Player Discussion Arber Xhekaj: The Sheriff

[Runner77]

My father who watched hockey for 60 years said that John Ferguson was the toughest Hab ever.
He was pure nasty.

I had mentioned him in my earlier post that I was editing but inadvertently forgot to put him back in.

I only saw replays but man could he bring it. He was a nasty SOB with a huge temper.

 

[Habs10Habs]

Raitiiss Ivanans?

Yes thank you, I was racking my old brain trying to remember.

 

[Kudo Shinichi]

He has to play in the NHL. We need him so other players think twice.

If thats the main reason people want him in the nhl right now, then I hope he starts in Laval. Xhekaj can bring a lot more than just the physical/goon stuff. He should continue to develop the other parts of his game.

 

[YukonCornelius 5thOA]

Raitiiss Ivanans?

Yep, in an exhibition game too, no? Broken cheekbone I think?

 

[Kennerback]

Yeah guys like Souray and Larry rarely fought due to their importance on the ice. So it's easy to overlook them. lol yeah, Larry had a really long fuse.

Kordic had that craziness going for him. I've seen him take shots, and just laugh at his opponent. Plus he could punch with equal power from each hand. He was a very tough fighter to get a read on. You never knew what he was gonna hit you with. You're correct, he didn't have the rep of say a Laraque or Probert. But when those two were at the top. They were each the consensus top heavy weight of their times. You can't put too many fighters from any era with those too.

Brashear was underrated imo while he was in Montreal. He seemed to get noticed a lot more once he left.

lol Asham is the same. He's a good fighter, not quite super heavy weight. But pound for pound fighter like you mentioned. Add Corson here, he was a better fighter than what he's given credit for.

Other names that popped into my mind for the first time in years are Todd Ewen and Mark Hunter… Probably the most courageous but also the worst fighter/enforcer the Habs ever had was Tom Kostopoulos. It’s funny because of tonight on TVA, but the best fighter that never fought was Latendresse and the worst was Max Lapierre.

Probably one of the toughest player was Komisarek. But it made me sad when I saw him fight.

 

[Habs10Habs]

I had mentioned him in my earlier post that I was editing but inadvertently forgot to put him back in.

I only saw replays but man could he bring it. He was a nasty SOB with a huge temper.

Sorry if I'm going OT. The coolest story I've ever heard about a Habs player. The Habs were in Toronto to play the Leafs. Ferguson decided to stop off at a high end restaurant to order a steak. As he's sitting there waiting, he looks up and sees a few Leaf players coming into the restaurant. One of them being Eddie Shack. Disgusted and not waiting to eat with them. He gets up, throw money on the table to pay for his meal, and walks out.

 

[YukonCornelius 5thOA]

Sorry if I'm going OT. The coolest story I've ever heard about a Habs player. The Habs were in Toronto to play the Leafs. Ferguson decided to stop off at a high end restaurant to order a steak. As he's sitting there waiting, he looks up and sees a few Leaf players coming into the restaurant. One of them being Eddie Shack. Disgusted and not waiting to eat with them. He gets up, throw money on the table to pay for his meal, and walks out.

Ever the see the made for CBC movie Net Worth from like 95 I think? Ted Lindsey starting the players union. You just triggered my memory as there are scenes like that where he’s trying to get opposing players on board, but they all hate the f*** out of each other.

 

[Habs10Habs]

Other names that popped into my mind for the first time in years are Todd Ewen and Mark Hunter… Probably the most courageous but also the worst fighter/enforcer the Habs ever had was Tom Kostopoulos. It’s funny because of tonight on TVA, but the best fighter that never fought was Latendresse and the worst was Max Lapierre.

Probably one of the toughest player was Komisarek. But it made me sad when I saw him fight.

Definitely some cool names from the past. I remember Ewen being a solid fighter, not great, but he held his own. M. Hunter was smaller, but he could throw them. Good middle weight fighter. Haha poor Kostopoulous, I loved his resilience, but wow did he ever take a beating.

I can't picture Latendresse fighting. He was a big boy though, so he might have done well. Lapierre, omg how that bastard didn't get his head taken off on a nightly basis lol He has the most punch able face I've ever seen.

Idk about Komisarek. He always came across to me as the big guy in high school who never fought. Because everyone was afraid to fight him. So when he got beat down by Lucic. I really wasn't surprised.

 

[Habs10Habs]

Ever the see the made for CBC movie Net Worth from like 95 I think? Ted Lindsay starting the players union. You just triggered my memory as there are scenes like that where he’s trying to get opposing players on board, but they all hate the f*** out of each other.

Oh yeah, the book and the movie were amazing. It was totally different back then. When I watch sports with my older uncles who are in their 70s and 80s. They're pissed when the see players being friendly with each other. They grew up watching players like Lindsey who couldn't stand their opponents. I remember watching the Vancouver vs Boston finals with a few of them. When Marchand went around licking players. They went bat shit crazy lol All of them saying "Can you imagine if some little runt tried that on Richard?"

 

[Beendair Donedat]

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

I dunno about Kordic being the best ever for the Habs. Nilan was as good as it gets for a much longer time than Kordic. Corson won his way on the team by destroying him (Kordic) in training camp. We also had John Ferguson who was legitimately feared throughout the league for a long time.

I’ve said this before a couple of times but the guy Xhekaj reminds me of the most is Sheldon Souray. A genuinely talented hard nosed defenseman with a booming shot, a guy who can drop you with either hand, the self confidence bordering on but not quite cockiness in his own abilities, and the “you don’t EVER Fùck around with my teammates or you’re getting filled in” mentality.

Another game against the Sens, another Senator getting filled in… I don’t see how you can even think about keeping this kid off the roster. He’s earned the right to start.

 

[Habs10Habs]

If thats the main reason people want him in the nhl right now, then I hope he starts in Laval. Xhekaj can bring a lot more than just the physical/goon stuff. He should continue to develop the other parts of his game.

I agree that he should be allowed to continue to develop the other parts of his game. The physical/goon stuff as you put it, is already a part of his game. It won't simply go away, whether he plays in Laval or Montreal. All I want from him is to continue to get better. While playing a physical game, and looking after his smaller teammates, if needed.

 

[Runner77]

Definitely some cool names from the past. I remember Ewen being a solid fighter, not great, but he held his own. M. Hunter was smaller, but he could throw them. Good middle weight fighter. Haha poor Kostopoulous, I loved his resilience, but wow did he ever take a beating.

I can't picture Latendresse fighting. He was a big boy though, so he might have done well. Lapierre, omg how that bastard didn't get his head taken off on a nightly basis lol He has the most punch able face I've ever seen.

Idk about Komisarek. He always came across to me as the big guy in high school who never fought. Because everyone was afraid to fight him. So when he got beat down by Lucic. I really wasn't surprised.

Komisarek was just big and clunky. He had no fighting ability. I believe that he was never the same after that Lucic beatdown.

 

[WeThreeKings]

What a beauty.. Sens and their fans are literally malding over him

 

[Kennerback]

Komisarek was just big and clunky. He had no fighting ability. I believe that he was never the same after that Lucic beatdown.

Worst beatdown I ever saw a Hab player take was Murray Barron. I think it was against Boston.

 

[YukonCornelius 5thOA]

Oh yeah, the book and the movie were amazing. It was totally different back then. When I watch sports with my older uncles who are in their 70s and 80s. They're pissed when the see players being friendly with each other. They grew up watching players like Lindsey who couldn't stand their opponents. I remember watching the Vancouver vs Boston finals with a few of them. When Marchand went around licking players. They went bat shit crazy lol All of them saying "Can you imagine if some little runt tried that on Richard?"

Hah! I saw it as a teenager and was enamoured with that movie and have romanticized it since then, never thought twice about googling it though. Just ordered the book. Thanks pal!

 

[Kennerback]

I agree that he should be allowed to continue to develop the other parts of his game. The physical/goon stuff as you put it, is already a part of his game. It won't simply go away, whether he plays in Laval or Montreal. All I want from him is to continue to get better. While playing a physical game, and looking after his smaller teammates, if needed.

Unlike many enforcers this guy loves to fight.

 

[Mandala]

If thats the main reason people want him in the nhl right now, then I hope he starts in Laval. Xhekaj can bring a lot more than just the physical/goon stuff. He should continue to develop the other parts of his game.

He brings more to the game offensively as well. I like both sides of his game.

 

[Habs10Habs]

Worst beatdown I ever saw a Hab player take was Murray Barron. I think it was against Boston.

Oh I think it was Troy Mallette who KO'd him. Mallette was playing for the Bruins at the time.

 

[Kennerback]

Oh I think it was Troy Mallette who KO'd him. Mallette was playing for the Bruins at the time.

I like that you found it but it brings nasty flashbacks.

 

[Habs10Habs]

Unlike many enforcers this guy loves to fight.

Yeah you can see he does. Sadly most did it for a pay check. As it was the only way they could stick with an NHL club. With the NHL changing like it has. Xhekaj won't make it on that alone. The good thing is, that isn't his only positive attribute. The kid can play. With some fine tuning, I can see him being a long-time fixture on our defense.

I like that you found it but it brings nasty flashbacks.

Yeah that was even more brutal watching it again right now.

 

[Kennerback]

Yeah you can see he does. Sadly most did it for a pay check. As it was the only way they could stick with an NHL club. With the NHL changing like it has. Xhekaj won't make it on that alone. The good thing is, that isn't his only positive attribute. The kid can play. With some fine tuning, I can see him being a long-time fixture on our defense.


Yeah that was even more brutal watching it again right now.

Yeah he’s like a Lyle Odelein but a better fighter and hopefully a better player too.

 

[Mrb1p]

Oh I think it was Troy Mallette who KO'd him. Mallette was playing for the Bruins at the time.

Its just a punch, Id much rather this than the beatdown Tom Pyatt got in 2011.

 

[frapp10]

Yes thank you, I was racking my old brain trying to remember.

And if I remember correctly chara suckered him after the refs got involved and grabbed Ivanans

 

[Habs10Habs]

Its just a punch, Id much rather this than the beatdown Tom Pyatt got in 2011.

Yeah that was bad. I remember being pissed off that no one would help him.

 

[Runner77]

Yeah you can see he does. Sadly most did it for a pay check. As it was the only way they could stick with an NHL club. With the NHL changing like it has. Xhekaj won't make it on that alone. The good thing is, that isn't his only positive attribute. The kid can play. With some fine tuning, I can see him being a long-time fixture on our defense.


Yeah that was even more brutal watching it again right now.

Speaking of brutal, one of the most unexpected outcomes was the Pierre Bouchard vs. Stan Jonathan fight -- they were both swinging heavily at each other's faces until Jonathan connected more directly and powerfully and Bouchard just fell face first to the ice, and bled profusely. I don't think I ever saw a hockey player as compact as Jonathan being able to take on and dominate opponents with both height and weight advantages. Pound for pound, Jonathan had to be one of the toughest.

I won't post it but it's on YouTube.