100% is struggling, but you can tell he's playing to not make a mistake, which just leads to more mistakes.
He's gotta be the protector on this team because Anderson doesn't really want to and Pezzetta isn't that good of a fighter AND he's constantly in the dog house. His game against the blues didn't help.
Hughes didn't address this issue when there was close to 10, maybe more options to address this, but he chose not to.
Xhekaj is less physical than he was when he was a rookie. He chased hits. Now he seems to be waiting for moments that are pretty much 110% good to go, which isn't bad, but isn't his game.
He has a reputation as a big, tough, physical dman, which makes people target him more
The team is once again suffering through injuries and the d-core has to switch around the pairings.
So far into the season all the young d and even the vets have looked bad at points.
So, you have a player who's in the doghouse with the coaching staff.
You have a player who's CLEARLY targeted by the officials.
No consistent pairing.
Potentially sees his NHL career slipping away.
With all that anytime something happens I bet you Xhekaj is in his own head going "how do I play this, in a way I'm comfortable with, but won't get me a penalty, or put in the doghouse"
Oop the guy is by me.
MSL/Robidas need to calm the f*** down and realize this team isn't good.
How do you think players, especially young ones think when you see vets who suck for months and nothing happens, but you're bad for 2, or 3 games and bam you're stapled to the bench, or healthy scratched, or getting called out, but rarely the vets.
Let the man play his game.
That said, Arber as a forward would be a menace.