to General

 

[Cournoyer12]

I was very much opposed to sending him down and felt that others should go instead of him but I was wrong, his play has matured, and he's making the play as opposed to just being reactionary as he was in the past. He doesn't seem to panic and his positional play is beautiful to watch, strong as a bull and more focused on playing hockey now and making smart decisions.

Jackeye this generation’s John Ferguson, Rempe, this generation’s Keith Magnuson!

 

[teamfirst]

Jackeye this generation’s John Ferguson, Rempe, this generation’s Keith Magnuson!

Terry Harper

 

[WeThreeKings]

Leafs radio said Wifi looked like he was "barely an NHLer" when the Habs played the leafs recently. I didn't watch the whole game. Was he that bad or is it just the leaf media coping? They were very negative towards Slaf all year until recently (and kinda avoid talking about him), so I would assume the latter. Also, pretty ironic that they trash talk our D with their core looking as it does lol.

It was cope.. He had like 7 shots on net lol

 

[OldCraig71]

Arber made it to the NHL despite being passed over in the draft several times. The odds that he could do that alone and not spend 3 or 4 years in the AHL waiting for a shot are pretty small. He is looking like the best young defenseman out of the group right now, which can change. I would like to see him with the pp1 group instead of Matheson, even for a few games to see how he looks. His contract ends this summer and how much will he get from Hughes? Any predictions?

 

[HuGo Sham]

It was cope.. He had like 7 shots on net lol

yeah he played well - aside from missing the hit that led to the goal - he made up for it a few minutes later by stopping that 2 on 1. He also neutralized Reaves who didn't do squat and ignored multiple Arber x-checks lol

 

[Matthew McConaughay]

I wonder where Xhekaj would be in a re-draft, if he would have been drafted.

 

[Sorinth]

Arber made it to the NHL despite being passed over in the draft several times. The odds that he could do that alone and not spend 3 or 4 years in the AHL waiting for a shot are pretty small. He is looking like the best young defenseman out of the group right now, which can change. I would like to see him with the pp1 group instead of Matheson, even for a few games to see how he looks. His contract ends this summer and how much will he get from Hughes? Any predictions?

My prediction for contract would be in the Dach/Newhook mold. A medium term contract that will keep him as an RFA when it ends and pays him based on his potential more than his accomplishments.