Player Discussion Arber Xhekaj: The Sheriff

[Estimated_Prophet]

he is ainec a 1st RD pick.

Rare are the players who can body check the best player of any teams like he does and the opposite team simply does not have any answer for it.

The hockey skills, although limited, is not bad but the intangibles here is extremely, extremely valuable. Its prime Lucic-like.

Agreed that he is easily a 1st round pick in a redraft

His puck skills are very good and easily above average as has been mentioned by Hughes and MSL. The only issue that he has is that he started playing hockey later than most kids and was just very raw and needed time to grasp the technical/positional aspects of the game.

He has the potential to be a very good 2nd pairing D if he can continue to work towards making better decisions and if he can remain healthy. His floor is a punishing bottom pairing dman who can contribute offensively due to having decent puck skills and an elite slapshot along with a powerful wrister.

 

[Jaynki]

Agreed that he is easily a 1st round pick in a redraft

His puck skills are very good and easily above average as has been mentioned by Hughes and MSL. The only issue that he has is that he started playing hockey later than most kids and was just very raw and needed time to grasp the technical/positional aspects of the game.

He has the potential to be a very good 2nd pairing D if he can continue to work towards making better decisions and if he can remain healthy. His floor is a punishing bottom pairing dman who can contribute offensively due to having decent puck skills and an elite slapshot along with a powerful wrister.

100% agree

I could not agree more with you my favourite hfboards bourgeois

 

[Estimated_Prophet]

100% agree

I could not agree more with you my favourite hfboards bourgeois

Just trying to smuggle some Orwellian themes into the discourse here

 

[Mrb1p]

Any truth to the Max Truman report that his future with the organization isn't good? I hope not.

 

[Hannibal]

Any truth to the Max Truman report that his future with the organization isn't good? I hope not.

Better hope not ffs.

 

[LaP]

Xhekaj will end up having a better career than many of the touted defencemen taken in the first two rounds of the 2024 draft.

Xhekaj’s unexpected development proves the old adage that sometimes its better to be lucky than good.

There's also another adage that says good people put themselves in a position to be lucky

 

[schwang26]

He’s in a Dach situation except his upside is 5-6 D + goon, not 2C.

Until he proves himself he’s a fringe nhl goon with busted shoulders.

I hope he signs a “show us” deal, rocks it and becomes a permanent 3rd LD, I love his type.

Injuries I can agree on. Fringe nhl goon is extremely harsh. You don’t have every other team knocking on your door for a fringe nhl goon. He’s way better than that.

 

[Deebs]

Any truth to the Max Truman report that his future with the organization isn't good? I hope not.

Who is Max Truman?

 

[Shutdown]

Who is Max Truman?

don't know but he's probably more reliable than Max Lieman

 

[Deebs]

don't know but he's probably more reliable than Max Lieman

LOL...He's here all week folks, try the veal.

 

[morhilane]

Any truth to the Max Truman report that his future with the organization isn't good? I hope not.

The local media has been pushing the narrative that Xhekaj was going to be traded for more than 6 months now.

I don't think it's going to change, they clearly want the kid out.

 

[YukonCornelius 5thOA]

Any truth to the Max Truman report that his future with the organization isn't good? I hope not.

Unless he is some sort of major asshole behind the scenes, I highly doubt it.

Everything else points to them loving him imo, he went to the AHL last year because they really want to develop him properly, they see his multi dimension potential, it wasn’t punishment and he played solid and reliably after coming back. That coupled with him apparently being loved in the room, tight with Slaf, drafting his brother. I personally just don’t see it and think they’re invested in him.

There’s just some journalists that are weird and want to create drama for the clicks. Arber has really registered with the fans, so he’s an easy target to create drama about and get those online hits.

My $0.02.

 

[WeThreeKings]

Unless he is some sort of major asshole behind the scenes, I highly doubt it.

Everything else points to them loving him imo, he went to the AHL last year because they really want to develop him properly, they see his multi dimension potential, it wasn’t punishment and he played solid and reliably after coming back. That coupled with him apparently being loved in the room, tight with Slaf, drafting his brother. I personally just don’t see it and think they’re invested in him.

There’s just some journalists that are weird and want to create drama for the clicks. Arber has really registered with the fans, so he’s an easy target to create drama about and get those online hits.

My $0.02.

Yes, everyone close to the org says they love Arber and know he brings what they need to win in the playoffs.

He's not going anywhere.

 

[Tyson]

I would argue that Arber Xhekaj is in the top 5 of most popular Habs. The fan base would not be happy if he was traded

 

[Naslundforever]

Injuries I can agree on. Fringe nhl goon is extremely harsh. You don’t have every other team knocking on your door for a fringe nhl goon. He’s way better than that.

Spent half his season in the ahl, so yeah, fringe. Potential is there and I believe he will show more this season if healthy, though. Not sure what insight you have about teams knocking…

I would argue that Arber Xhekaj is in the top 5 of most popular Habs. The fan base would not be happy if he was traded

This I agree.

 

[hvac412]

Unless he is some sort of major asshole behind the scenes, I highly doubt it.

Everything else points to them loving him imo, he went to the AHL last year because they really want to develop him properly, they see his multi dimension potential, it wasn’t punishment and he played solid and reliably after coming back. That coupled with him apparently being loved in the room, tight with Slaf, drafting his brother. I personally just don’t see it and think they’re invested in him.

There’s just some journalists that are weird and want to create drama for the clicks. Arber has really registered with the fans, so he’s an easy target to create drama about and get those online hits.

My $0.02.

Yup,journalism is a click bait joke anymore,both in sports and regular news.

 

[schwang26]

Spent half his season in the ahl, so yeah, fringe. Potential is there and I believe he will show more this season if healthy, though. Not sure what insight you have about teams knocking…


This I agree.

17 games in Laval isnt even a quarter of the season and it’s pretty common knowledge that teams were/are constantly calling on him. I read and heard that many times as I’m sure others did. I’m also sure that no one else on this board would call him a fringe goon. You’re very much undervaluing him. I don’t disagree that there’s elements he needs to improve on but so does every other 22 year old defenceman. The fact is, he can skate, he’s huge and aggressive, he’s got the hardest shot on the team, he’s an excellent fighter and he’s improved his defensive play since the start of last year. All he has/had to work on was decision making.

 

[417]

The local media has been pushing the narrative that Xhekaj was going to be traded for more than 6 months now.

I don't think it's going to change, they clearly want the kid out.

Fans/media have propped up Xhekaj to a near cult-like following (don't get me wrong, I'm a fan of the player too) and they think the coaching staff/management, should do the same.

I don't think there's anything tangible to suggest that management aren't fans of him, he's one of several young players they have high hopes for.

 

[le_sean]

I would argue that Arber Xhekaj is in the top 5 of most popular Habs. The fan base would not be happy if he was traded

Basically my dad, who wishes the Habs were just a team of John Fergusons

 

[WeThreeKings]

Basically my dad, who wishes the Habs were just a team of John Fergusons

I didn't know Hannibal was your dad.

 

[BaseballCoach]

Yes, everyone close to the org says they love Arber and know he brings what they need to win in the playoffs.

He's not going anywhere.

Arber could very well max out better than Ben Chiarot, and Ben was a rock in the 2021 playoffs for us.

 

[Hannibal]

I didn't know Hannibal was your dad.

Hey bud, i’m damn happy we drafted Demidov. I love skill too! Lol

A couple of John Ferguson would not hurt this team though.

 

[WeThreeKings]

Hey bud, i’m damn happy we drafted Demidov. I love skill too! Lol

A couple of John Ferguson would not hurt this team though.

Haha love ya buddy, just an easy cheap joke on a boring thursday,

 

[Adriatic]

Basically my dad, who wishes the Habs were just a team of John Fergusons

I would take a couple of John Fergusons on this team in a heart beat.

 

[BehindTheTimes]

I would argue that Arber Xhekaj is in the top 5 of most popular Habs. The fan base would not be happy if he was traded

That sure stopped the Subban trade.