Player Discussion Arber Xhekaj: The Sheriff

[Habs]

another solid game, you notice him out there for the right reasons. Our entire D core bumbles the puck, I like how he plays out there.

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.

Do you even watch the games? Deslauriers started it after Arber laid out a Flyer , what's he supposed to do turtle ? Is that what you want? 20 more years of players that turtle against Philly?

 

[Harry Kakalovich]

Do you even watch the games? Deslauriers started it after Arber laid out a Flyer , what's he supposed to do turtle ? Is that what you want? 20 more years of players that turtle against Philly?

???

I want him to not fight when it's detrimental to the team. Like all good tough guys learn to do. If he doesn't learn to walk away from fights, his fighting will be a liability. If Philly is up in that scenario, Deslauriers doesn't pick a fight. It wasn't much of a hit, just an excuse for Deslauriers to start a fight.

 

[Hannibal]

???

I want him to not fight when it's not beneficial to the team. Like all good tough guys learn to do. If he doesn't learn to walk away from fights, his fighting will be a liability. If Philly is up in that scenario, Deslauriers doesn't pick a fight. It wasn't much of a hit, just an excuse for Deslauriers to start a fight.

He had no choice but to answer the bell or turtle. I hate turtle.

 

[Harry Kakalovich]

He had no choice but to answer the bell or turtle. I hate turtle.

I disagree that he didn't have a choice. Tough guys are always walking away. Doesn't mean he has to turtle - he can just skate away and laugh at him because he's a plug who's team is losing.

 

[Hannibal]

I disagree that he didn't have a choice. Tough guys are always walking away. Doesn't mean he has to turtle - he can just skate away and laugh at him because he's a plug who's team is losing.

I think you need to re-watch the sequence. Lol wtf

 

[jrom]

I disagree that he didn't have a choice. Tough guys are always walking away. Doesn't mean he has to turtle - he can just skate away and laugh at him because he's a plug who's team is losing.

Xhekaj after the Coyotes game said that he would fight anyone challenging him. Things were set in motion before this game and of course DLO was gonna test him.

No one went after Guhle after his big hit, part of it was because it was clean and the other was that this fight happened already.

 

[jellybeans]

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.

Good to hear.

Yeah no shame in it.

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



He lost the fight.

Sorry bud.

Take off those rose colored glasses.

Good bye love the ignore option flushes trolls.

I think you need to re-watch the sequence. Lol wtf

He's just a troll even if technically he did lose the fight it wasn't much one.

 

[Habs]

I disagree that he didn't have a choice. Tough guys are always walking away. Doesn't mean he has to turtle - he can just skate away and laugh at him because he's a plug who's team is losing.

maybe go watch bowling instead of hockey

 

[70Stang]

WIFI had no choice but to drop the gloves in this situation. Everyone will have their own opinion on it. For so many years we have been soft Smurfs. Culture is changing for the better.

 

[1909]

maybe go watch bowling instead of hockey

Bowling is a violent sport with all these pins flying all over the place after having been hit by a big hard ball.....

 

[Habs]

WIFI had no choice but to drop the gloves in this situation. Everyone will have their own opinion on it. For so many years we have been soft Smurfs. Culture is changing for the better.

remember when Patches was decked, or Zednik ... or the dozens of other times we have been totally abused on the ice...and the entire team just skates around like 'Oh well, lets talk it out boys, maybe our teammate had it coming?'. Meanwhile management is just 'I wonder why we can't win anything with all these soft small players on the ice getting clobbered?'

 

[KevSkillz4]

Can't believe that this guy is a Montreal Canadiens. What a player!! He is a true fighter, can hit, can pass the puck, play well at defensive zone, great mobility... he is a better version of Ben Chiarot, more offensive talent than Chiarot. This guy is going to be really really solid in 2 years. He is only 21 years old, already 5 points in 18 games. That's very very solid!!

 

[70Stang]

remember when Patches was decked, or Zednik ... or the dozens of other times we have been totally abused on the ice...and the entire team just skates around like 'Oh well, lets talk it out boys, maybe our teammate had it coming?'. Meanwhile management is just 'I wonder why we can't win anything with all these soft small players on the ice getting clobbered?'

All anyone has to do is go back to when Jaroslav Spacek was destroyed. If I remember correctly the entire line that was on the line was destroyed. Was one of the biggest embarrassments as a habs fan. There comes a time on the ice when men have to be men. Days of being pushed around and beaten to a pulp in your own barn hopefully are in the past. To find players that can stand up for themselves and others and be able to play the game are hard to find. We have a few of these guys so let's enjoy the ride and see what develops.

 

[70Stang]

. Do you guys want the future to be this? No thanks. It starts at 1:05. There is a very high knowledge base of posters here. Some have played the game at a high level. We all know how many inches we grow to have guys who can play and stand up for themselves and others.

 

[JJ68]

The annoying thing about this fanbase was when the NHL was super tough, all the fans here were like noooo...we need boring 4th lines who can win faceoffs and maybe score a goal once every while and can skate fast.....

Meanwhile guys like Ryan White were getting slammed for sticking up for the goalie or other guys because his timing wasn't right. For once we had guys in 2013 who initiated action rather then waiting and then maybe doing something but people were like noooo, this isn't good for Hockey. White, Prust, Tinordi, Murray, Parros, Moen...all in one team. We need toughness, and then, why are we signing tough guys?????

Now because Wifi is tough in a softer NHL people are finally opening their eyes as to why it's fun to have a guy who will take on all chgalleneges and initiate them, no matter the time or score of the game.

Enough worrying about the right time to fight. That's nonsense.

 

[Vachon23]

How do you think Xhakaj gonna earn a reputation of a tough guy and will be respected by other teams ? It’s by fighting league tough guys like it or not

 

[Harry Kakalovich]

maybe go watch bowling instead of hockey

Why do you like bowling so much?

remember when Patches was decked, or Zednik ... or the dozens of other times we have been totally abused on the ice...and the entire team just skates around like 'Oh well, lets talk it out boys, maybe our teammate had it coming?'. Meanwhile management is just 'I wonder why we can't win anything with all these soft small players on the ice getting clobbered?'

Yeah it's nice to have a tough guy, for sure. And Xhekaj will be a good one. But he wasn't defending anyone on that play last night. He was letting Deslauriers defend someone and pump up the Flyers.

But whatever - he's a rookie. Hopefully he'll learn not to waste his time and be goaded into stupid fights that hurt the team.

 

[Habs]

Why do you like bowling so much?



Yeah it's nice to have a tough guy, for sure. And Xhekaj will be a good one. But he wasn't defending anyone on that play last night. He was letting Deslauriers defend someone and pump up the Flyers.

But whatever - he's a rookie. Hopefully he'll learn not to waste his time and be goaded into stupid fights that hurt the team.

Deslauriers grabbed him and dropped the gloves. Did you want Arbs to talk it out and walk away like a punk? Did you watch the game? How did that hurt the team? The boys looked pumped to me whenever he drops the mitts, its great for the team if you ask me. Should Guhle not have hit his man and decked him on the ice, because someone may have come after him too? This team will grow together knowing they have each others backs, unlike the last 25 years of 'to each their own'. I also loved how Deslauriers did his job and went after Arbs, it works both ways.

 

[BargainBinSpecial]

Can't believe that this guy is a Montreal Canadiens. What a player!! He is a true fighter, can hit, can pass the puck, play well at defensive zone, great mobility... he is a better version of Ben Chiarot, more offensive talent than Chiarot. This guy is going to be really really solid in 2 years. He is only 21 years old, already 5 points in 18 games. That's very very solid!!

So many of these guys go unnoticed unfortunately. Drafting is not an exact science.

 

[Mrb1p]

. Do you guys want the future to be this? No thanks. It starts at 1:05. There is a very high knowledge base of posters here. Some have played the game at a high level. We all know how many inches we grow to have guys who can play and stand up for themselves and others.

Damn these boys could chuck em lmao

Bouillon Tinordi
Armstrong White Moen

 

[Retired]

I disagree that he didn't have a choice. Tough guys are always walking away. Doesn't mean he has to turtle - he can just skate away and laugh at him because he's a plug who's team is losing.

D-Lo jumped him gloves flying. He grabbed on best he could and took himself and the big vet down. I’m most of all happy Xhekaj is laying hits even when career goons are on the ice.

 

[Retired]

The annoying thing about this fanbase was when the NHL was super tough, all the fans here were like noooo...we need boring 4th lines who can win faceoffs and maybe score a goal once every while and can skate fast.....

Meanwhile guys like Ryan White were getting slammed for sticking up for the goalie or other guys because his timing wasn't right. For once we had guys in 2013 who initiated action rather then waiting and then maybe doing something but people were like noooo, this isn't good for Hockey. White, Prust, Tinordi, Murray, Parros, Moen...all in one team. We need toughness, and then, why are we signing tough guys?????

Now because Wifi is tough in a softer NHL people are finally opening their eyes as to why it's fun to have a guy who will take on all chgalleneges and initiate them, no matter the time or score of the game.

Enough worrying about the right time to fight. That's nonsense.

I’ll talk for myself and not put words into the entire fanbase’s mouth to make a point.

My favorite types of players were guys like Keane, Chelios, Corson, Lemieux. They could play the game and be tough as nails but were way better hockey players than any of the jersey filler you named.

 

[Retired]

remember when Patches was decked, or Zednik ... or the dozens of other times we have been totally abused on the ice...and the entire team just skates around like 'Oh well, lets talk it out boys, maybe our teammate had it coming?'. Meanwhile management is just 'I wonder why we can't win anything with all these soft small players on the ice getting clobbered?'

I was at a game once 3-4 seats above Price’s shoulder (round 2010-ish?)… I had never seen a goalie get bumped in his crease that much. At one point Carey skated up the left boards and literally body-checked an opposing player on zone entry… I was always convinced he’d had enough!

— found footage, got the year right lol

 

[JJ68]

I’ll talk for myself and not put words into the entire fanbase’s mouth to make a point.

My favorite types of players were guys like Keane, Chelios, Corson, Lemieux. They could play the game and be tough as nails but were way better hockey players than any of the jersey filler you named.

Corson and Keane yea....chelios was gritty but not more than that and the other was adept at turtling.

 

[Retired]

Corson and Keane yea....chelios was gritty but not more than that and the other was adept at turtling.

That rep comes around the time a guy wearing a visor would hear homophobic slurs… Here’s the follow up fight to the “turtling”. It was such a different time; Lemieux has been in plenty fights, but he was a better version of Gallagher and would score goals with his face.

Guys like Parros and D-Lo are useful, but I was never a fan of those middle-weight, 15 points a season ”agitators” (White, etc.). I’m of the opinion you should be able and drop them against anyone or have an even bigger goon than you on the team if your role is to crank up the other team otherwise, Arber, Anderson, Ghule, Edmundson… those guys I like.

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