Player Discussion Arber Xhekaj: The Sheriff

[Deebs]

It's fun to have a guy who is very tough, but I would prefer Arber try to emulate Larry Robinson's style of game than Bob Probert's.

Since he won't be either, I just hope he continues to improve and play his own game ...whatever that ends up being.

 

[BaseballCoach]

Since he won't be either, I just hope he continues to improve and play his own game ...whatever that ends up being.

I said STYLE = i.e. a Hockey player first, not a guy who fights every second game.

 

[DAChampion]

Is Kassian still alive?

 

[BaseballCoach]

Is Kassian still alive?

If Arber has a broken hand, was it worth it? Imagine if that happens and Kassian doesn't even miss a game.

 

[BLNY]

I said STYLE = i.e. a Hockey player first, not a guy who fights every second game.

The NHL learned pretty quickly that fighting Larry was more often than not going to be a mistake. He was capable of feeding knuckle sandwiches to the any of the preeminent goons of the day. As a result, most didn't poke the bear.

It's my hope as well that it doesn't define Xhekaj. I think he'll establish himself, and once people have got "testing him" out of their system it will calm down and he'll just be a strong physical presence.

 

[Deebs]

I said STYLE = i.e. a Hockey player first, not a guy who fights every second game.

Yeah I know. He can't play either guy's style of game. He can't play defence like Big Bird and he won't be the champ while putting in goals as a forward.

Play your own game Wifi

 

[DAChampion]

If Arber has a broken hand, was it worth it? Imagine if that happens and Kassian doesn't even miss a game.

Does Xhekaj have a broken hand?

You have to trust the player to have good judgement.

The same applies even to body checks.

 

[DramaticGloveSave]

It's fun to have a guy who is very tough, but I would prefer Arber try to emulate Larry Robinson's style of game than Bob Probert's.

I mean I think you should look towards Guhle and Mailloux as better shots to emulate that archetype. Xhekaj is a different sort. If he can be a solid dman who’s the heavyweight champ of the league (post Reaves/Lucic), that would be excellent.

 

[yianik]

I think it's great, and necessary to have 2-3 guys on a team that will throw them when necessary. And you need a heavy weight among them.

I was never a fan of an enforcer only guy. Hated it. That's why I loved a guy like Nuckles Nilan, who could fight , but also play hockey and produce some points.

Wifi can fight. But he can also hit, skates fine and also has ability. His TOI has gone up every single game this year and that's not because he fights. He makes mistakes, but he does good things out there also. He has the makings of some offensive ability and he will pinch in, which surprised me.

To me he seems a much bigger, faster and more skilled Lyle Odelein. I think , based on the 6 games so far, that he could be a no.4 D man in time.

 

[Deebs]

I think it's great, and necessary to have 2-3 guys on a team that will throw them when necessary. And you need a heavy weight among them.

I was never a fan of an enforcer only guy. Hated it. That's why I lived a guy like Nuckles Nilan, who could fight , but also play hockey and produce some points.

Wifi can fight. But he can also hit, skates fine and also has ability. His TOI has gone up every single game this year and that's not because he fights. He makes mistakes, but he does good things out there also. He has the makings of some offensive ability and he will pinch in, which surprised me.

To me he seems a much bigger, faster and more skilled Lyle Odelein. I think , based on the 6 games so far, that he could be a no.4 D man in time.

He looks to be a possible ideal 3rd pairing player and that's great for the team

 

[Tetragrammaton]

The Bergevin haters should refrain from praising Xhekaj unless they also admit Bergevin was a maestro of historical proportions.

The same maestro who traded Sergachev for Drouin? The guy who signed Hoffman? The same maestro who threw random shit at the wall with no plan for a decade and some of it stuck?

 

[BenchBrawl]

The same maestro who traded Sergachev for Drouin? The guy who signed Hoffman? The same maestro who threw random shit at the wall with no plan for a decade and some of it stuck?

Nice nitpick over what was basically a glorious spree of winning trades over 10 years during his majestic reign.

 

[MTL-rules]

He reminds me of a lefthanded Komisarek with his physical domination... But contrary to Komisarek, he can fight, which makes him special... Now, if we could find another Markov...

 

[rik schau]

When someone eventually takes him down,this will be their song.lol

 

[Estimated_Prophet]

When someone eventually takes him down,this will be their song.lol

yuck!

Regurgitating Marley's work much like he ripped off JJ Cale for his entire career. Clapton was great in Cream but is a terrible song writer and relies almost exclusively on covering more gifted artists work.

Great guitarist though.....he probably is best suited as a session player.

 

[Beendair Donedat]

If Arber has a broken hand, was it worth it? Imagine if that happens and Kassian doesn't even miss a game.

Come on man, there’s no need to clutch your pearls here. That’s a big part of his game and what got him into the show, he can’t just turn away from it now.

 

[Tetragrammaton]

Nice nitpick over what was basically a glorious spree of winning trades over 10 years during his majestic reign.

You’re definitely related to him or something.

 

[River Meadow]

yuck!

Regurgitating Marley's work much like he ripped off JJ Cale for his entire career. Clapton was great in Cream but is a terrible song writer and relies almost exclusively on covering more gifted artists work.

Great guitarist though.....he probably is best suited as a session player.

R.I.P Clapton.

Clapton just got CLAPPED.

 

[rik schau]

yuck!

Regurgitating Marley's work much like he ripped off JJ Cale for his entire career. Clapton was great in Cream but is a terrible song writer and relies almost exclusively on covering more gifted artists work.

Great guitarist though.....he probably is best suited as a session player.

Think you're missing the gist of the post. Most around here would probaly not even know Marley.

 

[BaseballCoach]

Come on man, there’s no need to clutch your pearls here. That’s a big part of his game and what got him into the show, he can’t just turn away from it now.

He does not need to never fight, but a couple like Kassian and the ones in pre-season and he will be feared and respected MORE if he plays the game hard but seriously and does not desdend to trolling.

Robinson was a devastating fighter and never had more than 76 minutes in penalties and averaged 40 per season for his career.

 

[BenchBrawl]

You’re definitely related to him or something.

I wish. Anyone would be pleased to have such a great man in his family.

 

[BaseballCoach]

Does Xhekaj have a broken hand?

You have to trust the player to have good judgement.

The same applies even to body checks.

They had to x-ray it yesterday and they gave him ice in the penalty box.

But I don't know yet.

I'm just saying that I hope Arber develops value as a hockey player and does not have to fight 20 times this year.

I mean I think you should look towards Guhle and Mailloux as better shots to emulate that archetype. Xhekaj is a different sort. If he can be a solid dman who’s the heavyweight champ of the league (post Reaves/Lucic), that would be excellent.

Neither Guhle nor Mailloux will likely be virtually undefeated as a fighter.

Guhle is a Serge Savard all-round big minutes type, Mailloux more like Guy Lapointe offence-first. Xhekaj has the combination of speed, power, gaffes and awkwardness that Robinson displayed as a young player.

 

[26Mats]

Kind of fun to look ahead at the schedule to find fighting matchups for Arber. Been a while since we had a guy like that.

BGL was on Marinaro's podcast. While he thinks Xman's fighting will help protect the young guys and make them feel a lot more confident on the ice, he thinks he lacks technic and could get caught at this point. Said he would love the opportunity to work with him.

 

[Beendair Donedat]

He does not need to never fight, but a couple like Kassian and the ones in pre-season and he will be feared and respected MORE if he plays the game hard but seriously and does not desdend to trolling.

Robinson was a devastating fighter and never had more than 76 minutes in penalties and averaged 40 per season for his career.

Robinson also may have been the best all around defenseman to ever play the game. I don’t think that’s a real valid comparison. I like Xhekaj a lot and want him to be great here for a long time, but come on…

But to address that point Larry fought quite a bit when he played in the AHL with the Voyageurs to establish himself. You have to make your bones to get that respect and room.

 

[Tetragrammaton]

I wish. Anyone would be pleased to have such a great man in his family.

Remember when he told Markov and Radulov to go buy a dog for loyalty and then he signed superstar Karl Alzner? Good times eh?