Player Discussion Arber Xhekaj: The Sheriff

[FLHabs]

Xhekaj needs to play with confidence and swagger which is not happening right now. Sucks that Matheson is injured, but if he misses a few games, I'm willing to bet that Xhekaj will be better and play a lot looser with a spot somewhat secured for the time being.

 

[Habs]

First of all you rip on everyone more than anybody else. Is this post satire? What about all the times you've ripped Barron?

Secondly we're ripping on him because he's getting burned in all situations. He's objectively worse than Barron ever has been, he gets killed off the rush, he can't seem to break up a cycle, he misses hits all the time, his breakout passes have been horrendous and he hasn't even been mean clearing the front of the net.

He constantly doesn't rotate onto his proper coverage, like every single shift. I'm wondering outside of fighting, which I love him for, what does this guy do well? His shot is a nice tool if he could get it off and on target, but that's a rare event.

He was a glaring factor in the loss tonight. He has to pick up that man in the high slot on the second goal to make sure he can't get a clean tip. He didn't. He literally is just standing there. He got blasted off the rush multiple times tonight, he's been absolutely awful

If I had a dollar for every time this guy has made a zero IQ play this season I'd buy this site. That isn't hyperbole.

I really have high hopes for the guy cause I want the nuclear deterrent in the lineup, but at this point the mainboard posters calling him just a goon haven't been wrong.

Justin Barron is a former 1st round pick who can barely crack a dogshit blueline and has the luxury of training with some of the best player in the NHL along the way. Xhekaj is an undrafted kid who had to work at Costco. Spot the difference in expectations? Lemme guess, lets dump the only guy who has consistently dropped the gloves for this team, so another creampuff can dance around and cough up the puck instead?

Oh noes he's not living up to his undrafted expectations lol. How about we worry about the high paid turds on this team that haven't scored yet this year?

 

[WeThreeKings]

Needs to play with his edge, he's over-corrected a bit too much since the pre-season.

 

[morhilane]

Needs to play with his edge, he's over-corrected a bit too much since the pre-season.

X is scared of losing his job (to Engstrom,Struble, Mailloux and cie) and it's doing a mental game on him.

 

[417]

He has regressed for sure.

IMO, its more he hasn't PROGRESSED.

 

[Tyson]

IMO, its more he hasn't PROGRESSED.

I totally agree, he was more effective in year 1.

 

[417]

I totally agree, he was more effective in year 1.

I said it during preseason and got a lot of heat for it...but it won't be enough for Xhekaj to be known as the league's most fearsome face puncher.

He's a Dman on this team, he's going to be expected to take a regular shift and fulfill a role that goes beyond enforcing.

Everyone wants to look at Barron and say he's playing awful, because AX is "cool"...

OK, but at the end of the day, performance is performance and it's pretty obvious who the weakest link is right now.

I'm far from giving up on AX, I think he's got so much more to give...but he's got to ignore that role that fans/media are so desperate for him to have, he can be so much better while still remaining feared/respected.

 

[Team_Spirit]

Maxim Lapierre says hits against the Habs are down 30% when he's in the lineup. That's about 5~7 less hits every game.

Not sure where he pulled that from but big if true.

 

[1909]

Xhekaj neede 2 to 3 full seasons at AHL level to learn how to play D at Pro level. As usual the management rushed him and the fans made him a god because of his fighting skills. On top of that the guy had two serious injuries to both shoulders in two seasons.

 

[Tyson]

Xhekaj neede 2 to 3 full seasons at AHL level to learn how to play D at Pro level. As usual the management rushed him and the fans made him a god because of his fighting skills. On top of that the guy had two serious injuries to both shoulders in two seasons.

Yep not sure you can put the Jeannie back in the bottle at this point.

 

[Mrb1p]

Xhekaj neede 2 to 3 full seasons at AHL level to learn how to play D at Pro level. As usual the management rushed him and the fans made him a god because of his fighting skills. On top of that the guy had two serious injuries to both shoulders in two seasons.

2 to 3 is pushing it. He needs a coach that trusts him to be himself. Martin isn't that.


I think they should move on from him.

 

[ReHabs]

Maxim Lapierre says hits against the Habs are down 30% when he's in the lineup. That's about 5~7 less hits every game.

Not sure where he pulled that from but big if true.

A laughable stat but probably feels correct. There's an animalistic, human-scale effect when there's a hulking beast on your side. Xhekaj needs to improve his D to secure his full-time NHL career and (saying this nicely and in a good way) he's going to be severely overpaid at some point when he turns UFA.

 

[Captain Mountain]

I said it during preseason and got a lot of heat for it...but it won't be enough for Xhekaj to be known as the league's most fearsome face puncher.

He's a Dman on this team, he's going to be expected to take a regular shift and fulfill a role that goes beyond enforcing.

Everyone wants to look at Barron and say he's playing awful, because AX is "cool"...

OK, but at the end of the day, performance is performance and it's pretty obvious who the weakest link is right now.

I'm far from giving up on AX, I think he's got so much more to give...but he's got to ignore that role that fans/media are so desperate for him to have, he can be so much better while still remaining feared/respected.

Barron has been better than Xhekaj, but I'd argue that Savard has been the weakest link on D. At least Xhekaj-Barron have had stretches of effectiveness, Savard has been awful with everyone he's played with.

 

[Habs Halifax]

IMO, its more he hasn't PROGRESSED.

He's being asked to be the leader on his pairing after playing 100 NHL games. The issue I see is we don't have a strong enough D core with vets to insert the kids 1 by 1.

We have:
* The aging Savard
* The maturing Matheson who is not strong in his own end. He's not the type to mentor a kid and showing him how to play D in our end.
* A bunch of rookies or youth learning on the job.

Usually, what you see is someone like Xhekaj paired with a reliable partner. We just don't have those options. This is going to be a up/down rollercoaster ride for a while yet. Fans are too emotionally attached to the small gains and looses and have a hard time keeping long game on their mind. Hence, what you see is comments like... What is wrong with Xhekaj in the last few posts as an example. Put Xhekaj with Guhle and you would be saying... Wow, look at how good Xhekaj is playing.

Hutson and Guhle are the only two guys that are on the fast track to top 4D. The rest of them will take years.

 

[Habs Halifax]

Barron has been better than Xhekaj, but I'd argue that Savard has been the weakest link on D. At least Xhekaj-Barron have had stretches of effectiveness, Savard has been awful with everyone he's played with.

I'd go with this switch..

Hutson / Guhle
Matheson / Savard
Whatever works on any given day (3rd pairing).

I think Savard belongs with someone like Matheson. Knows what he is doing but has experience and just needs someone to be stable with him. That's the ideal spot for Savard but then you wonder about the other 2 pairings? Well, I'd try Hutson/Guhle. See if Guhle can be the rock Hutson needs.

Xhekaj should probably be paired up with someone at RD we don't have. lol. Barron, Mailloux, and Reinbacher are not ready and both Barron and Mailloux also need a steady rock on the LD side. Probably Guhle but he's needed with Hutson. Xhekaj and Savard are not mobile enough. See the problems?

 

[SHANNYPLAN]

Leafs fan coming in peace.

Tough to have an enforcer in the top 6 D, if he doesn't take a step defensively, throw him on the 4th line (like MacDermid). Wouldn't let him go if I were you.

 

[Mrb1p]

Leafs fan coming in peace.

Tough to have an enforcer in the top 6 D, if he doesn't take a step defensively, throw him on the 4th line (like MacDermid). Wouldn't let him go if I were you.

He can more than play a regular shift at D, especially on the third pair. The relationship between player and coach is the problem.

He scratched Xhekaj to include Mailloux who is an absolute train wreck, he's just not liked by the coach.

 

[The Real Timo]

He can more than play a regular shift at D, especially on the third pair. The relationship between player and coach is the problem.

He scratched Xhekaj to include Mailloux who is an absolute train wreck, he's just not liked by the coach.

... don't forget Barron who is apparently our 1-2D now...

 

[Mrb1p]

... don't forget Barron who is apparently our 1-2D now...

The overabundance of fast skating PMDs on the defense is a clear reflection of what MSL likes in players.

 

[Bourdon101]

He can more than play a regular shift at D, especially on the third pair. The relationship between player and coach is the problem.

He scratched Xhekaj to include Mailloux who is an absolute train wreck, he's just not liked by the coach.

What are you even watching? Xhekaj has been a liability in his own end and an absolute non-factor offensively.

Mailloux and Xhekaj don't even play on the same side. Mailloux was called up because Guhle (who plays RD though he's a lefty) is out. Struble is the one who took Arber's spot.

 

[417]

He can more than play a regular shift at D, especially on the third pair. The relationship between player and coach is the problem.

He scratched Xhekaj to include Mailloux who is an absolute train wreck, he's just not liked by the coach.

Or maybe he's just not playing well and despite his popularity and near cult-like following, he's not an automatic on D.

He'll rotate in and out of the lineup with Barron/Struble/Mailloux, because just like they are, he's a young Dman learning to play in the NHL.

 

[Whitesnake]

I don't disagree to try him as forward. Could he be our Matt Martin?

 

[417]

I don't disagree to try him as forward. Could he be our Matt Martin?

He's already confused as is, that would be a terrible idea IMO.

He can be a very good Dman, solid bottom pair guy, who can kill penalties, keep teams honest and chip in some offense.

Been saying it for awhile, he needs to drop the "Sherrif" routine, stop listening/reading your hype and just show useful and unique you can be on the ice.

He has a profile that very few players in the NHL have, if he wants to be content with just being a face puncher because that's what fans expect, he's selling himself short.

 

[Tyson]

Sadly I think he gets moved by seasons end.

 

[HuGo Sham]

I said it during preseason and got a lot of heat for it...but it won't be enough for Xhekaj to be known as the league's most fearsome face puncher.

He's a Dman on this team, he's going to be expected to take a regular shift and fulfill a role that goes beyond enforcing.

Everyone wants to look at Barron and say he's playing awful, because AX is "cool"...

OK, but at the end of the day, performance is performance and it's pretty obvious who the weakest link is right now.

I'm far from giving up on AX, I think he's got so much more to give...but he's got to ignore that role that fans/media are so desperate for him to have, he can be so much better while still remaining feared/respected.

agreed and I agree he needs to drop the schtick and play to his strengths. that being said, I think MSL yo-yo's him

The overabundance of fast skating PMDs on the defense is a clear reflection of what MSL likes in players.

and this is a problem - especially come playoff time (or meaningful games) or against bigger teams like boston or LA - where habs were overmatched