Player Discussion Arber Xhekaj: The Sheriff

[HuGo Sham]

The Armenian Assassin is NHL ready or damn close to it.


Wait until he is a couple of years older...there won't be anyone who will want to tangle with him.

I agree with you there. At 23, 24 he could become next lucic. Kid has KO power in fights; that's terrifying

 

[Kennerback]

We need to keep this guy with all his flaws. The good outweighs the bad.We have a team of choirboys. Teams will take runs at all our players.

FYI, Kirby Dach was the player that was hit the most in the NHL last season. Tkachuk will think twice before running him. Jack-Eye’s the only guy that can shut his yap.

 

[The Great Weal]

Sens fans when Xhekaj keeps beating their players in fights:

 

[Matthew McConaughay]

According to the TVA sports commentators, Guhle and Xhekaj, will start the season with the Habs.

 

[Kennerback]

Sens fans when Xhekaj keeps beating their players in fights:

The only guy that was as good as a fighter for the Habs was Laraque, and it was for a short period of time at the tail end of his career. Xhekaj is a better fighter than Nilan. Nilan was our best enforcer because he could fight 3x a night, he always wanted to go, and he was a decent player.

 

[DramaticGloveSave]

Forgetting the toughness/physicality aspect, he’s been pretty solid.

 

[Matthew McConaughay]

Forgetting the toughness/physicality aspect, he’s been pretty solid.

For a guy, that has never been drafted, that's pretty incredible.

 

[HuGo Sham]

The only guy that was as good as a fighter for the Habs was Laraque, and it was for a short period of time at the tail end of his career. Xhekaj is a better fighter than Nilan. Nilan was our best enforcer because he could fight 3x a night, he always wanted to go, and he was a decent player.

Black-eye reminds of BGL a bit too, especially his left hand, - where they both just overpower guys with their punch... Was just watching his fights from he O. he doesn't have many because of the pandemic and I don't think many tested him. Guys will try to tie him up because of his power - like watson did

 

[Kennerback]

Black-eye reminds of BGL a bit too, especially his left hand, - where they both just overpower guys with their punch... Was just watching his fights from he O. he doesn't have many because of the pandemic and I don't think many tested him. Guys will try to tie him up because of his power - like watson did

Where he’s superior to Laraque is when he‘s not fighting he’s still mean and intimidating. Hard hits, face wash, cross checks, slashes, pushes, punches… Not fun to be on the ice against a player like that.

 

[DramaticGloveSave]

For a guy, that has never been drafted, that's pretty incredible.

Ya it’s kind of weird he was so passed over. Great size. Moves decently. Big shot. And obviously has supreme toughness and physicality. We took Tinordi in the mid 1st for that combo. And obviously Arber looks better than Tinordi ever did already.

 

[The Great Weal]

According to the TVA sports commentators, Guhle and Xhekaj, will start the season with the Habs.

Maybe until Edmundson comes back:

Matheson-Harris
Guhle-Savard
Edmundson/Xhekaj-Wideman

 

[Junohockeyfan]

I think he makes the team based on his solid D. The pugilism is just a bonus. He deserves a roster spot out of merit.

 

[DramaticGloveSave]

Where he’s superior to Laraque is when he‘s not fighting he’s still mean and intimidating. Hard hits, face wash, cross checks, slashes, pushes, punches… Not fun to be on the ice against a player like that.

People forget but guys just skated away from Laraque. Not much he could do. Even Lucic ran away from him and Lucic is probably the toughest guy in the NHL right now.

 

[Runner77]

According to the TVA sports commentators, Guhle and Xhekaj, will start the season with the Habs.

We had it before those stooges.

Ya it’s kind of weird he was so passed over. Great size. Moves decently. Big shot. And obviously has supreme toughness and physicality. We took Tinordi in the mid 1st for that combo. And obviously Arber looks better than Tinordi ever did already.

Tinordi face-planted.

Arber, y plante!

 

[morhilane]

Ya it’s kind of weird he was so passed over. Great size. Moves decently. Big shot. And obviously has supreme toughness and physicality. We took Tinordi in the mid 1st for that combo. And obviously Arber looks better than Tinordi ever did already.

He didn't look like that in his draft year and then Covid hit and he didn't play.

 

[salbutera]

For a guy, that has never been drafted, that's pretty incredible.

Hunger does wonders, and obviously has for The Undertaker

 

[Hannibal]

He can really play! Very impressed. Not just there for physical play.

 

[Kennerback]

He can really play! Very impressed. Not just there for physical play.

I’m blown away by this guy, I would have never pegged him to start in the NHL before preseason.

 

[Matthew McConaughay]

He can really play! Very impressed. Not just there for physical play.

They should try him more often on the PP, he's got a very good heavy shot, who else has a better shot than him ?

 

[Habs10Habs]

The only guy that was as good as a fighter for the Habs was Laraque, and it was for a short period of time at the tail end of his career. Xhekaj is a better fighter than Nilan. Nilan was our best enforcer because he could fight 3x a night, he always wanted to go, and he was a decent player.

Woah, pump the brakes lol Xhekaj is a good fighter. But he's yet to fight any true heavy weight. Yet you're already to name him in the same range as Laraque, and a better fighter than Nilan?

Go back and watch some youtube videos of Souray, Brashear, Robinson, Kordic.

Xhekaj may prove to be better once his career is over. But he's not there yet.

 

[MasterD]

Ya it’s kind of weird he was so passed over. Great size. Moves decently. Big shot. And obviously has supreme toughness and physicality. We took Tinordi in the mid 1st for that combo. And obviously Arber looks better than Tinordi ever did already.

I'm not as high on Xhekaj as many here, and I'll admit on a bad night he's better than Tinordi on his best nights. Incredible how he wasn't drafted.

I'm a bit worried that he jumps from the OHL to the NHL and then just stagnates like Cale Fleury did a few years ago, but at this point we need his presence.

 

[admiralcadillac]

Woah, pump the brakes lol Xhekaj is a good fighter. But he's yet to fight any true heavy weight. Yet you're already to name him in the same range as Laraque, and a better fighter than Nilan?

Go back and watch some youtube videos of Souray, Brashear, Robinson, Kordic.

Xhekaj may prove to be better once his career is over. But he's not there yet.

What do you mean true heavyweight? Every guy he's fought is over 210 lbs. Watson is 6'4, Massicotte 6'5.

How many guys in the NHL are larger?

 

[frapp10]

This guy is living rent free in the heads of sens fans on their board lol

 

[Matthew McConaughay]

What do you mean true heavyweight? Every guy he's fought is over 210 lbs. Watson is 6'4, Massicotte 6'5.

How many guys in the NHL are larger?

Just Chara, and he retired, maybe Wilson will be a good test for him.

 

[salbutera]

Woah, pump the brakes lol Xhekaj is a good fighter. But he's yet to fight any true heavy weight. Yet you're already to name him in the same range as Laraque, and a better fighter than Nilan?

Go back and watch some youtube videos of Souray, Brashear, Robinson, Kordic.

Xhekaj may prove to be better once his career is over. But he's not there yet.

Kordic was the best pugilist the Habs ever had and it’s not even close - think early Mike Tyson years. Simply dominant.

Big Bird could throw them & demolish the opponent if needed but he was a key core TOI player