Player Discussion Arber Xhekaj: The Sheriff

[FerrisRox]

Eight years is an enormous risk for a guy coming off two shoulder surgeries.

 

[417]

Eight years is an enormous risk for a guy coming off two shoulder surgeries.

Not to mention unnecessary/unlikely.

 

[HabsWhiteKnightLOL]

3.25M will be better on the latter part of an 8-year contract when Montreal looks to keep talent on the roster. Shorttermsavings mean nothing.

Xhekaj will be a playoff warrior. Montreal won't be contending until 2027-2028, when both Gallagher and Anderson are off the books.

Money saved on Xhekaj, along with those two Cap hits off the books will be important regarding the quality of the roster when we are actually contending.

Xhekaj would cost less than Chiarot did for us, as an example, and Xhekaj will have as much of an impact as Chiarot did, at the least.

I just think that im not willing to lay money to every defs we have. There is a reason why our team sucks defensively.
We want to keep Savard Matheson Guhle JackEye Barron , if we want to upgrade we will have to get rid of some players , but I agree JackEye is a good player to stick around (Guhle also) We just need players like Hutson Maillou or Popcorn dude to make it to the big league.

Id go 4-6 years with the money u said and i would be fine with that. JackEye aint the problem on this team. Wish we had another one to have a beefy heavy duo , been a while since we had one.

 

[Rapala]

I was really enjoying Arber's game before he got hurt again. The one defender we have who knows what holding a line is supposed to look like.
He was definitely starting to look like a top four defender with Guhle playing that right side. He's only going get better IMO. I love when he lets the game come to him instead of chasing it. That's actually hard to do with the man vs man approach we seem to embrace.

 

[yianik]

Two years at $2.5M. By then we know what he is and can sign him for 8 years at whatever is warranted. Although if he is a bottom pairing guy he isn't getting 8 years.

 

[CristianoRonaldo]

Eight years?

But he's big and can fight...

Habs fans are getting crazy with size and toughness...

 

[Retired]

He has better underlying defensive stats than any other Hab D last season. Playing with other Ds, their stats also improved.

Defensive abilities somewhat lacking is only an impression you have -- why, nobody knows -- but to isn't really supported by any metrics.

I'd sign Xhekaj for 8 years at 3.5M. In the 2nd half of that contract, the salary will be a HUGE bargain, even for a 3rd pairing D if he's not a useless 3rd pairing D -- which he won't be.

If Hughes can get him signed to 3.125M -- for a tidy 25M payday -- even better!

8 year deal for a broken lhd on a team with so many they play Guhle on the right… I’d wait and sort that out first, we’re not talking a top4 guy here (so far anyway).

 

[Nova_Scotia_Vees]

Guhle and Arber that have been injured in their young careers. They are still growing into their frame. Bet on both for long careers with The Habs!

 

[BLONG7]

I would think that Hughes has a couple of options on the table for The Sherriff....
Personally for me, 2 years is the way to go to make sure the shoulders are ok going forward, and then a 5-6 year deal.....
The guy and his family love Montreal, and his brother is also coming fairly soon, so no way do we have any trouble signing him.

 

[Deebs]

I would think that Hughes has a couple of options on the table for The Sherriff....
Personally for me, 2 years is the way to go to make sure the shoulders are ok going forward, and then a 5-6 year deal.....
The guy and his family love Montreal, and his brother is also coming fairly soon, so no way do we have any trouble signing him.

I'm good with a couple of years. These guys talking 8 years are bananas lol

 

[Pat Riot]

4 years at 2,5 millions for Xhekaj would be my offer

 

[habsterr]

6 years x $3.25
Have faith in Xhekaj, he brings what a blue should be.

 

[Sorinth]

4-6 years would be my preference. But if it does end up more then 2 years I doubt it will be for as low a cap hit as many ate proposing.

 

[ryan callahan]

If a team wants to overpay for him like Isles did with Romanov we should jump at the opportunity. Sell high on the hype.

 

[Redux91]

If a team wants to overpay for him like Isles did with Romanov we should jump at the opportunity. Sell high on the hype.

Tho I absolutely hate to quote him but..

There are players that get you *to* the playoffs,
There are players that get you *through* the playoffs.

 

[ryan callahan]

Tho I absolutely hate to quote him but..

There are players that get you *to* the playoffs,
There are players that get you *through* the playoffs.

Quick we better get Chiarot and Edmundson back then.

 

[Redux91]

Quick we better get Chiarot and Edmundson back then.

You mean 2 of the 4 huge D we had that helped us get to the Stanley Cup final...?
Lol uh great retort...

And Xhekaj has a chance to be better than both

 

[ryan callahan]

You mean 2 of the 4 huge D we had that helped us get to the Stanley Cup final...?
Lol uh great retort...

And Xhekaj has a chance to be better than both

Edmundson did everything in his power to give that round 1 series to the Leafs. We got there despite him. And if you think Chiarot is anything more than an overhyped 4 or 5 you are kidding yourself. He is singlehandedly killing Seider's development by being stapled to him.

 

[Habsrule]

Give him a three year bridge deal. Take him almost up to UFA status.

3 years at 2.5-3 million a year.

If his shoulders hold up then give him a solid payday after that.

 

[Redux91]

Edmundson did everything in his power to give that round 1 series to the Leafs. We got there despite him. And if you think Chiarot is anything more than an overhyped 4 or 5 you are kidding yourself. He is singlehandedly killing Seider's development by being stapled to him.

Thats great dude, theyre size was still felt and a huge reason we got that far

And your replacement for Xhekaj instead is...?

 

[Habs Halifax]

3.25M will be better on the latter part of an 8-year contract when Montreal looks to keep talent on the roster. Shorttermsavings mean nothing.

Xhekaj will be a playoff warrior. Montreal won't be contending until 2027-2028, when both Gallagher and Anderson are off the books.

Money saved on Xhekaj, along with those two Cap hits off the books will be important regarding the quality of the roster when we are actually contending.

Xhekaj would cost less than Chiarot did for us, as an example, and Xhekaj will have as much of an impact as Chiarot did, at the least.

Hard to say what kind of AAV Xhekaj would take for 8 years. Doubt he is willing to take $3.25M.

I think both sides will agree the bridge contact is the best approach. Habs won't want to touch the $4M-$5M 8 year AAV and therefore, they also prefer the bridge.

 

[overlords]

3x 2.25-2.5 please and thank you.

 

[Simarino]

i dont understand how knowledgeable habs fan can watch these playoffs and think it would be a good idea to trade Xhekaj!! Its a bloodbath out there!! freaking Zadarov was one of the Canucks most important player!! Xhekaj is gonna be a huge part of the team success come playoff time!!

 

[Gaylord Q Tinkledink]

i dont understand how knowledgeable habs fan can watch these playoffs and think it would be a good idea to trade Xhekaj!! Its a bloodbath out there!! freaking Zadarov was one of the Canucks most important player!! Xhekaj is gonna be a huge part of the team success come playoff time!!

Soft people want a soft team.

 

[Tyson]

Soft people want a soft team.

While the game has changed the intimidation factor is as high as it's ever been. Guys like Reaves and Rempe are in and out of the line up and play 6 minutes a game whereas a guy like Xhekaj can be trusted to play 15-17 minutes per game, that's huge.