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Player Discussion Arber Xhekaj: The Sheriff

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The Real Timo said:
I don't understand why Xhekaj is the odd guy out... he's been better than both Harris and Kova (and I like both of them) - not to mention Savard.
Left/right ... whatever. He is NOT the guy to sit.


Plus ca change...
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Better than Harris? No. The only time Harris looked like shit this year was when Kovacevic got benched.
 
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Not the end of the world. It’s the timing of it that bugs me. Sit him when the soft Figs are playing, no sweat. But the Flyers have a couple of tough customers, the like of which last year’s team (all the vets, including 44 and Andy) couldn’t dare challenge. Nothing has changed, except Arber.

Some pundits are claiming today that the coach did not like to see the kid drop the mitts at the end of a period after a comeback. And against an AHLer (tiens donc!). If it’s true, it could explain why Arber was very much uninvolved in recent scrums. He is asked to strictly play hockey.

Oh well, la saison est longue anyway.
 
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The Real Timo said:
I don't understand why Xhekaj is the odd guy out... he's been better than both Harris and Kova (and I like both of them) - not to mention Savard.
Left/right ... whatever. He is NOT the guy to sit.


Plus ca change...
Click to expand...

Xhekaj has been the worst dman out of the rookies (Kovacevic is close but Guhle and Harris have been much better). Don't get me wrong, I love watching him play as we aren't looking to finish outside of the bottom 10 and the mistakes aren't a big deal........but his positioning in the dzone is quite bad and he is making at least one brutal giveaway a game in transition.

He absolutely should be in Laval learning how to play his position. Harris and Guhle are much more advanced positionally and have far less to gain from a stint in the AHL.

If you are being honest with yourself and if you understand hockey you just have to admit that Xhekaj is a sideshow that is fun to watch but too often the kid looks like a junior level dman in his own end.

He has some untapped offensive potential as well and I think a stint in the AHL will help him unlock some of it by learning to run a pro PP and handle the puck with a little more time and space. He has had multiple terrible turnovers while trying to skate the puck into the NZ and playing in Laval will help to transition to NHL level tactics from the CHL tactics that he is still deferring to.
 
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dinodebino said:
Not the end of the world. It’s the timing of it that bugs me. Sit him when the soft Figs are playing, no sweat. But the Flyers have a couple of tough customers, the like of which last year’s team (all the vets, including 44 and Andy) couldn’t dare challenge. Nothing has changed, except Arber.

Some pundits are claiming today that the coach did not like to see the kid drop the mitts at the end of a period after a comeback. And against an AHLer (tiens donc!). If it’s true, it could explain why Arber was very much uninvolved in recent scrums. He is asked to strictly play hockey.

Oh well, la saison est longue anyway.
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Lemay was pushing this theory the whole day...

I think it's BS.

He's scratched because the other young guys played better.

And I don't think MSL wants 5 lefties and Savard in the lineup.

Kovacevic is lucky he's a right-handed D lol
 
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Guess said:
I hope he gets sent down to the AHL. I don't believe he's going to fight every goon that comes to him. Let him become a leader over there with top minutes, helping Laval get out of the gutter would be great experience for him.
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I think they'll eventually send him down as him sitting in the pressbox is not very good for his development.

If Kovacevic has a solid game tonight, they'll send Arber down IMO.
 
I just don't see how him going to play in the AHL would be good for us. We would be losing more often without him and he would play against wannabes in the AHL.
 
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Estimated_Prophet said:
Xhekaj has been the worst dman out of the rookies (Kovacevic is close but Guhle and Harris have been much better). Don't get me wrong, I love watching him play as we aren't looking to finish outside of the bottom 10 and the mistakes aren't a big deal........but his positioning in the dzone is quite bad and he is making at least one brutal giveaway a game in transition.

He absolutely should be in Laval learning how to play his position. Harris and Guhle are much more advanced positionally and have far less to gain from a stint in the AHL.

If you are being honest with yourself and if you understand hockey you just have to admit that Xhekaj is a sideshow that is fun to watch but too often the kid looks like a junior level dman in his own end.

He has some untapped offensive potential as well and I think a stint in the AHL will help him unlock some of it by learning to run a pro PP and handle the puck with a little more time and space. He has had multiple terrible turnovers while trying to skate the puck into the NZ and playing in Laval will help to transition to NHL level tactics from the CHL tactics that he is still deferring to.
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The only issue with this is that too often Edmundson and Savard don't look significantly better defensively, so I would rather him play as well. Move one of the vets if they hold any value for this deep draft.

Belial said:
I think they'll eventually send him down as him sitting in the pressbox is not very good for his development.

If Kovacevic has a solid game tonight, they'll send Arber down IMO.
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Big test. I think he's looked very good most of the season. But he's without Harris who has been his partner all year.

Xhekaj fighting a useless plug that lead to a faceoff that lead to a goal isn't a good look though.
 
Natey said:
The only issue with this is that too often Edmundson and Savard don't look significantly better defensively, so I would rather him play as well. Move one of the vets if they hold any value for this deep draft.


Big test. I think he's looked very good most of the season. But he's without Harris who has been his partner all year.

Xhekaj fighting a useless plug that lead to a faceoff that lead to a goal isn't a good look though.
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Edmundson and Savard are significantly better defensively.....Xhekaj has been a well below average defender in the dzone this year.
 
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Hope he's okay.

Deslauriers knocked him down with a beautiful right cross right to the chin.

Why did we trade Deslauriers again?????
 
A Hhekaj-Barron pairing in Laval would likely be very beneficial for both prospects.
 
River Meadow said:
Hope he's okay.

Deslauriers knocked him down with a beautiful right cross right to the chin.

Why did we trade Deslauriers again?????
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He played in the third period and was still playing the same game. He’s okay. He was gassed after a long shift and a big hit, while Deslauriers is a very tough fighter and a savvy veteran. No shame in that loss, I’m sure if they meet again on more even terms, Xhekaj will be better.
 
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Beendair Donedat said:
He played in the third period and was still playing the same game. He’s okay. He was gassed after a long shift and a big hit, while Deslauriers is a very tough fighter and a savvy veteran. No shame in that loss, I’m sure if they meet again on more even terms, Xhekaj will be better.
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Good to hear.

Yeah no shame in it.

He's 21, can't expect to win them all just yet.

Heffyhoof said:
Because what you're pretending isn't reality? It was barely a fight with a quick takedown. Troll much?
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He lost the fight.

Sorry bud.

Take off those rose colored glasses.
 
Beendair Donedat said:
He definitely lost that one. Deslauriers landed a right at the end that was a borderline TKO. There’s a better angle of it from a fan camera that’s out there.
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Yes but Xhekaj did a judo move to end it before he lost the fight imo.
 
I don't like the timing of his fights. He's always fighting when it's beneficial for the other team's tough guy. Habs are up 3-2 why's he fighting? Just walk away.
 
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