Player Discussion Arber Xhekaj: The Sheriff

[Hannibal]

He’s rock solid.

 

[HabsAddict]

X 19:18 second highest in season and just a bit behind Savard.

Savard 19:48

Barron 16:59

Hutson 25:29

Struble 12:14

Guhle 24:39

X is steady and keeps it simple. I just want him to unleash the canon!

This should be a lesson to those who whine about Mailman and getting better at defense. Give him till Xmas in the AHL then bring him up to polish his defensive reads against the fastest. Some people want to forget how young these guys are...and learning.

 

[Tyson]

He is starting to earn the coach's trust, good for him.

 

[morhilane]

X is steady and keeps it simple. I just want him to unleash the canon!

He's shooting a lot lately.
He's also missing the net a lot lately.

 

[Tyson]

He's shooting a lot lately.
He's also missing the net a lot lately.

He is involved though!

 

[Hannibal]

He’s probably our best player to defend around our net. Tourigny kind of acknoledge it on the radio the other day.

I’m so happy that he found his game back.

 

[Demigod]

I think it proves that MSL was not hating on Xhekaj. He was playing like shit for a long time and MSL was coaching him to be a better defensman.

Its easy to forget but this guy was never drafted. He was working at Cotsco and he was far from having a shot at professionnal hockey.

Next thing you know he's a defensman in the NHL playing for a historical club being a fan favorite and getting the big paycheck. Im sure he believe that he was untouchable at this point, and its normal.

I think Martin St Louis was hard on him because if he wants to have a long career in the NHL he needs more than just being a tough guy and he have all the tools to be a good hockey player. All that time when he was bench or was playing less was because MSL was not satisfied by his play, and I got to say it he was right. Xhekaj start to play under his limits and he's way more efficient. Im not afraid that his offensive sense and toughness will be there but now he's working on being reliable so he's not harmful to the team.

I hope he continue to develop like this and improve on the defensive side. Its the only way I see him being a Habs for a long time. Establishing himself as a big hard defensive dman with huge shoots and able to drop the glove when needed

 

[417]

Yeah the MSL hates Xhekaj and doesn't want him to play physical narrative was pure fan/media fabrication.

He's settled down his game while still maintaining his intimidating and physical presence, it's a fine balance and he needed to find it.

He's so valuable on the ice, he needs to continue to play his game and stop listening to people who just want him to fight so they can be entertained.

 

[Pompeius Magnus]

He really needed to get his physical game back, that's his bread and butter and it elevates all the other parts of his game. He's looking much more like himself now and he's being a factor again.

 

[Leto]

Yeah the MSL hates Xhekaj and doesn't want him to play physical narrative was pure fan/media fabrication.

He's settled down his game while still maintaining his intimidating and physical presence, it's a fine balance and he needed to find it.

He's so valuable on the ice, he needs to continue to play his game and stop listening to people who just want him to fight so they can be entertained.

A fine balance that he managed to find despite being blatantly targeted by the referees. Hopefully, the Habs can add a heavyweight on the 4th line to do part of the dirty work. As you said, a 6'4 240lbs mobile defenseman is far more valuable on the ice than in the penalty box.​

 

[dackelljuneaubulis02]

Huge relief he’s finding his game. Would’ve been an enormous loss had he didn’t.

Gotta be patient with the kids. Development much of the time isn’t linear.
Lot of 2 steps forward one step back.

 

[Trabdy2]

Really noticeable improvement between the first 5 games of the year and the last 5 games for Arber. Much more sound defensively and his play merits a continued spot in the lineup.

 

[HabsAddict]

One thing i noticed...

Late in the third there was a rush coming at us and X pointed his stick at one of their players.

That put a giant smile on my face! A scene out of Gladiator opening!

It takes confidence at another level when X all of a sudden is Ice Commender....or is it X Commender?

I remember when Markov use to do that and they started to call him "The General".

I always thought that the natural pairings were Guhle/Mailman but if X keeps improving he's going to make my dream of The Darth Duo a reality.

The Darth Duo vs the HuG Duo?

Sorry, that's the best i can do!

(I need stronger meds...)

 

[HabsAddict]

X...he's getting ridiculously better where now he's better then Savard and top 4. He's also starting on the 1st PK. Don't be suprised if he's better then Guhle by years end. Again he pulled the Ice General routine which means a LOT. He's seeing the ice instead of only his game.

So many people had written him off as an barely NHL 7th defenseman that can fight, yet he's getting better every game.

He's proving me right that he needed development and everybody who laughed at me when I said he may develop into Chara lite...let's talk by the end of next season.

 

[BozoTheClown]

Yeah the MSL hates Xhekaj and doesn't want him to play physical narrative was pure fan/media fabrication.

He's settled down his game while still maintaining his intimidating and physical presence, it's a fine balance and he needed to find it.

He's so valuable on the ice, he needs to continue to play his game and stop listening to people who just want him to fight so they can be entertained.

They somehow need to find someone that can play on the 4th line capable of taking care of business on this team other than Xhekaj. He’s too valuable to be the only one dropping them.

Chara fought when needed, but there were other guys doing it more often.

 

[LaP]

Not sure if i'm alone but i think he is playing better lately. I think he'll be fine at worst a quality 3rd pairing dman he's still young and inexperienced people forget that he's not a high skill player drafted in the top 60 he'll take time to learn. I think he simplified his game lately he's not looking for the big boom or the fight but he's applying solid hits that make sense and doesn't put him out of play.

 

[Hannibal]

He’s playing the best hockey of his young career.

Many here were ready to ship him or put him on the fourth line.

He’ll be the perfect third line pair dman to have moving forward. He’ll be essential in playoffs.

 

[Gaud]

You do not touch this guy. He's an untouchable for me because he's never going to make to much. He's never going to cost you too much on the ice. But he,s always gonig to be there if needed. People should look at championship teams and see that the No6 d-man might very well Arber. And especially even more when he improves 'cause he's not done.

Keep the guy. Play him. Shelter him if you have to. But keep him in the lineup.

Well i'd argue that he has (and has the potential to) hurt you on the ice. The guy is a stud! but there was a stretch there where he was getting in fights, getting extra 2 mins on his fighting majors and maybe even getting thrown out. This is a bigger deal with defensemen because there are only 6-7 of them compared to forwars being 12-13.

In one of those cases, another D was hit from behind ( Guhle? i forget) and had to leave, and then he jumps the guy from behind and gets himself thrown out. That meant Mtl had to play the rest of the game short on D. If you went in that game with 6 D, you suddenly play your top pairing at least 50 percent of the game. Not to mention that ideally, your third pairing would play on D missions like penalty kills and Wifi is the gone getting the penalties here.

That being said, he has definitely been playing hockey, focusing on physicality and not violence. I like what I see from him, currently. This is exactly what the habs would need from him in the playoffs.

 

[dauv]

They somehow need to find someone that can play on the 4th line capable of taking care of business on this team other than Xhekaj. He’s too valuable to be the only one dropping them.

Chara fought when needed, but there were other guys doing it more often.

pretty sure they will make a play for mathieu olivier to take care of this in the off season

 

[Andy]

Arber has been fantastic for a while now. Much more consistent and much better decision making.

Fans feel like the coaching staff was harsh on him, but I think he needed some tough love. He's looking great out there.

 

[Tyson]

pretty sure they will make a play for mathieu olivier to take care of this in the off season

Columbus is working on an extension for Olivier. I highly doubt he makes it to UFA

 

[rik schau]

I suppose it coincides with the last time I visited this site and responding to what I haven't seen yet, so what? at least I have the decency to acknowledge correspondence. You saying it's been that long since I've visited,did you manage to unstick that stick you have?lol

 

[dackelljuneaubulis02]

I suppose it coincides with the last time I visited this site and responding to what I haven't seen yet, so what? at least I have the decency to acknowledge correspondence. You saying it's been that long since I've visited,did you manage to unstick that stick you have?lol

You talking to anyone in particular or…?

 

[WeThreeKings]

Told you all the organization and coach didn't hate him or his toughness. He wasn't playing well and now he is and he's not coming out of the lineup and keeps being given more.

 

[Tyson]

Told you all the organization and coach didn't hate him or his toughness. He wasn't playing well and now he is and he's not coming out of the lineup and keeps being given more.

Yep the development of players can be an adventure to watch