Player Discussion Arber Xhekaj: The Sheriff

[Sorinth]

I agree there is a reffing problem, always stems back to the instigator rule. None of this BS happens if they get rid of it. There will be fights, but the days of running around with no worries about getting a beatdown in an important game will be over. The NHL has had a reffing and problem with the rules for decades.

Yeah because we never saw cheap shot artists like Claude Lemieux, or Darius Kasparitis when there was no instigator rule right? The instigator doesn't stop enforcers from beating down opponents who they feel crossed a line which is exactly what we just saw. Hell it's not even enforced most of the time.

The reffing sucks and will always suck so long as refs are being taught that they should let the players play and only get involved to "manage" the game before it gets out of hand. If they ever realize that by not calling a penalty and letting them play they are influencing the game just as much as calling the penalty then we might start to see some competence. Until then the refs might as well have to face the press after each game because the NHL has made them part of the show.

 

[Habs]

Yeah because we never saw cheap shot artists like Claude Lemieux, or Darius Kasparitis when there was no instigator rule right? The instigator doesn't stop enforcers from beating down opponents who they feel crossed a line which is exactly what we just saw. Hell it's not even enforced most of the time.

The reffing sucks and will always suck so long as refs are being taught that they should let the players play and only get involved to "manage" the game before it gets out of hand. If they ever realize that by not calling a penalty and letting them play they are influencing the game just as much as calling the penalty then we might start to see some competence. Until then the refs might as well have to face the press after each game because the NHL has made them part of the show.

Claude's bullshit started after 92 when the instigator rule came into effect. Kasparitis antics also were after the rule was in place. Neither of them would have attempted that before the rule was in place, same for Ulf Samuelsson.

Were there dirty hits before 92? Yup. Did they happen more than once? Rarely, and someone paid the price over and over again

 

[HuGo Sham]

another good quote from MSL...referencing the team and more specifically Arber;

Je ne sais pas ce que les gars ont mangé cet été. Tu n’haïs pas ça, mais tu espères que rien de grave ne va arriver. Il faut être un peu plus mesuré. Mais en même temps, c’est plus facile de retenir ses hommes que de leur dire : "Envoye, j’en veux plus." C’est deux extrêmes. Mais j’aime mieux avoir l’extrême où il faut que je les retienne et qu’on soit un peu plus mesurés [que l’inverse], a dit St-Louis.

 

[sampollock]

So, the Montreal media that's too afraid to ask a tough question is stating this ?

I seen Arpu and couple others. they think maybe.....

 

[Habs]

If you think X is going to be traded, your know nothing about hockey and what X represents to the team.

For non Hab fans and skinny jean crowd read it and run along....

Canadiens happy to have Xhekaj's fight: 'We stand up for one another'

When the Canadiens see Arber Xhekaj do whatever it takes to defend them, they value that more than most people understand. They don't want Xhekaj to change, nor should they.

www.sportsnet.ca

@OldCraig71 they are picking on your Wrangler Jeans again

 

[JianYang]

Claude's bullshit started after 92 when the instigator rule came into effect. Kasparitis antics also were after the rule was in place. Neither of them would have attempted that before the rule was in place, same for Ulf Samuelsson.

Were there dirty hits before 92? Yup. Did they happen more than once? Rarely, and someone paid the price over and over again

Honestly, samuelsson was doing horsecrap things way back as a whaler. Chris nilan would attest to that. Did Claude lemieux ever change? One of my first memories is from the 89 finals how he would just blatantly keep running Mike Vernon.

Ken Linseman was known as the rat and made a living being that in the 80s.

Some of the notorious guys just couldn't help themselves despite the different conditions. I think what has emboldened players these days is that the greasy areas are no longer the trenches that they used to be, so more players willing to go stick their nose in there and do certain things.... the reason for that emoldenment goes well beyond the instigator rule in my opinion and has more to do with the league having much lower tolerance on infractions in general, and retributions are way more scrutinized than ever.

 

[Habs]

Honestly, samuelsson was doing horsecrap things way back as a whaler. Chris nilan would attest to that. Did Claude lemieux ever change? One of my first memories is from the 89 finals how he would just blatantly keep running Mike Vernon.

Ken Linseman was known as the rat and made a living being that in the 80s.

Some of the notorious guys just couldn't help themselves despite the different conditions. I think what has emboldened players these days is that the greasy areas are no longer the trenches that they used to be, so more players willing to go stick their nose in there and do certain things.... the reason for that emoldenment goes well beyond the instigator rule in my opinion and has more to do with the league having much lower tolerance on infractions in general, and retributions are way more scrutinized than ever.

I just find the instigator rule is used as a weapon now as a strategy at times.

 

[Sorinth]

Claude's bullshit started after 92 when the instigator rule came into effect. Kasparitis antics also were after the rule was in place. Neither of them would have attempted that before the rule was in place, same for Ulf Samuelsson.

Were there dirty hits before 92? Yup. Did they happen more than once? Rarely, and someone paid the price over and over again

Umm the instigator rule came in in 76 but was rarely ever called until really 2009 when they put an increased focus on it. It's never been a deterrent, just like fighting has never been a deterrent because you know what, lots of hockey players like to fight so it's going to do zilch in deterring them. Like seriously, you think Xhekaj is ever thinking I better not throw a dirty hit because then I might get in a fight that I will probably win.

Did Bobby Clarke only do one dirty play because he or someone had to pay the price by fighting? No he spent his whole doing dirty plays because he was a dirty player.

If anything increased "dirty" hits, which I'd need to see actual proof that it increased has more to do with the speed of the game and the changing views on what constitutes a dirty hit.

 

[waffledave]

 

[red devil]

https://x.com/i/web/status/1841552662598451364

 

[Habby4Life]

https://x.com/i/web/status/1841552662598451364

Of course Knuckles gets it.

Imagine if this was done during his era. He would have done a lot more damage than Wifi. Knuckles was a warrior.

 

[Rapala]

A non established nhler going after a star in a preseason game is always going to spark a response.

It's one of the most hated things among nhlers, and it's one if those things that is not spoken about but there is an understanding.

It goes beyond non established players.
Pezzetta going very hard at Tavares for example was not appreciated.
Throw that code out the window it no longer exists.

 

[HabsAddict]

Knuckles, Fergy, any number of our tough guys through our looong history would of done a lot more then X.

I just want the guys who drop them to take a few boxing lessons to know how to keep their chin down and pick their spots. Bruising their hands on helmets and visors is a bit dumb. A quick jab will do 100 times more damage....

 

[Twisted Sinister]

Astounding, rather?

Nah bro, you make too much sense for the kumbaya crowd. Let them injure our top guys and we'll just bow, smile and shake their hands.

What they'll do is cry about it and talk about how mean and despicable our opponents are. "How dare that Chris Kreider! This is reprehensible behavior! REPREHENSIBLE!"

 

[Grate n Colorful Oz]

What they'll do is cry about it and talk about how mean and despicable our opponents are. "How dare that Chris Kreider! This is reprehensible behavior! REPREHENSIBLE!"

I love you too buddy

 

[Kennerback]

I seen Arpu and couple others. they think maybe.....

Do they really want to come back to the Tom Kostopoulos, Travis Moen, « team toughness » days? It was just a dream to play against Montreal. The free for all on our star players, the good food and the nightlife. All the troublemakers around the league had us circled on their calendar.

 

[morhilane]

Do they really want to come back to the Tom Kostopoulos, Travis Moen, « team toughness » days? It was just a dream to play against Montreal. The free for all on our star players, the good food and the nightlife. All the troublemakers around the league had us circled on their calendar.

I think it's more that Xhekaj haven't had a good camp at being an actual dmen once you ignore the enforcer part. He's falling on the D depth chart with the new arrivals and only being able to be an enforcer doesn't keep you in the NHL anymore once there is depth to pick from.

 

[1909]

I think it's more that Xhekaj haven't had a good camp at being an actual dmen once you ignore the enforcer part. He's falling on the D depth chart with the new arrivals and only being able to be an enforcer doesn't keep you in the NHL anymore once there is depth to pick from.

Play him upfront on the 4th line LW.

 

[overlords]

Do they really want to come back to the Tom Kostopoulos, Travis Moen, « team toughness » days? It was just a dream to play against Montreal. The free for all on our star players, the good food and the nightlife. All the troublemakers around the league had us circled on their calendar.

sad thing is prime Moen probably f***s up everyone on this team not named Xhekaj. Maybe Struble if he's angry.

 

[Rapala]

sad thing is prime Moen probably f***s up everyone on this team not named Xhekaj. Maybe Struble if he's angry.

I hated Moen he would always fight at the wrong moments and invariably lose most of them.
Instant energy for the opposition.

 

[Tyson]

I hated Moen he would always fight at the wrong moments and invariably lose most of them.
Instant energy for the opposition.

Did you ever see the video of Moen knocking out Shea Weber? It was brutal

 

[Rapala]

Did you ever see the video of Moen knocking out Shea Weber? It was brutal

No my memories are Moen getting beaten by anyone he faced against Boston.

 

[HabsAddict]

X is a top 3 NHL heavyweight, Moen was another Kostopoulos class middleweight.

I would put X in the same class as Nilan and Fergy. In another 3 years or so he will be peak stregnth and probably fight a lot less. I just wish he took a few boxing lessons to drvelop his defense and pick his spots.

 

[JJ68]

X is a top 3 NHL heavyweight, Moen was another Kostopoulos class middleweight.

I would put X in the same class as Nilan and Fergy. In another 3 years or so he will be peak stregnth and probably fight a lot less. I just wish he took a few boxing lessons to drvelop his defense and pick his spots.

X is super strong and tough in todays game....just like Reaves.....but back in the day, look at the way they fight now...compared to then. Moen would be a top tier fighter these days.

Luckily Lucic left the game because he'd be a monster today.

 

[JJ68]

I haven;t been as excited for a season to start since back when we started Parros, Mloen, Tinordi, White, Murray and Prust.