BenchBrawl
Registered User
- Jul 26, 2010
- 31,184
- 14,169
He should never be sent down.
This guy is Zeus and should stay with the team.
f*** the haters.
This guy is Zeus and should stay with the team.
f*** the haters.
Player Discussion Arber Xhekaj: The Sheriff
- Thread starter Adam Michaels
- Start date
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WeThreeKings
Demidov is a HAB
There's really no point in sending him down.
1. Houle sucks.
2. MSL is giving him every opportunity outside of the PP. He has his highs and his lows, as any young defenseman. Outside of some weaknesses he'll need to improve, he's not getting caved in shift after shift.
1. Houle sucks.
2. MSL is giving him every opportunity outside of the PP. He has his highs and his lows, as any young defenseman. Outside of some weaknesses he'll need to improve, he's not getting caved in shift after shift.
Hannibal
Fear the Weber
- Feb 11, 2007
- 11,356
- 9,238
Exactly. Xhekaj developement won’t be stop because he’s in the NHL. In fact, he’s getting better.
Keep Xhekaj and Slaf in MTL and keep them away from Laval’s mess. Terrible team developement wise.
When the injuries’s return, Wideman is out and Kovacevic will become 7th dman until one of the D-man is traded or hurt. Even if Kovacevic has been good, i much prefer having X in the lineup and developing along the way.
WeThreeKings
Demidov is a HAB
Hannibal
Fear the Weber
- Feb 11, 2007
- 11,356
- 9,238
It only took two competent hockey minds at the head of this organisation to make us build our bromance! Who knew!
Lafleurs Guy
Guuuuuuuy!
- Jul 20, 2007
- 80,963
- 53,795
It’d be better for his development because he’d get 20 plus minutes a night… Not hard to understand.
Lafleurs Guy
Guuuuuuuy!
- Jul 20, 2007
- 80,963
- 53,795
Probably more like 15 minutes with Houle.
But let's agree at best 20 minutes - mentored by Belzile, coached by Houle, challenged by Dauphin and shooting on Fucale. Seriously. The only reason to do that is if he is drowning at the NHL level.
But he's not drowning, at least not right now. If that changes, sure, send him down.
Playing in Montreal with a trusting, pro-development coaching group, meshing with the young leaders, getting challenged to raise his game by capable opponents and working on beating NHL goalies - THAT is what is developing him now.
MSL said at game 1 that Slaf would be on the PP after a number of games, and it has started.
Do you think he needs to go to Laval to learn how to better block shots and kill penalties? Not his role.
Do you think he needs to go to Laval to learn how to cut back on defensive zone giveaways? He's already safer than Pezzetta, Pitlick, Caufield, Anderson, Drouin, Hoffman? I don't think this is a reason to send him down.
Do you think he needs to go to Laval to learn how to backcheck more and stop floating? Nah.
Play more minutes, that's all? Which prospect is clearly benefitting from more minutes down there right now? Who is tearing up the AHL and developing at a crazy rate? I don't see anyone doing that. MAYBE MAYBE Barron will earn a callup this year. Do you think he will be ready to step into a 20 minute role because he got used to 20 minutes in Laval?
To be clear, I do agree that plenty of players would develop more appropriately in Laval than Montreal. But it has to be the guys who are not yet good enough to be in an NHL starter role.
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Lafleurs Guy
Guuuuuuuy!
- Jul 20, 2007
- 80,963
- 53,795
Let’s leave this for the Slaf thread. You can reply there. I don’t want to hijack this one.
Agreed, even if the Sheriff is getting fewer minutes than any other D. He does not look out of place and I would like him to stay in the lineup even after Edmundson and Matheson are back. Wideman and Kovacevic can sit out.
Vachon23
Registered User
I did not start that, but was responding to something. I've now stopped since it was pointed out.
EDIT: nope, it was an error on my part. Someone wrote "he is not ready" in this thread at the same time that someone wrote that "he is not NHL-ready" in another thread, but neither post had the name mentioned, and I responded in the wrong thread. My bad!!
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IceColdOx
Registered User
Vachon23
Registered User
It’s not his offence I want him to develop, it’s his defensive play. I want the play to be slower for him so he can continue to work on his gap control and defensive position that need some work
Also second to Harris in shots on goal. Almost quadruple Savard in 1/3 less time.
Vachon23
Registered User
The Gr8 Dane
L'harceleur
Wideman should be the first man out when one of the boys come back. Shoot him out of cannon please
Larry Robinson development:
Rookie needs to work on his defence and starts his career in AHL (Arber in Junior at same age).
Age 20 AHL - 24 points in 74 games - still awkward and making gaffes
Age 21 AHL at start - 39 points in 38 games and improved defence
Called up to NHL same year - 6 points in 36 games, still some gaffes but fewer
So was he sent back to the AHL to "develop his offense" some more? NO! His defence was now good enough for the NHL so he stays.
Yet, he develops in the NHL, what a surprise! You would think that never happens according to some.
Age 22 NHL - 26 points in 78 games
Age 23 NHL - 61 points in 80 games - say what? You can develop offence in the NHL??
Age 24 NHL - 40 points in 80 games - team had committed to more defence after two years losing in the playoffs. Robinson puts up a +50 with tougher assignments
Age 25 NHL - 85 points in 77 games, best ppg ratio in any league he ever played in as a D.
Right, he's the next second coming of McDavid.
Kova is a lock in this team. Wideman seems to be done.
Funny how the Habs have an Albanian and Serb playing defense for this team.
Sorinth
Registered User
- Jan 18, 2013
- 12,041
- 6,919
Maybe it's just me but I've liked Kovacevic and I think we will have a legit NHLer in him so long as he continues to get ice time. But if you drop him down to 7th and have him sit for 30+ games because people are healthy that will probably derail his chance at being a regular NHLer. And yes he likely would get claimed on waivers so you probably send down one of the other rookies.
The simple truth for me is that even though Guhle, Xhekaj, and Harris have shown they can handle the NHL play they could still develop aspects of their game in the AHL. So I don't see a lot of downside to sending one of them down, maybe we lose a few more games because we are icing a "worse" roster, but should we care about that or should the focus be on the long term success? My vote is on long term success so do what's best for the development of all 4 rookies.
But anyways it's probably a moot point since injuries are common so by the time the two vets are back someone else is likely to get hurt.
Sorinth
Registered User
- Jan 18, 2013
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I mean if your putting up 39 points in 38 AHL games especially as a D then the AHL is no longer a place for you to develop your offensive game. But who here thinks if sent down Xhekaj would put up ppg numbers in the AHL?
Vachon23
Registered User
I don’t think it would benefit Harris and Guhle to play AHL, they are NHL ready and they don’t need the play to be slower.
For Kovacevic, at the end of the day he‘s more a good #7 then anything els. No real elite traits so he can be sits for couple of games without problem
Sorinth
Registered User
- Jan 18, 2013
- 12,041
- 6,919
Yes they are NHL ready, so is Xhekaj. But just because you are NHL ready doesn't mean there is nothing that you could work on in the AHL.
Vachon23
Registered User
Xhekaj could work on many things in the AHL and I don’t think he’s 100 % NHL ready. Harris and Guhle though will learn more in the NHL. The play isn’t to fast for them
