Player Discussion Arber Xhekaj: The Sheriff

[schwang26]

If Xhekaj gets sent down, he'll be challenged constantly and fighting almost every night. Sure he'd get more ice time, but I'd hate to see an injury from a fight like a broken finger and then he's out 6 weeks.

 

[yianik]

I agree with this, but feel like we don't have much of a choice. It's maybe the best of a bunch of bad options.

We have Matheson, Savard, and Edmundson as vets we won't waive, and Kovacevic who we would likely lose if we waive.

I don't think we will let a young D sit as the 7th guy, and Wideman/Kovacevic likely gets that spot.

This leaves us with basically three options.

Send down one of the young D.
Lose Kovacevic to waivers.
Trade one of our vet Dmen to make some space.

Or, if one of the D goes down with injury by the time Matheson gets back.

I like Kovy enough to not want to waive him.

I think it might be tough to move a vet D for an adequate return this early, could also mess with the room, this seems unlikely.

Which leaves us only the first option.

If we do send one of the young guys down, it should be Harris imo. Not that he's been bad at all, but he maybe seems like he would benefit the most from having a bigger role in Laval.

I like your analysis, and I agree. Everyone is talking about Wifi being the guy to go down, but WiFi adds a physical player who also will defend teammates, ti givwith a decent skill set. Harris could benefit from being able to work on his offense in Laval.

 

[jj cale]

It will kill me if he is sent down, to me he is a part of this team now.

 

[jaffy27]

If Xhekaj gets sent down, he'll be challenged constantly and fighting almost every night. Sure he'd get more ice time, but I'd hate to see an injury from a fight like a broken finger and then he's out 6 weeks.

Broken finger???

Have you not seen his mitts??

They like cinder blocks!!!

 

[schwang26]

Broken finger???

Have you not seen his mitts??

They like cinder blocks!!!

I know, but it happens to the best of them

 

[Sorinth]

If Xhekaj gets sent down, he'll be challenged constantly and fighting almost every night. Sure he'd get more ice time, but I'd hate to see an injury from a fight like a broken finger and then he's out 6 weeks.

If this is a real concern (Which I doubt) then we could just get some AHL goon of our own to step in and take on those fights instead of Xhekaj.

 

[schwang26]

If this is a real concern (Which I doubt) then we could just get some AHL goon of our own to step in and take on those fights instead of Xhekaj.

You don't think he gets challenged in the ahl? Of course he would.

 

[Sorinth]

You don't think he gets challenged in the ahl? Of course he would.

I think when you are a top player which Xhekaj likely would be then there's no expectation that you would accept every challenge from every goon.

 

[schwang26]

I think when you are a top player which Xhekaj likely would be then there's no expectation that you would accept every challenge from every goon.

Maybe but He does have a rep as a fighter though. Plenty of guys looking to make a name for themselves still lingering in the ahl.

 

[Estimated_Prophet]

I agree with this, but feel like we don't have much of a choice. It's maybe the best of a bunch of bad options.

We have Matheson, Savard, and Edmundson as vets we won't waive, and Kovacevic who we would likely lose if we waive.

I don't think we will let a young D sit as the 7th guy, and Wideman/Kovacevic likely gets that spot.

This leaves us with basically three options.

Send down one of the young D.
Lose Kovacevic to waivers.
Trade one of our vet Dmen to make some space.

Or, if one of the D goes down with injury by the time Matheson gets back.

I like Kovy enough to not want to waive him.

I think it might be tough to move a vet D for an adequate return this early, could also mess with the room, this seems unlikely.

Which leaves us only the first option.

If we do send one of the young guys down, it should be Harris imo. Not that he's been bad at all, but he maybe seems like he would benefit the most from having a bigger role in Laval.

I agree entirely with your logical pathway to an answer as I quite literally went through the exact same series of rationalizations.

Just two things......

1) I came up with a different final answer though as Xhekaj is quite easily the least refined as has the most to learn among the three kids. He makes far too many mistakes that need to be worked out at the minor pro level whereas both Guhle and Harris are much more positionally sound and can solely focus on continuing to grow their foundation at the NHL level. Xhekaj also has some real potential on the PP and it would be great to get him a ton of PP time in Laval. I really love watching him play so it would be tough to let him go but I don't think you can send down Harris when every player and coach on the team knows that he is playing a much more mature game at this point in the season.

2) There is another option that would have Xhekaj, Harris and Kovacevic rotate in and out of the lineup until an injury allows all 3 to stay in.......Wideman would be the #8. This way each one of them plays 2 out of every 3 games and uses the off day to watch and learn from above. This option is contingent on HuGo's willingness to carry eight dmen and if I missed them stating otherwise then this option would clearly not be an option.

Very good post though, I like the way you work out problems even if our final answers differ.

 

[Sorinth]

Maybe but He does have a rep as a fighter though. Plenty of guys looking to make a name for themselves still lingering in the ahl.

And? Lots of players have a reputation as a fighter but don't fight much because they are actually good hockey players. They aren't going to fight every goon because sitting your top guy and the other teams 4th liner for 5min is a bad trade for the team.

 

[schwang26]

And? Lots of players have a reputation as a fighter but don't fight much because they are actually good hockey players. They aren't going to fight every goon because sitting your top guy and the other teams 4th liner for 5min is a bad trade for the team.

What you say is true, but my argument is equally true. Guys get rocked on Laval, who do you think answers the call?

 

[WeThreeKings]

To make room for Matheson don't be surprised if Harris is sent to Laval.
The Edmundson/Xhekaj pairing is good enough to stay intact.

lol there's 0 chance Harris goes down. He's usually our best defenseman.

 

[Sorinth]

What you say is true, but my argument is equally true. Guys get rocked on Laval, who do you think answers the call?

Whoever does it now. And like I said if it's a concern then we can just go out and get out own goon to handle that stuff.

 

[dinodebino]

Not a fan of sending him to the A. Those who think he wont be tested by the Sabourin wannabes have not followed the league much.

He got tried by one true HNLer since training camp, Kassian.The other guys that tested him are all AHLers. This is what he will face every game now.

But I do understand he’s the odd man out right now, with Matheson coming back.

I think he will get sent down, but called back once Edmunson gets traded. Because he will.

 

[Mr Mom]

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?

What I would do, is I would trade Savard or Edmondson. They are both slow, and as you've pointed out. I believe that both are not in the long term plans of the organization. Also, Savard had played well this year, so maybe he has some good value? We don't need to make winning a priority this year, and development is top priority. I would also like to see what Kova could do, when he develops more with our coaches.

 

[calder candidate]

I love Xhekaj he has some great moments but he is also struggling a time. Considering the situation, I think sending him to Laval for short time wouldn’t so bad… the only thing is that I don’t want him to go goon it up.

 

[Belial]

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.

They might keep 8 D's up and rotate them...

Barron is a RD , if Arber goes down they'll probably play together.

To make room for Matheson don't be surprised if Harris is sent to Laval.
The Edmundson/Xhekaj pairing is good enough to stay intact.

Harris plays more minutes than Guhle at even strength, no way he gets sent down.

Maybe but He does have a rep as a fighter though. Plenty of guys looking to make a name for themselves still lingering in the ahl.

Not a fan of sending him to the A. Those who think he wont be tested by the Sabourin wannabes have not followed the league much.

He got tried by one true HNLer since training camp, Kassian.The other guys that tested him are all AHLers. This is what he will face every game now.

But I do understand he’s the odd man out right now, with Matheson coming back.

I think he will get sent down, but called back once Edmunson gets traded. Because he will.

He just needs to ragdoll a couple of guys and the challengers will evaporate pretty fast.

 

[ChesterNimitz]

I love Xhekaj he has some great moments but he is also struggling a time. Considering the situation, I think sending him to Laval for short time wouldn’t so bad… the only thing is that I don’t want him to go goon it up.

All our defencemen have struggled at times. Edmundson has been a turnover machine since he has returned to the lineup. Savard made a grievous turnover against the Devils that directly led to goal against and he, like all our defencemen, clearly had difficulty in coping with the Devils’ speed. Kovacevic was repeatedly beaten wide by the swift Devils forwards. Why aren’t we considering sending them down to Laval for a short time? Xhekaj, who leads all Montreal defencemen in shots and hits, is also the most menacing and intimidating player we have. Unless Xhekaj is being overwhelmed at the NHL level sending him to Laval is no elixir for his development. If anything, its a regressive strategy. Let him and our other young defencemen learn to play and at times lose against the best competition in the world. No one should be mislead by the team’s early ‘successes’, this is still a throw away year and the team will soon start to sell off its most valuable and disposable assets. We will all have to learn to endure the coming growing pains. But as the first 12 games have clearly demonstrated the future is promising.

 

[Belial]

All our defencemen have struggled at times. Edmundson has been a turnover machine since he has returned to the lineup. Savard made a grievous turnover against the Devils that directly led to goal against and he, like all our defencemen, clearly had difficulty in coping with the Devils’ speed. Kovacevic was repeatedly beaten wide by the swift Devils forwards. Why aren’t we considering sending them down to Laval for a short time? Xhekaj, who leads all Montreal defencemen in shots and hits, is also the most menacing and intimidating player we have. Unless Xhekaj is being overwhelmed at the NHL level sending him to Laval is no elixir for his development. If anything, its a regressive strategy. Let him and our other young defencemen learn to play and at times lose against the best competition in the world. No one should be mislead by the team’s early ‘successes’, this is still a throw away year and the team will soon start to sell off its most valuable and disposable assets. We will all have to learn to endure the coming growing pains. But as the first 12 games have clearly demonstrated the future is promising.

There's nothing Savard or Edmundson could learn in the AHL they're already seasoned NHL vets.

It's not the same for Arber, he could without a doubt learn stuff in the AHL.

 

[Habs]

Harris needs to go, Arber is what this team needs, Harris is getting man handled out there. Matheson better not be the reason my boy Arber is out of a job.

 

[calder candidate]

All our defencemen have struggled at times. Edmundson has been a turnover machine since he has returned to the lineup. Savard made a grievous turnover against the Devils that directly led to goal against and he, like all our defencemen, clearly had difficulty in coping with the Devils’ speed. Kovacevic was repeatedly beaten wide by the swift Devils forwards. Why aren’t we considering sending them down to Laval for a short time? Xhekaj, who leads all Montreal defencemen in shots and hits, is also the most menacing and intimidating player we have. Unless Xhekaj is being overwhelmed at the NHL level sending him to Laval is no elixir for his development. If anything, its a regressive strategy. Let him and our other young defencemen learn to play and at times lose against the best competition in the world. No one should be mislead by the team’s early ‘successes’, this is still a throw away year and the team will soon start to sell off its most valuable and disposable assets. We will all have to learn to endure the coming growing pains. But as the first 12 games have clearly demonstrated the future is promising.

I wouldn’t send any of the others because we would lose them to waivers, everyone has struggle at time but Xhekaj has had some issue every game, and sometime even if it him causing the issue end up making is partner look bad. This is a throw away season we need to make sure our sellable asset are valuable. The myth about player only improving in the NHL is just ridiculous, AHL is significant competition, it isn’t beer ligue hockey… He know what he need to work on he will be able to work on it in the AHL and get more rep in with significantly more ice time and responsibility. It might also help Barron, not only on the ice but mentally, being the odd man out the only young guy sent back to the AHL probably wasn’t easy (seem to be doing ok now but he didn’t have a great start) these guy will be teammate might even end up forming a pairing, building some chemistry even if it is the only thing that come out of it won’t be a waste of time. Xhekaj is/will be a NHL D, is future is bright sending spending some time in the AHL. If you think that a guy with is path to the NHL will somehow fall apart because he is being sent to the AHL when there is a context and it is easily explained… I guess will agree about is potential but we just won’t agree about how to mange or develop our assets.

 

[rickthegoon]

Best case scenario is for management to trade Wideman asap, then use Kovacevic as a 7th D. I think just at the hockey level, even without the physical aspect, Hhekaj is sitting higher in the totem pole.
Our AHL franchise has never been a place where you send players to develop. It's nothing more than a black hole.

 

[cphabs]

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.

Is that you MB?

 

[Habs]

I wouldn’t send any of the others because we would lose them to waivers, everyone has struggle at time but Xhekaj has had some issue every game, and sometime even if it him causing the issue end up making is partner look bad. This is a throw away season we need to make sure our sellable asset are valuable. The myth about player only improving in the NHL is just ridiculous, AHL is significant competition, it isn’t beer ligue hockey… He know what he need to work on he will be able to work on it in the AHL and get more rep in with significantly more ice time and responsibility. It might also help Barron, not only on the ice but mentally, being the odd man out the only young guy sent back to the AHL probably wasn’t easy (seem to be doing ok now but he didn’t have a great start) these guy will be teammate might even end up forming a pairing, building some chemistry even if it is the only thing that come out of it won’t be a waste of time. Xhekaj is/will be a NHL D, is future is bright sending spending some time in the AHL. If you think that a guy with is path to the NHL will somehow fall apart because he is being sent to the AHL when there is a context and it is easily explained… I guess will agree about is potential but we just won’t agree about how to mange or develop our assets.

you wait till that one game he's out, and its a nasty rough game,. you'll all be crying for the kid back in the lineup.