Player Discussion Arber Xhekaj: The Sheriff

[Andy]

I just want MSL to show anger at other players than Xhekaj. Struble been shit since a long time and he still is the teacher’s pet. Always gushing over him in presser.

Just want MSL to continue to give some slacks to Arber. And be equally hard on players.

Wasn't Struble recently healthy scratched? I think folks are being sensitive and reading into things because the coach doesn't think their favorite player is as good as their fanboys think they are.

 

[The Real Timo]

What anger did he show to Xhekaj?

It's funny, now that Xhekaj is playing every game, the media has suddenly stopped asking MSL questions about Xhekaj after every game and every practice.

Funny indeed. MSL had a epiphany... Arbs is a solid bottom pairing dman.

 

[OldCraig71]

What anger did he show to Xhekaj?

It's funny, now that Xhekaj is playing every game, the media has suddenly stopped asking MSL questions about Xhekaj after every game and every practice.

It's equally possible that MSL is learning as much on the job as Arber is. As a coach, he might be realizing how to handle the player in a way that gets better results. He may have learned as much from his own mistakes as Arber Xhekaj has learned from his.

 

[HabsAddict]

I'm confused as all heck with our defensive pairings.

I'm following X closer then most so I'm expecting to see him with Savard, but here are his in game partners...per shift

1st period
X...savard
X...Matheson
X...struble/Matheson
X...struble
X...savard
X...savard
X...Barron

2nd period
X...savard
X...savard
X...Matheson
X...Barron

3rd period
X...7 shifts and played with everybody but Hutson and the Zamboni driver.

I'm confused. Yes I am. Particularly Matheson and X. I deleted the game but now I want to go back and see who was playing right and left.

And of course we had last change so who everybody plays with is in SMartys hand.

As a former manager/owner in manufacturing I'm a big proponent of cross training and now i wonder...is SMarty trying to train players as individuals that can play with anybody on any side? We have to wait to see if this is the norm and if it is, I'm stunned.


This some kind of 7d Chess...

 

[417]

Funny indeed. MSL had a epiphany... Arbs is a solid bottom pairing dman.

Nailed it.

It's equally possible that MSL is learning as much on the job as Arber is. As a coach, he might be realizing how to handle the player in a way that gets better results. He may have learned as much from his own mistakes as Arber Xhekaj has learned from his.

Maybe Arber was just playing like ass, so he wasn't in the lineup regularly, and now he isn't, so he is.

Sometimes we read too much into things, not saying you, but Arber’s a young Dman, he's not shielded from being a healthy scratch when he's not playing well anymore or anyless than any other young Dman on this roster.

If Hutson starts to play like crap and gets away from what makes him an effective player, he’ll get benched too.

 

[Tyson]

It's equally possible that MSL is learning as much on the job as Arber is. As a coach, he might be realizing how to handle the player in a way that gets better results. He may have learned as much from his own mistakes as Arber Xhekaj has learned from his.

Well said, great point

 

[morhilane]

I'm confused as all heck with our defensive pairings.

I'm following X closer then most so I'm expecting to see him with Savard, but here are his in game partners...per shift

1st period
X...savard
X...Matheson
X...struble/Matheson
X...struble
X...savard
X...savard
X...Barron

2nd period
X...savard
X...savard
X...Matheson
X...Barron

3rd period
X...7 shifts and played with everybody but Hutson and the Zamboni driver.

I'm confused. Yes I am. Particularly Matheson and X. I deleted the game but now I want to go back and see who was playing right and left.

And of course we had last change so who everybody plays with is in SMartys hand.

As a former manager/owner in manufacturing I'm a big proponent of cross training and now i wonder...is SMarty trying to train players as individuals that can play with anybody on any side? We have to wait to see if this is the norm and if it is, I'm stunned.


This some kind of 7d Chess...

The "random" D pairs thing has been happening for a while now. It's not just X either.

 

[HabsAddict]

The "random" D pairs thing has been happening for a while now. It's not just X either.

I watched the game on the French channel and it started to be confusing as to who was playing with who. Then it was much clearer when i looked at the playing log.

It may be going on for a while and i haven't noticed. I mostly record games and delete them if we are blown out so i haven't seen all the games. Now I'm going to look for this random pairing.

Like i said, if this is a deliberate attempt to make all the defenseman rocket scientist...and it works...I'm gladly going to eat crow for critisizing SMarty.

If not...well...it ain't easy. In my world, it cost money to cross train but the results were a huge benefit when i needed them.

 

[Tyson]

The pairing of Savard with Xhekaj needs to be permanent through the foreseeable future.

 

[morhilane]

I watched the game on the French channel and it started to be confusing as to who was playing with who. Then it was much clearer when i looked at the playing log.

It may be going on for a while and i haven't noticed. I mostly record games and delete them if we are blown out so i haven't seen all the games. Now I'm going to look for this random pairing.

Like i said, if this is a deliberate attempt to make all the defenseman rocket scientist...and it works...I'm gladly going to eat crow for critisizing SMarty.

If not...well...it ain't easy. In my world, it cost money to cross train but the results were a huge benefit when i needed them.

I think it's more that the Ds are micro-managed since the right side is weak.

 

[OldCraig71]

Nailed it.


Maybe Arber was just playing like ass, so he wasn't in the lineup regularly, and now he isn't, so he is.

Sometimes we read too much into things, not saying you, but Arber’s a young Dman, he's not shielded from being a healthy scratch when he's not playing well anymore or anyless than any other young Dman on this roster.

If Hutson starts to play like crap and gets away from what makes him an effective player, he’ll get benched too.

I agree with what you are saying but you ignored the part about MSL learning on the job as much as his young players are. The most productive way to have discussions is to have a point of view but also be willing to accept the views of others as valid and acknowledge them. I always try to do that here.

 

[417]

I agree with what you are saying but you ignored the part about MSL learning on the job as much as his young players are. The most productive way to have discussions is to have a point of view but also be willing to accept the views of others as valid and acknowledge them. I always try to do that here.

Well it kind of goes without saying that he's learning on the job but this isn't one of the instances, IMO, where MSL lack of experience played a factor in Xhekaj being in and out of the lineup earlier this season.

He's was in and out because he wasn't playing well and his popularity amongst fans, doesn't shield him from that the same way it does for Suzuki or Caufield.

I accepted your point of view just fine, it was more of a general comment and I made sure to say that I wasn't necessarily applying that comment to you.

All good my man

 

[Heffyhoof]

Wasn't Struble recently healthy scratched? I think folks are being sensitive and reading into things because the coach doesn't think their favorite player is as good as their fanboys think they are.

The constant need to denigrate everyone who disagrees with management or coaching makes me think you might be a fanboy for the worst part of the team.

 

[Rapala]

It's equally possible that MSL is learning as much on the job as Arber is. As a coach, he might be realizing how to handle the player in a way that gets better results. He may have learned as much from his own mistakes as Arber Xhekaj has learned from his.

I think he's secretly lurking and using some of our suggestions.

Gee how should we use Arber?
Chasing people around the world or standing up at the blue lines boxing players out and cleaning up the net front?

As far as questions go this is a fairly easy one.

 

[Rapala]

I watched the game on the French channel and it started to be confusing as to who was playing with who. Then it was much clearer when i looked at the playing log.

It may be going on for a while and i haven't noticed. I mostly record games and delete them if we are blown out so i haven't seen all the games. Now I'm going to look for this random pairing.

Like i said, if this is a deliberate attempt to make all the defenseman rocket scientist...and it works...I'm gladly going to eat crow for critisizing SMarty.

If not...well...it ain't easy. In my world, it cost money to cross train but the results were a huge benefit when i needed them.

They were making more of a concerted effort to get Hutson on with Suzuki's line that much I did notice.
But the pairings have always got mixed and inverted at times I've often wondered if Robidas suffers from dyslexia.

 

[Andy]

The constant need to denigrate everyone who disagrees with management or coaching makes me think you might be a fanboy for the worst part of the team.

You're not a fanboy because you disagree with management. You are fanboy because you thought Arber was playing well enough to be a consistent fixture in the lineup. Not only that, you then thought St. Louis was treating Arber badly because he was holding him accountable for his poor play.

 

[red devil]

On the Basu and Godin podcast they mentioned that Adam Nicholas has been showing video of Brandon Dillon. One main take away that Xhekaj mentioned while watching Dillon is not only he is physical but he always tries to get his stick on the puck first. Then if you miss with your stick getting the puck then you physically finish the hit.

 

[BozoTheClown]

On the Basu and Godin podcast they mentioned that Adam Nicholas has been showing video of Brandon Dillon. One main take away that Xhekaj mentioned while watching Dillon is not only he is physical but he always tries to get his stick on the puck first. Then if you miss with your stick getting the puck then you physically finish the hit.

Sometimes you have to go back teaching the basics. That’s exactly what I was told why I played my first bantam elite season. Keep you eyes on the guys hips while trying to knock the puck over and if this fail, use your body.

 

[Habssince89]

MSL hasn't done anything wrong with this handling of X.

Glad to see that he is focusing on playing the game instead of proving he's the toughest guy in the league. The fights will come, but he needs to approach the game like Weber. He won't be as good of course, but Weber was good at policing things without having to drop them or distract from the game itself. Crazy to think how young this guy is, too. If he grows wise in decision making and hockey IQ by the time he's 26-29 he's going to be a very solid #4D.

 

[HuGort]

Wifi one of those guys who just keeps improving

 

[Guy Larose]

MSL hasn't done anything wrong with this handling of X.

Glad to see that he is focusing on playing the game instead of proving he's the toughest guy in the league. The fights will come, but he needs to approach the game like Weber. He won't be as good of course, but Weber was good at policing things without having to drop them or distract from the game itself. Crazy to think how young this guy is, too. If he grows wise in decision making and hockey IQ by the time he's 26-29 he's going to be a very solid #4D.

Not true, HF told me MSL hates him and I believe HF over anybody else.

 

[Bouboumaster]

He's currently playing a solid game

 

[SnapVirus]

My favourite Habs with Lane Hutson.

I think he should be playing more. Specially on PP. he has a 108mph shot that could break legs. Souray made a career out of it and we are missing a big slapshot on our PP.

Im not a fan of Matheson, never have been. And I think he is playing too much. Should see his minutes drops down a little and Xhekaj should have more responsabilities

 

[Hannibal]

Played a good game. One of the few. Finished -2 but wasn’t to blame on any of them.

 

[WeThreeKings]

Played a good game. One of the few. Finished -2 but wasn’t to blame on any of them.

Was probably the best defenseman for the Habs last night.