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Player Discussion Arber Xhekaj: The Sheriff

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KevSkillz4 said:
But I don't want to trade him. Even if a team offer 1st round pick. I'm a big believer of him. I would keep him easily over all names you said.
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Yeah no way I trade Arber for a late first. Would only think about it in a package for a McGroarty/Zegras/Necas
 
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Nothing more irritating than all the talks about trading Xhekaj.

Unless there's something really f***ed up going on, never trade this guy.

Whatever they offer for him, we don't need.

Having a top pugilist who can play will be invaluable in our window.
 
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Zilo44 said:
Yeah no way I trade Arber for a late first. Would only think about it in a package for a McGroarty/Zegras/Necas
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No point in doing that now, if we were forced to take a defenseman at 5, maybe you go that direction.

But now we have Demidov-Suzuki-Caufield-Dach-Slafkovsky-Newhook-Roy. I'm not desperate to get rid of a very valuable playoff style defenseman to get the Zegras and Necas' of the world and the contracts that will come with them. They become the 6th option up front.
 
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BenchBrawl said:
Nothing more irritating than all the talks about trading Xhekaj.

Unless there's something really f***ed up going on, never trade this guy.

Whatever they offer for him, we don't need.

Having a top pugilist who can play will be invaluable in our window.
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Well you hope the shoulder surgery was a success because the guy that ragdolled Kassian was not the guy we saw last year. Either he was completely uninterested in fighting or he didn’t win.
 
le_sean said:
Well you hope the shoulder surgery was a success because the guy that ragdolled Kassian was not the guy we saw last year. Either he was completely uninterested in fighting or he didn’t win.
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He focused on other areas of his game. It was much needed and he looked better, after his AHL stint at least.

Ragdolling Kassian, while fun, isn't the point of this game. It doesn't matter that he didn't fight all the time. He needs to be on the ice to improve his hockey skills.
 
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Sam de Mtl said:
He focused on other areas of his game. It was much needed and he looked better, after his AHL stint at least.

Ragdolling Kassian, while fun, isn't the point of this game. It doesn't matter that he didn't fight all the time. He needs to be on the ice to improve his hockey skills.
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I agree. Fighting it stupid. But as long as it’s part of the game, I prefer having the meanest guy around.
 
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le_sean said:
I agree. Fighting it stupid. But as long as it’s part of the game, I prefer having the meanest guy around.
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Yeah it is a part of his game that I appreciate, but it is especially meaningful if he is also a good hockey player. I like that he improved his discipline in the later part of the season and focused on his hockey instead of boxing.

Xhekaj is still the meanest guy around even if he doesn't fight every game anymore.
 
KevSkillz4 said:
But I don't want to trade him. Even if a team offer 1st round pick. I'm a big believer of him. I would keep him easily over all names you said.
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YUP! Xhekaj is a keeper. Top 4D physical potential and his puck moving is not terrible. Mobility for a guy his size is well above average.

I really like the Mailloux/Xhekaj pairing.

Sam de Mtl said:
He focused on other areas of his game. It was much needed and he looked better, after his AHL stint at least.

Ragdolling Kassian, while fun, isn't the point of this game. It doesn't matter that he didn't fight all the time. He needs to be on the ice to improve his hockey skills.
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I'm sure that was a discussion with MSL and Hughes. Fighting is nice when it's required but can't be his sole focus. Got to focus on what it takes to reach top 4D and be a physical presence. Fighting is secondary.
 
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Habs Halifax said:
YUP! Xhekaj is a keeper. Top 4D physical potential and his puck moving is not terrible. Mobility for a guy his size is well above average.

I really like the Mailloux/Xhekaj pairing.



I'm sure that was a discussion with MSL and Hughes. Fighting is nice when it's required but can't be his sole focus. Got to focus on what it takes to reach top 4D and be a physical presence. Fighting is secondary.
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Especially when you have a guy who can contribute in other areas. Do people really want key players breaking a hand on someone’s helmet and missing 6 weeks? Look what happened to Arber with his shoulder. I’m up for a good fight, but some people are a little too bloodthirsty.
 
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Xhekaj is the kind of guy you only trade in a package for an elite player.

I definately wouldn't trade him for a potential top 6 player or a 1st round.

The thing is though. If fans are afraid of Guhle's injuries, they should be even more worried about Xhekaj's.
 
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Benstheman said:
Xhekaj is the kind of guy you only trade in a package for an elite player.

I definately wouldn't trade him for a potential top 6 player or a 1st round.

The thing is though. If fans are afraid of Guhle's injuries, they should be even more worried about Xhekaj's.
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Agreed. We need our D to mature because we are riding some guys hard due to the youth and lack of maturity. Savard is gone next year so this is a big year for Guhle, Xhekaj, Barron, Mailloux, Reinbacher, Hutson. They are all at different spots but one more year of maturity helps.

Xhekaj is a good one. Might take a while before he matures and is a trusted top 4D though. I like his potential but I see modest growth season/season and look how long it took for someone like Zadorov to mature.
 
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Habs Halifax said:
Agreed. We need our D to mature because we are riding some guys hard due to the youth and lack of maturity. Savard is gone next year so this is a big year for Guhle, Xhekaj, Barron, Mailloux, Reinbacher, Hutson. They are all at different spots but one more year of maturity helps.

Xhekaj is a good one. Might take a while before he matures and is a trusted top 4D though. I like his potential but I see modest growth season/season and look how long it took for someone like Zadorov to mature.
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While Xhekaj is a very tough player I would try and add some toughness on the 4th line. Arber is developing into a good player and you don't want Dmen fighting all that much, they are needed on the ice.
 
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Tyson said:
While Xhekaj is a very tough player I would try and add some toughness on the 4th line. Arber is developing into a good player and you don't want Dmen fighting all that much, they are needed on the ice.
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At some point in the future yes. Today with all the vets we have in the bottom 6? NO. Clutters it up too much. Fighting is cheap and it doesn't really stop players from hitting guys hard. It's nice to watch but overrated.
 
Sam de Mtl said:
Yeah it is a part of his game that I appreciate, but it is especially meaningful if he is also a good hockey player. I like that he improved his discipline in the later part of the season and focused on his hockey instead of boxing.

Xhekaj is still the meanest guy around even if he doesn't fight every game anymore.
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There was a game last year where Evans took a cheap shot and Arber was on the ice and didn’t respond. He’s not the meanest.
 
Habs Halifax said:
At some point in the future yes. Today with all the vets we have in the bottom 6? NO. Clutters it up too much. Fighting is cheap and it doesn't really stop players from hitting guys hard. It's nice to watch but overrated.
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You are not wrong but myself I want to see Xhekaj concentrate on hockey. Some teams still employ goons which is hard to comprehend
 
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Tyson said:
You are not wrong but myself I want to see Xhekaj concentrate on hockey. Some teams still emply goons which is hard to comprehend
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He did in the 2nd half of last season. No doubt in my mind that it was a conversation MSL and Hughes had with Xhekaj (early in the season). Waivers strategy and also allowing him to play more min's was the reason for his Laval time.

I think Xhekaj knows what his focus should be. If he can't comprehend it, it's on him and he becomes a journeyman D type. If he comprehends it well (which I think he will), he has a shot at top 4D.
 
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le_sean said:
There was a game last year where Evans took a cheap shot and Arber was on the ice and didn’t respond. He’s not the meanest.
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When you are confused by what your role is this type of stuff happens. Anyone with a lick of sense saw it by just watching the games.
 
Tyson said:
When you are confused by what your role is this type of stuff happens. Anyone with a lick of sense saw it by just watching the games.
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He seemed to have been told to tone it down. But there are limits to that in my mind. I can’t see the coach punishing him for defending a teammate.
 
le_sean said:
He seemed to have been told to tone it down. But there are limits to that in my mind. I can’t see the coach punishing him for defending a teammate.
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I think he became so confused that he didn't know what to do. Remember he was demoted after healing from a shoulder injury....
 
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