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Player Discussion Arber Xhekaj: The Sheriff

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This guy will 100% have a spot on our blue line moving forward. Next to Barron, Guhle, Mailloux and Hutson.

Our prospect pool on D is ultra-deep
 
I think expectations need to be tempered a little bit. He's among the oldest guys playing against some young ones. Would be awesome if he pans out, but let's see him against some more developed players.
 
lillypad33 said:
I think expectations need to be tempered a little bit. He's among the oldest guys playing against some young ones. Would be awesome if he pans out, but let's see him against some more developed players.
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He looked good against NHL players last pre-season, that's why he got a contract with us.
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lillypad33 said:
I think expectations need to be tempered a little bit. He's among the oldest guys playing against some young ones. Would be awesome if he pans out, but let's see him against some more developed players.
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I mean most people seem to think he'll be in the 4-6 range. Which is reasonable imo. He will almost certainly have an NHL career because of his size and nastiness.

Beards with Fists so to speak will always have a place as long as hitting is allowed.
 
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lillypad33 said:
I think expectations need to be tempered a little bit. He's among the oldest guys playing against some young ones. Would be awesome if he pans out, but let's see him against some more developed players.
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Think he needs some AHL time for sure, but I'm hopeful. I don't see huge weaknesses in his game that would hinder an eventual transition to the NHL.
 
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Twisted Sinister said:
Think he needs some AHL time for sure, but I'm hopeful. I don't see huge weaknesses in his game that would hinder an eventual transition to the NHL.
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I had the same opinion that poster held last year when we signed him but he's come a long way skating and offense wise. This isn't just a big oaf out there. He gets around the ice really well.
 
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rahad said:
We don't have a elite Number one defensemen. But, we do have a good prospect pool in the D.
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It seems Mailloux has a slim chance to be a number 1. He has the size, skating, shot, and 2 way skill set. We just have to wait to see how well he can process the game offensively and defensively at the AHL level.

But I'm sure hugo are still on the lookout for a number 1 D, Number 1 goalie, and a number 2 C.
 
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WeThreeKings said:
I had the same opinion that poster held last year when we signed him but he's come a long way skating and offense wise. This isn't just a big oaf out there. He gets around the ice really well.
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I agree. I'm actually kind of shocked at how much he's improved in the last year, especially on the offensive side of things. I wasn't expecting it.
 
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SuzukiSZN said:
Hutson if he grows
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That's a long shot. Mailloux is a more secure asset for now. But sure, Hutson has the skills, no one can deny that.

WeThreeKings said:
Eh.. I don't think many people here have watched him actually play defense. He's got a lot, like a lot, of work to do defensively.
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Easier to learn than what he has. But yeah, NHL history is full of toolsy defensemen who couldn't put it together. I'm cautiously optimistic.
 
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26Mats said:
It seems Mailloux has a slim chance to be a number 1. He has the size, skating, shot, and 2 way skill set. We just have to wait to see how well he can process the game offensively and defensively at the AHL level.

But I'm sure hugo are still on the lookout for a number 1 D, Number 1 goalie, and a number 2 C.
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We are going to draft our number 1 center/winger in the 2023 draft. Same for goalie. Don't see any elite #1 D in the top 3-5 in the 2023 draft.

Maybe with the 2024-2025 draft , we will draft our number 1 D.
 
rahad said:
We are going to draft our number 1 center/winger in the 2023 draft. Same for goalie. Don't see any elite #1 D in the top 3-5 in the 2023 draft.

Maybe with the 2024-2025 draft , we will draft our number 1 D.
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I think HuGo will.focus on best available talent throughout the draft, may be take shots at high upside areas of need like they did with Hutson here and there. Although hard to argue he wasn't BPA where he was drafted.
 
lillypad33 said:
I think expectations need to be tempered a little bit. He's among the oldest guys playing against some young ones. Would be awesome if he pans out, but let's see him against some more developed players.
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I think Arber won't care, if the guy is 18 or 25, he just wants to destroy, he's a beast, and not only he can destroy, he's good offensively too, and has a very good shot, they should try him on the PP.
 
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Twisted Sinister said:
I really liked his game yesterday. Most visible D for sure, with more attempted offense than one would expect. Barron and Harris were kind of meh in comparison.
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Jack-Eye played with the shrimp D with the offensive style and had to keep a more stay-at-home style of play as a result.

Love what I saw of the Beast and really think he has a distinct presence, in a good way.
 
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