Player Discussion Arber Xhekaj: The Sheriff

[Habby4Life]

Laraque would murder him lol. You don’t know what you’re talking about.

Exactly, Laraque was a true heavyweight that fought all the tough guys.

But hey, I guess, 1 NHL fight is all that is need for some, lol.

 

[Heffyhoof]

He routinely makes bad reads in the Nz and Dz.

Also, pretty cringe reaction yesterday. It wasnt even a dirty hit.

This post is pretty 'cringe'. Being a contrarian doesn't automatically make you smarter eh?

 

[Mrb1p]

This post is pretty 'cringe'. Being a contrarian doesn't automatically make you smarter eh?

A contrarian? Do you not watch the games? Hes a rookie, its normal that he makes mistakes.

 

[badfish]

There's an excellent article about Xhekaj in the Athletic today. A few bullet points from memory:

- During the pandemic year he was playing in a 4 on 4 training/development league in Hamilton, where NHL players were asking to play with him
- He had to work at Costco to make money to pay for this league/training
- The Canadiens had him on their draft board in two years (2020 and 2021 I think) but ultimately took a gamble he would not be picked and they could invite him to their camps
- After not being picked in 2021, he was approached by two other teams before the Canadiens (one was the Panthers), but for a variety of reasons he decided to try his luck with the Canadiens
- He thought he showed well in the Canadiens rookie camps, but was star-struck once he got to the main camp
- After a rough first game he thought he would get cut, so he went and asked Luke Richardson for one more game to show what he had, and played what he thought was his best game
- He was signed and Gorton/Hughes think hes one of the best prospects in the system


There's a lot more detail in the article and it's a great read! Some excellent reporting by the Athletic. It's crazy to me at how many points the Habs could have missed him, he could have gone elsewhere, could have been cut, etc. and yet somehow it all worked out and the Habs got an excellent prospect with a bright future for free!

 

[Vachon23]

After a rough first game he thought he would get cut, so he went and asked Luke Richardson for one more game

That shows a lot of character and good self inspection ! Props to him

 

[Belial]

Of course the kid can fight but the hype is so over the top, it’s become quite comical. Saw a post where someone stated, Reeves would think twice and would not want to fight him, nearly spit out my coffee laughing.

Let’s save crowning him the heavyweight champ until maybe fight 3. Lol.

He fought Kastelic and Watson and those two are in the NHL. So you can say he already has 3 NHL fights!

 

[Habby4Life]

He fought Kastelic and Watson and those two are in the NHL. So you can say he already has 3 NHL fights!

Haha!! Yep, I’m sure Reeves is going to stay clear of AX.

 

[TomKosto]

Haha!! Yep, I’m sure Reeves is going to stay clear of AX.

Pump the brake dude ( I loveeee Xhekaj btw).... Reaves, Lucic and Macdermid could KO him. Not saying it's happening, but Xhekaj fight with no guard at all, 3 vets, same size as him, they can catch him. I would like for The Sherrif to not fight those guy this year, he's just 21.

 

[Habby4Life]

Pump the brake dude ( I loveeee Xhekaj btw).... Reaves, Lucic and Macdermid could KO him. Not saying it's happening, but Xhekaj fight with no guard at all, 3 vets, same size as him, they can catch him. I would like for The Sherrif to not fight those guy this year, he's just 21.

I agree with you, I was being sarcastic. I saw a post earlier where someone was saying Reeves would think twice fighting AX.

I find the AX hype comical seeing he has fought once. It’s so over the top.

 

[ahmedou]

There's an excellent article about Xhekaj in the Athletic today. A few bullet points from memory:

- During the pandemic year he was playing in a 4 on 4 training/development league in Hamilton, where NHL players were asking to play with him
- He had to work at Costco to make money to pay for this league/training
- The Canadiens had him on their draft board in two years (2020 and 2021 I think) but ultimately took a gamble he would not be picked and they could invite him to their camps
- After not being picked in 2021, he was approached by two other teams before the Canadiens (one was the Panthers), but for a variety of reasons he decided to try his luck with the Canadiens
- He thought he showed well in the Canadiens rookie camps, but was star-struck once he got to the main camp
- After a rough first game he thought he would get cut, so he went and asked Luke Richardson for one more game to show what he had, and played what he thought was his best game
- He was signed and Gorton/Hughes think hes one of the best prospects in the system


There's a lot more detail in the article and it's a great read! Some excellent reporting by the Athletic. It's crazy to me at how many points the Habs could have missed him, he could have gone elsewhere, could have been cut, etc. and yet somehow it all worked out and the Habs got an excellent prospect with a bright future for free!

 

[habdynasty]

I agree with you, I was being sarcastic. I saw a post earlier where someone was saying Reeves would think twice fighting AX.

I find the AX hype comical seeing he has fought once. It’s so over the top.

I wouldn’t let it bother you.

 

[TomKosto]

I agree with you, I was being sarcastic. I saw a post earlier where someone was saying Reeves would think twice fighting AX.

I find the AX hype comical seeing he has fought once. It’s so over the top.

It's been a while since we had a real legit heavyweight who's not scare of anybody. + he plays good. But to think that guy like Lucic and Reaves are scare of him is absurd like you said. They are not in same class as Kassian. I'm pretty sure Xhekaj has the balls to fight them, but I hope not. He might win but it's a lot risky.

 

[Habby4Life]

It's been a while since we had a real legit heavyweight who's not scare of anybody. + he plays good. But to think that guy like Lucic and Reaves are scare of him is absurd like you said. They are not in same class as Kassian. I'm pretty sure Xhekaj has the balls to fight them, but I hope not. He might win but it's a lot risky.

I like AX, and think he’s going to be a keeper but he needs time to develop. I think he should be sent down once Eddy and Math are back.

 

[CAUFIELD]

With Arber playing with Edmundson, its the return of the Clydesdales, but meaner.

 

[Beendair Donedat]

I find the AX hype comical seeing he has fought once. It’s so over the top.

You’ve literally posted the same thing 5 times now. Do you have anything worthwhile to add or is it going to be “comical and over the top” for 6 now?

 

[HuGo Sham]

lots of poise tonight, lots of hits and simple plays; thought he had a very good game

 

[Paddy17]

19:02 icetime tonight. Is that his season high?

 

[Habsrule]

I have to work 12 hour nights tonight and saw that he had 10 hits in tonight’s game. How did he play with Edmundson?

 

[Licou]

There's an excellent article about Xhekaj in the Athletic today. A few bullet points from memory:

- During the pandemic year he was playing in a 4 on 4 training/development league in Hamilton, where NHL players were asking to play with him
- He had to work at Costco to make money to pay for this league/training
- The Canadiens had him on their draft board in two years (2020 and 2021 I think) but ultimately took a gamble he would not be picked and they could invite him to their camps
- After not being picked in 2021, he was approached by two other teams before the Canadiens (one was the Panthers), but for a variety of reasons he decided to try his luck with the Canadiens
- He thought he showed well in the Canadiens rookie camps, but was star-struck once he got to the main camp
- After a rough first game he thought he would get cut, so he went and asked Luke Richardson for one more game to show what he had, and played what he thought was his best game
- He was signed and Gorton/Hughes think hes one of the best prospects in the system


There's a lot more detail in the article and it's a great read! Some excellent reporting by the Athletic. It's crazy to me at how many points the Habs could have missed him, he could have gone elsewhere, could have been cut, etc. and yet somehow it all worked out and the Habs got an excellent prospect with a bright future for free!

Wait... why didn't they just spend a 5th round pick or whatever if they liked him. What kind of stupid gamble is that ?

 

[MilesNewton]

Haha!! Yep, I’m sure Reeves is going to stay clear of AX.

Reeves has never stayed away from anyone especially a rookie

 

[Matthew McConaughay]

I have to work 12 hour nights tonight and saw that he had 10 hits in tonight’s game. How did he play with Edmundson?

He had a good game, they work well together, he had 10 hits i think and 30 seconds of PP, hope they will try him more than 30 seconds next time.

 

[Habby4Life]

Reeves has never stayed away from anyone especially a rookie

Reeves is the true NHL heavyweight. There is no one in the league that comes close.

You’ve literally posted the same thing 5 times now. Do you have anything worthwhile to add or is it going to be “comical and over the top” for 6

If you don’t like what I have to say there is an ignore function, use it. Lol.

 

[Beendair Donedat]

If you don’t like what I have to say there is an ignore function, use it. Lol.

I find that comical and over the top. One response! One!

 

[ChesterNimitz]

I have to work 12 hour nights tonight and saw that he had 10 hits in tonight’s game. How did he play with Edmundson?

Surprisingly well. Xhekaj is quickly rising on the team’s defensive depth charts. In addition to his commanding physical presence he has shown a level of calmness and vision that belies his lack of experience. This is no regular rookie. Even when Matheson returns , Xhekaj will remain a top four defenceman on this suddenly competitive young team. Xhekaj has been the biggest suprise in the early going this year. And in this observers eyes, its not even close.

 

[badfish]

Wait... why didn't they just spend a 5th round pick or whatever if they liked him. What kind of stupid gamble is that ?

I thought this was interesting too, but I think there's two things at play:

1. We have the benefit of hindsight now. Even if you go into the beginning of this thread, people are saying he tops out max as a 6D. Xhekaj's progression does seem very unusual.

2. It seems from my memory of the article they considered him from 5th round onwards, and had him on their draft board in 2020 and 2021. The 5th-7th round picks in 2020 are: Dobes, Gordin and in 2021: Sobolev, Roy, Simoneau, Vrbetic. Again with the benefit of hindsight some of those players wont be part of the system soon, but there's still some interesting names there, and I can see why the scouting staff may have found them more interesting than Xhekaj based on what was known of Xhekaj at the time.