Player Discussion Arber Xhekaj: The Sheriff

[Sorinth]

Kovacevic's future is, bluntly, very irrelevant to this team. He could be a good soldier for a few years but realistically that's not incredibly hard to replace nor is he particularly good now.

Xhekaj, as it stands, is a better player than the other two, has more upside and current growth. He shouldn't go anywhere unless his situation changes, and Kovacevic as a 7th makes more sense with this team than Wideman.

There's no doubt that Xhekaj has more potential then Kovacevic, but I think you are underestimating Kovacevic's potential. Chiarot is a good comparable to Kovacevic's potential, beyond simply being big D that we got from Winnipeg, Chiarot's first full season was at age 24, and was 27 when he became a real top-4 guy.

Now exploring Kovacevic's potential shouldn't be done at the expense of Xhekaj's, but right now that's not the case because there are a number of benefits to Xhekaj in the AHL (Big minutes, PP time, and easier place to learn better defensive positioning).

 

[ChesterNimitz]

There's no doubt that Xhekaj has more potential then Kovacevic, but I think you are underestimating Kovacevic's potential. Chiarot is a good comparable to Kovacevic's potential, beyond simply being big D that we got from Winnipeg, Chiarot's first full season was at age 24, and was 27 when he became a real top-4 guy.

Now exploring Kovacevic's potential shouldn't be done at the expense of Xhekaj's, but right now that's not the case because there are a number of benefits to Xhekaj in the AHL (Big minutes, PP time, and easier place to learn better defensive positioning).

Nothing against Kovacevic, but if he's still a top six defenceman for this team in two years, it will mean that the development of Mailloux and Barron has stagnated. Kovacevic should be seen as a placeholder, however ably he performs that duty, until players with much higher ceilings, whether currently in the system or later acquired through draft or trade, push him aside.

 

[Sorinth]

Nothing against Kovacevic, but if he's still a top six defenceman for this team in two years, it will mean that the development of Mailloux and Barron has stagnated. Kovacevic should be seen as a placeholder, however ably he performs that duty, until players with much higher ceilings, whether currently in the system or later acquired through draft or trade, push him aside.

First off that's nonsense since if everyone develops well over the next 2 years then we likely trade some of them for help elsewhere in the lineup and since it takes value to get value the player traded it would mean trading one of the better players and potentially keeping Kovacevik.

Secondly, for Mailloux the expectation shouldn't be that if he's not a good NHL player 2 years from now that his development has stagnated/failed. He has so much missed time to make up for that a long stint in the AHL is quite possible for him.

Third, your point is kinda irrelevant since players/prospects will stagnate and/or not live up to the hype. That's the nature of prospects. You shouldn't treat/plan for anyone to be a placeholder because the plan you have in mind is almost certainly not going to happen.

 

[schwang26]

There's no doubt that Xhekaj has more potential then Kovacevic, but I think you are underestimating Kovacevic's potential. Chiarot is a good comparable to Kovacevic's potential, beyond simply being big D that we got from Winnipeg, Chiarot's first full season was at age 24, and was 27 when he became a real top-4 guy.

Now exploring Kovacevic's potential shouldn't be done at the expense of Xhekaj's, but right now that's not the case because there are a number of benefits to Xhekaj in the AHL (Big minutes, PP time, and easier place to learn better defensive positioning).

I don't know how you send him to the ahl at this point. He's hitting, scoring, fighting, and learning how to defend at the NHL level (and he's already not bad at it). What more do you want from the guy? When none of your rookies look out of place at this level (especially when 4 of 6 are rookies), I don't see any benefit in sending them to Laval.

 

[zaluty]

Third, your point is kinda irrelevant since players/prospects will stagnate and/or not live up to the hype. That's the nature of prospects. You shouldn't treat/plan for anyone to be a placeholder because the plan you have in mind is almost certainly not going to happen.

But I am a HF poster and never wrong and if I am wrong it's not my fault lol.

 

[The Great Weal]

The decision is not really tough, Kovacevic was bring here to sit and help when they are injuries. Wideman can be easily send down to Laval like Pitlick

Wideman seems like the most popular guy in the room but ya he's got to go if it's between him, Kova, or Xhekaj. Xhekaj is an NHLer and probably wouldn't get much more ice time in Laval playing behind Barron anyways.

 

[Retired]

You just know every AHL goon with access to the internet would love a chance at Xhekaj; I hope he stays up. He makes great plays, makes everyone safer, have more swag and keeps getting better.

 

[ChesterNimitz]

First off that's nonsense since if everyone develops well over the next 2 years then we likely trade some of them for help elsewhere in the lineup and since it takes value to get value the player traded it would mean trading one of the better players and potentially keeping Kovacevik.

Secondly, for Mailloux the expectation shouldn't be that if he's not a good NHL player 2 years from now that his development has stagnated/failed. He has so much missed time to make up for that a long stint in the AHL is quite possible for him.

Third, your point is kinda irrelevant since players/prospects will stagnate and/or not live up to the hype. That's the nature of prospects. You shouldn't treat/plan for anyone to be a placeholder because the plan you have in mind is almost certainly not going to happen.

Bottom line, you're not going to win a championship with Kovacevik. He's a journeyman. He was put on waivers by the Jets for a reason. If both Matheson and Edmundson were available, we aren't claiming him off waivers. He's a fill in, a depth player and no more and is not in Montreal's long term plans unlike Guhle, Xhekaj or Harris. Once Matheson returns, Kovacevik will sit.

 

[Sorinth]

I don't know how you send him to the ahl at this point. He's hitting, scoring, fighting, and learning how to defend at the NHL level (and he's already not bad at it). What more do you want from the guy? When none of your rookies look out of place at this level (especially when 4 of 6 are rookies), I don't see any benefit in sending them to Laval.

For the record I'm a big fan of Xhekaj he's exceeded all expectations and in my mind is a legitimate NHL player right now. But just because you are an NHL level player doesn't mean that there aren't things you can't learn in the AHL. He has things he could continue to develop in the AHL.

It's also worth noting that being sent down isn't permanent, he'd very likely be back at some point(s) in the season anyways because the D won't all stay 100% healthy.

Bottom line, you're not going to win a championship with Kovacevik. He's a journeyman. He was put on waivers by the Jets for a reason. If both Matheson and Edmundson were available, we aren't claiming him off waivers. He's a fill in, a depth player and no more and is not in Montreal's long term plans unlike Guhle, Xhekaj or Harris. Once Matheson returns, Kovacevik will sit.

Do you need someone to list all the journeyman players with SC rings?

 

[Saundies]

Arber vs. Kova is tough.

Kova is probably better at this very moment, but he's also a lot older and, IMO, has had some bonehead moments in the last couple of games... But he needs waivers and will most definitely be claimed if we go that route.

Arber is younger and greener but has steadily progressed since the beginning of the year. He looked like he has been playing on the PP for years the other night when he was generalling PP2 and he's amazing at getting pucks through.... But he doesn't need waivers and is the easiest choice purely from a transactional perspective.

Wideman's good in the room but so was Paul Bissonette. If you can't hang, you shouldn't be on the team. Wideman's been a nonfactor at all this season. If it were me, I'd waive him for sure but it's hard to say how the staff/management feel about it.

 

[ChesterNimitz]

For the record I'm a big fan of Xhekaj he's exceeded all expectations and in my mind is a legitimate NHL player right now. But just because you are an NHL level player doesn't mean that there aren't things you can't learn in the AHL. He has things he could continue to develop in the AHL.

It's also worth noting that being sent down isn't permanent, he'd very likely be back at some point(s) in the season anyways because the D won't all stay 100% healthy.


Do you need someone to list all the journeyman players with SC rings?

There's a lot more that don't have SC rings. Let me ask you this, when Matheson is ready to play, who would you sit?

 

[Matthew McConaughay]

There's a lot more that don't have SC rings. Let me ask you this, when Matheson is ready to play, who would you sit?

Not Xhekaj, Guhle or Harris.

 

[Sorinth]

There's a lot more that don't have SC rings. Let me ask you this, when Matheson is ready to play, who would you sit?

Initially I would send Xhekaj down and have Wideman in the press box. But like I said before it's not something that is permanent, I would fully expect there to be times where we would recall Xhekaj and play him ahead of Wideman.

 

[Matthew McConaughay]

Initially I would send Xhekaj down and have Wideman in the press box. But like I said before it's not something that is permanent, I would fully expect there to be times where we would recall Xhekaj and play him ahead of Wideman.

You don't fix, what's not broken, we can win without Wideman, Wideman out, sorry Wideman, i'm sure you're a nice person, but, we need to take decisions.

 

[Tyson]

Not Xhekaj, Guhle or Harris.

We once were blessed with the "Big 3"...now we have the Next 3"!!!
They don't need demoted PERIOD!

 

[Vachon23]

Not Xhekaj, Guhle or Harris.

WTF ?

 

[ChesterNimitz]

Not Xhekaj, Guhle or Harris.

That leaves two of Savard, Edmundson, Kovacevic and Wideman.

 

[Sorinth]

You don't fix, what's not broken, we can win without Wideman, Wideman out, sorry Wideman, i'm sure you're a nice person, but, we need to take decisions.

Nobody's arguing any different.

 

[LaP]

That leaves two of Savard, Edmundson, Kovacevic and Wideman.

We all know who it will be

 

[ChesterNimitz]

For the record I'm a big fan of Xhekaj he's exceeded all expectations and in my mind is a legitimate NHL player right now. But just because you are an NHL level player doesn't mean that there aren't things you can't learn in the AHL. He has things he could continue to develop in the AHL.

So your suggesting that we send down a player that ranks 13th in the NHL in total hits, leads the team's defencemen in goals and shots on net; plays an average of 15 minutes a game for a team that is competitive in most games and on the verge of a playoff spot; now plays on the second power play unit, provides an element of physicality that allows his team's smaller, skilled forwards more time and space to use their skills and who is well liked by his teammates so that he can hone his skills against lesser competition and receive inferior coaching? I can tell you there are 30 groups of people that would agree with you: all the other teams in the league who would rather not have to play against this menacing force on our blueline.

 

[Sorinth]

So your suggesting that we send down a player that ranks 13th in the NHL in total hits, leads the team's defencemen in goals and shots on net; plays an average of 15 minutes a game for a team that is competitive in most games and on the verge of a playoff spot; now plays on the second power play unit, provides an element of physicality that allows his team's smaller, skilled forwards more time and space to use their skills and who is well liked by his teammates so that he can hone his skills against lesser competition and receive inferior coaching? I can tell you there are 30 groups of people that would agree with you: all the other teams in the league who would rather not have to play against this menacing force on our blueline.

So instead we take out Kovacevik who plays more minutes a game (17 vs 15), kills penalties (13th ranked PK vs 27th ranked PP), also provides physicality, has a better +/- (+5 vs -2) which is actually 2nd best on the team despite playing tougher minutes, has a much better net penalty ratio (0 vs -7), and is not sheltered with offensive starts (47.7% vs 53.2%)?

 

[Matthew McConaughay]

So instead we take out Kovacevik who plays more minutes a game (17 vs 15), kills penalties (13th ranked PK vs 27th ranked PP), also provides physicality, has a better +/- (+5 vs -2) which is actually 2nd best on the team despite playing tougher minutes, has a much better net penalty ratio (0 vs -7), and is not sheltered with offensive starts (47.7% vs 53.2%)?

Wideman is the weakest link here, if one has to go, it's him, he's there for his offensive, and he doesn't bring any, and he is weak defensively.

 

[Tyson]

So your suggesting that we send down a player that ranks 13th in the NHL in total hits, leads the team's defencemen in goals and shots on net; plays an average of 15 minutes a game for a team that is competitive in most games and on the verge of a playoff spot; now plays on the second power play unit, provides an element of physicality that allows his team's smaller, skilled forwards more time and space to use their skills and who is well liked by his teammates so that he can hone his skills against lesser competition and receive inferior coaching? I can tell you there are 30 groups of people that would agree with you: all the other teams in the league who would rather not have to play against this menacing force on our blueline.

Well said

 

[Garo]

There's no doubt that Xhekaj has more potential then Kovacevic, but I think you are underestimating Kovacevic's potential. Chiarot is a good comparable to Kovacevic's potential, beyond simply being big D that we got from Winnipeg, Chiarot's first full season was at age 24, and was 27 when he became a real top-4 guy.

Now exploring Kovacevic's potential shouldn't be done at the expense of Xhekaj's, but right now that's not the case because there are a number of benefits to Xhekaj in the AHL (Big minutes, PP time, and easier place to learn better defensive positioning).

Its true that I am very skeptical of Kovacevic being more than a bottom pairing player, but I said that I am still very much in favour of keeping him on the roster. Wideman is far easier to put on waivers for me. Kovacevic would be a victim of the rookies being as good as they are to an extent, but he was always bought in as insurance policy in the 6th/7th slot. If he becomes more than he is, great, if he doesn't, then he gets outpaced by our other good prospects.

Xhekaj however should just stay in the league at this point. He brings too many good things to the roster, isn't trending down at all, and is already a clearly superior option to the other players competing for his spot.

 

[Sorinth]

Wideman is the weakest link here, if one has to go, it's him, he's there for his offensive, and he doesn't bring any, and he is weak defensively.

So you want either Xhekaj or Kavacevik to be sitting in the press box watching games instead of playing them? That's the worst of both worlds. The reason you keep Wideman as number 7 isn't because he's good it's because you don't care if he ends up not playing for 40 straight games.