Player Discussion Arber Xhekaj: The Sheriff

[The Last Red]

As predicted, he's back in the lineup tonight.

Lol such a dramatic fanbase its hilarious

He should have played against the Caps. That’s the kind of physical team he should be in tbe lineup for. The Pens are almost as soft as us.

 

[Tyson]

He should have played against the Caps. That’s the kind of physical team he should be in tbe lineup for. The Pens are almost as soft as us.

Logic...pass it on!

 

[417]

He should have played against the Caps. That’s the kind of physical team he should be in tbe lineup for. The Pens are almost as soft as us.

Xhekaj been playing soft so maybe this will help.

 

[Andy]

So does Matheson. And he's never getting better. And neither is Anderson, or Dvorak. So what?? Like what does your response achieve other than spam?

I’m not even gonna even elaborate why Matheson has more rope than Arber.

Matheson, with all his flaws is a far superior Dman to Arber. This is just silly.

Everyone is defender a version of Arber that doesn’t exist. His toughness does not make up for the fact that he just hasn’t been good defensively. And it’s not like he makes up for it by pushing the play offensively.

Right now, he’s a liability on the ice and punching faces doesn’t change that.

It’s the classic thing we see over and over on this board with tougher players. They need to bring more than just their aggressivity.

 

[Tyson]

I’m not even gonna even elaborate why Matheson has more rope than Arber.

Matheson, with all his flaws is a far superior Dman to Arber. This is just silly.

Everyone is defender a version of Arber that doesn’t exist. His toughness does not make up for the fact that he just hasn’t been good defensively. And it’s not like he makes up for it by pushing the play offensively.

Right now, he’s a liability on the ice and punching faces doesn’t change that.

It’s the classic thing we see over and over on this board with tougher players. They need to bring more than just their aggressivity.

Fair enough but maybe you send him down for more development. He hasn't been good.

 

[417]

I’m not even gonna even elaborate why Matheson has more rope than Arber.

Matheson, with all his flaws is a far superior Dman to Arber. This is just silly.

Everyone is defender a version of Arber that doesn’t exist. His toughness does not make up for the fact that he just hasn’t been good defensively. And it’s not like he makes up for it by pushing the play offensively.

Right now, he’s a liability on the ice and punching faces doesn’t change that.

It’s the classic thing we see over and over on this board with tougher players. They need to bring more than just their aggressivity.

Its kind of odd that you have to explain why Matheson and Xhekaj, aren't treated the same.

When Xhekaj, hopefully has near 600 NHL games under his belt, he’ll benefit from the same benefit of the doubt that Matheson has.

Unfortunately for him, just Struble and Barron, he has to being a baseline game, every game to stay in the lineup.

That's why Hutson plays every game, not because he's flawless, but every game he at least brings his “B” game.

There's not large fluctuations in his game.

Its just about being consistent for Xhekaj, play physical when you have the chance, be solid defensively.

That's the bare minimum he needs to do to stay in the lineup every game.

 

[Mrb1p]

This is pretty much business 101 everywhere, good or bad.

Appeal to tradition, let's ask for more.

 

[Kennerback]

The egregious mistakes are baked in the Matheson package. That will never change or improve. He's on the team because he compensates by producing offensively. He helps the team more than he hurts it.

 

[Mrb1p]

The egregious mistakes are baked in the Matheson package. That will never change or improve. He's on the team because he compensates by producing offensively. He helps the team more than he hurts it.

No he does not. He hurts the team offensively and defensively.

The fact he's on pp1 hurts our offense. The fact he's so goddammed horrible defensively hurts the team. The fact he's not a good vet that's held accountable hurts the team. He's a bottom pairing D.

 

[Kennerback]

No he does not. He hurts the team offensively and defensively.

The fact he's on pp1 hurts our offense. The fact he's so goddammed horrible defensively hurts the team. The fact he's not a good vet that's held accountable hurts the team. He's a bottom pairing D.

I think he helps the team more than he hurts us, but you are right that he shouldn't be on PP1 and especially on 5 on 3. The problem is Barron f*** up a lot too with brain cramps. And if you want Xhekaj and others might make poor judments (but for me it's different than brain cramps)..

The equation is simple, Matheson brain cramps + 5 sharp Ds= completely fine. But Matheson Brain cramps + Barron Brain cramps + other poor D decisions= absolute defensive shitshow.

 

[Artaud]

No he does not. He hurts the team offensively and defensively.

The fact he's on pp1 hurts our offense. The fact he's so goddammed horrible defensively hurts the team. The fact he's not a good vet that's held accountable hurts the team. He's a bottom pairing D.

He would be a plus player if only he wasn't asked to fill in a role he isn't meant to fill.

I really think if you give Matheson 2nd pair minutes and put him on the 2nd wave of powerplay, the mistakes would be few and far between.

 

[Mrb1p]

He would be a plus player if only he wasn't asked to fill in a role he isn't meant to fill.

I really think if you give Matheson 2nd pair minutes and put him on the 2nd wave of powerplay, the mistakes would be few and far between.

He's playing 2nd pair minutes this year.
Thanks for proving the point.

The reality is ues never been a 2nd pair D. Hes always been a bottom pair D. We're just so starved for talent that we accept anything

 

[Walksss]

He's playing 2nd pair minutes this year.
Thanks for proving the point.

The reality is ues never been a 2nd pair D. Hes always been a bottom pair D. We're just so starved for talent that we accept anything

He averages 22:56 of ice time per game, the most on the team, thus he is objectively not playing 2nd pairing minutes.

Besides by even any insane metric you can try to conjure up Xhekaj is significantly worse than Matheson, even with all his faults. If X played nearly 23 minutes a night this horrific team would be utterly unwatchable. Maybe you'd like it though but thankfully nobody in real life could possibly agree.

 

[Mrb1p]

I think he helps the team more than he hurts us, but you are right that he shouldn't be on PP1 and especially on 5 on 3. The problem is Barron f*** up a lot too with brain cramps. And if you want Xhekaj and others might make poor judments (but for me it's different than brain cramps)..

The equation is simple, Matheson brain cramps + 5 sharp Ds= completely fine. But Matheson Brain cramps + Barron Brain cramps + other poor D decisions= absolute defensive shitshow.

It's because there's too many pmds.

He averages 22:56 of ice time per game, the most on the team, thus he is objectively not playing 2nd pairing minutes.

Besides by even any insane metric you can try to conjure up Xhekaj is significantly worse than Matheson, even with all his faults. If X played nearly 23 minutes a night this horrific team would be utterly unwatchable. Maybe you'd like it though but thankfully nobody in real life could possibly agree.

 

[Walksss]

It's because there's too many pmds.

You know he plays PP and PK though right? Like, I know you know so this disingenuous argument we're about to get into doesn't need to even start.

At the end of the day Mike Matheson plays the most minutes per night of any Montreal Canadien. I don't need you to turn yourself into a pretzel trying to tell me how that equals a 2nd pairing defenceman.

 

[HabsAddict]

It's not rooocket science...even for the rooocket scientist on HF.

X needs more development OR to play with a veteran so he can learn the finer points of the game and cut down on his mistakes. We do NOT have a Markov or a high quality defensive coach or a system he can learn.

We got SmartyMarty who looks not so smart through every game. He's more concerned about the big picture and soon about his job.

Right now, X is stuck in no mans land and nothing is happening for him...

 

[Mrb1p]

You know he plays PP and PK though right? Like, I know you know so this disingenuous argument we're about to get into doesn't need to even start.

At the end of the day Mike Matheson plays the most minutes per night of any Montreal Canadien. I don't need you to turn yourself into a pretzel trying to tell me how that equals a 2nd pairing defenceman.

The measure of a pairing is at ES/5v5. Not on the PP. Powerplay is easy minutes, it doesn't impact the mistakes he's supposed to not make.

The argument you're making doesn't work because his quality of play wouldn't go up if he somehow got 30 less seconds of powerplay and fell below a second of Guhle/Hutson.

 

[salbutera]

Struble and Barron sucks too and doesnt near the swag Xhekaj brings to the lineup. He should play all game. Nobody has clearly outplayed him.

Xhekaj brings shit to the lineup - pro scouts have figured out he possesses low IQ play reading and subpar lateral mobility. Swag as primarily skillset had value for 4th liners and 3rd pairing Dman 20 years ago .. not anymore

Hughes coached Struble w Boston Jr Eagles and MSL coached against him w MidFairfield - Struble also possesses high end skating / edges which both value… Xhekaj simply doesn’t

 

[HuGort]

Play him against tougher teams for next couple years. Until he matures more. Sit him against the others.

 

[Estimated_Prophet]

There is no question that it was a flubbed pass by X but...there is no question that the center has to cover the slot. It's his job.

Every single goal is a product of a mistake or multiple mistakes.

We do multiples routinely...

The center doesn't cover the slot when his team has possession, it is his job to provide close support as an outlet. The turnover was simply too egregious and happened too quickly for Dvorak to transition from support mode to defend mode.

 

[Hannibal]

Xhekaj brings shit to the lineup - pro scouts have figured out he possesses low IQ play reading and subpar lateral mobility. Swag as primarily skillset had value for 4th liners and 3rd pairing Dman 20 years ago .. not anymore

Hughes coached Struble w Boston Jr Eagles and MSL coached against him w MidFairfield - Struble also possesses high end skating / edges which both value… Xhekaj simply doesn’t

I see a struble fan boy.

Guess what, your boy stink since he’s back. 10 minutes played -2 against washington lol

Struble is dime a dozen dman. Nothing special.

 

[teamfirst]

Xhekaj brings shit to the lineup - pro scouts have figured out he possesses low IQ play reading and subpar lateral mobility. Swag as primarily skillset had value for 4th liners and 3rd pairing Dman 20 years ago .. not anymore

Hughes coached Struble w Boston Jr Eagles and MSL coached against him w MidFairfield - Struble also possesses high end skating / edges which both value… Xhekaj simply doesn’t

Struble as been good his first 10 games last season that's it, really not impress by him

 

[SlafySZN]

I see a struble fan boy.

Guess what, your boy stink since he’s back. 10 minutes played -2 against washington lol

Struble is dime a dozen dman. Nothing special.

When you need to downplay another player instead of telling us your player's qualities and why he needs to be in the line up every game, it's not a good argument.

 

[Twisted Sinister]

Hence why they are rotating.

Teams have pounded us into dust when Xhekaj WAS in the lineup too.
Or maybe you don't recall that whole Laine injury incident?

He murdered that guy, though. Yeah, you can't prevent everything, and Arber isn't the cure-all solution, but he does help. That's why I've been very critical of numerous managements, but this one as well for not making us tougher overall. Getting us some cheap tough players to play on the bottom 6 would have been a good start. There's no reason that a puffball like Armia or Dvorak should be taking up spots on our bottom 6 and there's no reason to trade for a player of Newhook's profile (other than the fact that he's a Quartexx client).

You watch Laval and how they defend themselves vs. the Habs and it's like a whole other universe.

That's just a feeling, not a fact.

He makes YOU FEEL more secure, you have to be kidding to think other teams give a damn if he's there or not.

In the games I've watched, we get less of a beating when he's around.

We in agreement there.

They need to be tougher as a team, he's part of that, but he hasn't been playing tough, so that explains why he's not playing.

Just gonna spitball here a little bit to see what you and other might think:

-Question... Do you think Marty is allowing him to play his game and take the occasional penalty, or do you think he's kneecapping him by punishing him whenever he does?

-I also actually have this kind of weird observation that I don't think a ton of people have made. I find that the Canadiens as a whole, even the bigger guys, seem to be rather weak this year. Anytime they try to make hits or have battles on the boards, it seems they get outmuscled. A good example of this is Guhle. He's a pretty big guy, and I used to watch him obliterate people in Junior... he seems like a kitten right now.

I'm wondering if there's still a strength and conditioning problem with this team. NO ONE seems to be playing tough or big, even the guys that should be.

 

[CHwest]

He would be a plus player if only he wasn't asked to fill in a role he isn't meant to fill.

I really think if you give Matheson 2nd pair minutes and put him on the 2nd wave of powerplay, the mistakes would be few and far between.

Very similar to Brisebois.