Player Discussion Arber Xhekaj: The Sheriff

[tooji]

The more I think about it, the more he reminds me of Sheldon Souray. Extremely confident in his own abilities to the point of cockiness, a real mean presence on the ice, has a bomb of a shot, and will go out of his way to stick up for a teammate. His teammates will all play a couple of inches taller and 15 lbs heavier with him on the ice.

Souray had a bomb of a shot. How does his offense project

 

[jaffy27]

That immediate skate away after the punch was pretty dope.

As Arber skates away, he looks down at his victim and whispers.....

 

[aresknights]

I posted when he got a tryout he would be easy to cheer for ( even thou he played an hour up the 401 on a rival team lol )
Again posted after the signing knew fans would get on his side n he would be a fan fav.
Yes he is tough SOB but there is so much more to like. Saw him in Minor Midget.....little respect as JrA draft suggested....earns a spot in Kitchener n just keeps improving, forcing more PT year after year.
Guy is flipped mid year, last year to Hamilton n is a force on the OHL champ team.
His progression has been fantastic, steady, consistent and speaks to his work ethic, passion n desire.
A comparison for me is Josh Anderson who came to London as a FA n forced his way onto the team n just kept getting better thru hard work n desire. Undersized minor player who grew, got stronger, more confident and forced success thru will n work ethic.....
Not sure where X ends up but I'm cheering for him. Even if he tops out in the A he will benefit the org. I'm hoping for more and won't bet against the kid

 

[Twisted Sinister]

Watching this guy play just makes my soul happy.

I think he's definitely a better skater than Souray, but I don't know if his offensive upside is a as high. We'll see.

 

[NewDef]

Lol great line on Twitter:
"He might make the team because management might be too scared to tell him he is cut."
Lmao

Lol, that's hilarious!

These kids are all so green. I love that our top prospects have actual elite potential in their area of stregth. Guhle, Slaf, Mesar, Beck, Heineman, Harris, Roy, and Xhekaj. Pretty good all around but top talent in one area making them potential game changers. Be it power forwarding, quality first pass and big body def, faceoff machine, smooth defense with little mistake, killer shot, etc... oh and 'don't f*** with my teammates or else' from the Sherrif. All in due time, still, thrilling...

 

[Scriptor]

He got up quickly, but those knees looked wobbly when he was up....

 

[Scriptor]

Massicotte was punching while afraid. There was nothing in those punches. He looked scared the entire fight.

Yet, he challenged Xhekaj, I believe -- or am I wrong?

I love Jackeye. I'll probably get his sweater when he secures his spot on the big club. He's a mean SOB though with multiple suspensions which is part of why fans throughout the OHL hated him and booed him when he'd touch the puck. I likened his skating away after today's KO punch to a bat flip in baseball.

Habs have been in need of a player with this combination of size, ability, edge, toughness and swagger for years. It's mind boggling that nobody took a shot at him via the draft.

He progressed a lot in just one year. Nobody took a shot at him because he wasn't all that at the time. Getting the contract from Montreal boosted his confidence and might have made a huge difference with him.

 

[HabsCowboysOwn]

Any player who makes Sens fans cry is an instant favorite of mine. The kid can play too, those clowns calling him a talentless goon with no NHL upside whatsoever will sing a different tune soon enough. I love it!

 

[OldCraig71]

That’s an interesting assessment and one that has eluded me. I unfortunately did not watch today’s game.

I wonder what his ceiling might be.

Same way we couldn’t more accurately tell how to rank him as he was too physically imposing in juniors, it is, as many have noted, not a good idea to overly extrapolate from these rookie tournaments.

It certainly bodes well for the upcoming NHL camp but would prefer to reserve judgment until after he’s faced NHLers. As much as I like what he brings, I don’t know that his ceiling is more than a third pairing D. I’d love for him to be more but I just don’t know at this time.

I guess there's no way to really predict how most of these kids will end up. The reality is that most will never become what we hope or project what they will be but I am betting on ole Jackeye lol. I was shocked that the "experts" didn't even list him as one of our good young prospects and even if he ends up becoming a 4-6 defenseman he will be more valuable than others who have filled the role. Think a mix of Odelin, Ludwig and Mike Mcphee if we are to reference former habs, just a hard-nosed honest player that most opposition doesn't like to play against.

 

[Runner77]

I guess there's no way to really predict how most of these kids will end up. The reality is that most will never become what we hope or project what they will be but I am betting on ole Jackeye lol. I was shocked that the "experts" didn't even list him as one of our good young prospects and even if he ends up becoming a 4-6 defenseman he will be more valuable than others who have filled the role. Think a mix of Odelin, Ludwig and Mike Mcphee if we are to reference former habs, just a hard-nosed honest player that most opposition doesn't like to play against.

FWIW, Craig Button was one of those who had positive comments about him. Let’s give him time, others are sure to take notice.

The fact that he’s been so under the radar is also a big reason the Habs were able to have a shot at signing him. So, not standing out to the so-called experts, has actually been a good thing.

 

[Cournoyer12]

I posted when he got a tryout he would be easy to cheer for ( even thou he played an hour up the 401 on a rival team lol )
Again posted after the signing knew fans would get on his side n he would be a fan fav.
Yes he is tough SOB but there is so much more to like. Saw him in Minor Midget.....little respect as JrA draft suggested....earns a spot in Kitchener n just keeps improving, forcing more PT year after year.
Guy is flipped mid year, last year to Hamilton n is a force on the OHL champ team.
His progression has been fantastic, steady, consistent and speaks to his work ethic, passion n desire.
A comparison for me is Josh Anderson who came to London as a FA n forced his way onto the team n just kept getting better thru hard work n desire. Undersized minor player who grew, got stronger, more confident and forced success thru will n work ethic.....
Not sure where X ends up but I'm cheering for him. Even if he tops out in the A he will benefit the org. I'm hoping for more and won't bet against the kid

Don’t mess with that boy’s hands, he may become our “Jethro “!!!!

 

[Habs Halifax]

Bergevin's best last gift he gave us before exiting... Signing this kid!

 

[Runner77]

Jackeye living rent free in Sens fans’ heads already.

I still remember the Gryba hit (referred to by the user responding to the tweet below) and how an Ottawa rag used an oversized pic of Eller bleeding, on its front page, with the title “Sens draw first blood.”

You can’t even tell some Sens fans to stay classy, they wouldn’t know where to begin.

 

[jaffy27]

Une droite fracassante….

I love the french describing fights…

One of my favourites is “il lui a servie toute une correction « lol

 

[jaffy27]

Jackeye living rent free in Sens fans’ heads already.

I still remember the Gryba hit (referred to by the user responding to the tweet below) and how an Ottawa rag used an oversized pic of Eller bleeding, on its front page, with the title “Sens draw first blood.”

You can’t even tell some Sens fans to stay classy, they wouldn’t know where to begin.

Rent free in their heads lol

Oh Runner, you have a way with words

 

[Runner77]

Don’t mess with that boy’s hands, he may become our “Jethro “!!!!

 

[sandviper]

 

[Kimota]

Jackeye living rent free in Sens fans’ heads already.

I still remember the Gryba hit (referred to by the user responding to the tweet below) and how an Ottawa rag used an oversized pic of Eller bleeding, on its front page, with the title “Sens draw first blood.”

You can’t even tell some Sens fans to stay classy, they wouldn’t know where to begin.

OMG what a bunch of crying babies.

 

[Retired]

Tom Wilson’s only 220. I hope they make friends.

edit - woot my 1000’th post! Glad it went to the Sheriff.

 

[Matthew McConaughay]

If someone can put Arber's head, would be great lol.

 

[le_sean]

He microfractured a plug’s face and the cringiest fanbase in the league is acting cringe. A big nothing.

 

[Richard Bolton]

Reading Sens' fans takes is like eating a bowl of lemon zest. Good job Sheriff.

 

[Toene]

Rent free in their heads lol

Oh Runner, you have a way with words

Not to take away from Runner's genius, but it's been a pretty common expression on the internetz for years now :p

 

[That Habs Fan]

I'd be very happy if Xhekaj becomes an Emelin who can fight because he didn't have his face shattered by sucker punches earlier in his career. Looks like that's a safe bet, a bit more offence* would be nice and seems like it's there as well.

*Emelin had some offence in him but was underutilized by our wonderful staff from those years imho, but then again who wasn't.

People expecting a Souray or another top pairing D are setting their sights a little high, not that there's anything wrong with a solid 2nd or even 3rd pairing tough dman.

 

[Matthew McConaughay]

I'd be very happy if Xhekaj becomes an Emelin who can fight because he didn't have his face shattered by sucker punches earlier in his career. Looks like that's a safe bet, a bit more offence* would be nice and seems like it's there as well.

*Emelin had some offence in him but was underutilized by our wonderful staff from those years imho, but then again who wasn't.

People expecting a Souray or another top pairing D are setting their sights a little high, not that there's anything wrong with a solid 2nd or even 3rd pairing tough dman.

He's surprisingly good offensively, when he wants too, and i think he's got the best shot from the blue line of all the rookies, besides Mailloux.