You, in fact, started the contest.
I am hoping his brother joins the team next year......we need more team toughness.
I don't disagree but time and time again we've seen the league is unwilling to apply the rules fairly or evenly, and I'm not talking team bias here which is more conspiracy theory then anything but just general consistency.
Yeah but guys with size who can fight and play hockey aren't really available, they might become moved nearer TDL but until then teams are keeping them. So our choice is go for someone who isn't a good hockey player but can fight, or go with what we have. And I'd rather go with what we have and try to go with the word of day "pack mentality" and hopefully next year F. Xhekaj, Tuch and others progress enough that we have internal options.
It’s unfortunate, but this is the world we live in. I guarantee you the league has taken notice. Arber put a big ol scare in the Sens, and thankfully Stutzle is fine other than the nicked nose his stick got him. But teams will certainly think twice about taking liberties with our stars since they know the payment will be repaid in full. It’s like having nukes. Everyone now knows we’ve got one so don’t f*** with us.
And Wifi knew it.
He is very valuable.
Sure, but picking his specific spot is what he needs to work on. I want him to be someone who can dish out some justice when he needs to, I'm just saying he can't cost us with penalties come regular season. I don't want to see him get hampered with reputation calls. He's got to be like Weber where he makes the officials job easier and they'll let him get away with small front of the net penalties. That's all I'm saying
He's a core role player, for sure
He'd be the first to tell you that picking his moments is something he's working on. But let's not forget this is preseason, this is absolutely the time to take costly penalties and establish your threat level because the games are essentially meaningless. I have no doubt we will see a more in control Xhekaj during the regular season when the games actually matter.
Both were predatory. the Grieg hit was a bigger impact, the optics seem that the Xhekaj hit is worst but it more of a glancing blow and Greig action directly caused Xhekaj reaction… Greig line up Dach for a full 2 second loading for the hit while Dach was already cover by someone else never saw him, Grieg saw he was vulnerable and even with all that time he still when for it having to go out of is way to get him square instead of the nearest shoulder. Xhekaj was the player covering Stutzle he see Xhekaj in front of him (still doesn’t expect to get hit) but Xhekaj doesn’t hit him as square it because one Stutzle see him coming and he also make the decision the decision to hit him later) if Stutzle doesn’t see him and Xhekaj load up and to get him square like Grieg did to Dach Stutzle never get up, even if that was the intent that isn’t what happen… Greig hit is dirtier because he saw Dach was Vulnerable and knew he never saw him coming also there no other event that lead to it. There both dirty hit but Xhekaj hit was retaliation and the angle is a less damaging of an impact and even less contact with the head… even in a vacuum if Greig is 2 minute for interference I can’t see why Xhekaj is 5min for interference + 2min roughing and a game… what I saw this morning from a lot of people seem to act as if Xhekaj was a scumbag and had pulled a Steven elbows on Kariya.. in reality he doesn’t even touch is head…It isn’t stuff you want to see but everyone knows why it happen and everyone knew something was coming.
