Player Discussion Arber Xhekaj: The Sheriff

[HabsAddict]

You're not sure if Xhekaj will be as good as Chara? Would you like me to give you the definitive answer to that?

I haven't seen anyone say he's a finished product, that's just a strawman. He's got plenty of runway to develop into a very very useful playerbif things go well. Most people, like me, who think he's got a serious limitation just think it's unlikely he becomes a decent defender in the NHL. It's just a question of how much development is left in the guy cause there needs to be quite a bit of change.

Definitive answer?

You have any opinion it's nothing more then that.

X development is dependent on two things. His motivation and his circumstance. As an ex COSTCO employ a few years ago, his motivation is fine. His development in the Habs organization is suspect.

 

[habdynasty]

Is Robidas the guy to teach the young dmen? His name never gets mentioned here. I guess time will tell.

 

[BLONG7]

We are 32nd in almost everything and a guy on a 1 million per year short term contract is the least of our problems.

God forbid.............we hold the coaches accountable for a D system that sucks a$$.

Every single guy on the team has giveaways..............but at times you need the goalie to bail you out on occasion.........The Sherriff has not had that either.

As others have said, he is afraid to make a mistake................tough spot to be in.

 

[HabsAddict]

Chris Nilan who I respect thinks Xhekaj is playing afraid to make mistakes and is confused with how he should play which has clearly led to a player that looks worse now than he did when he was a rookie.
Coming from one of us you could take it with a grain of salt but coming from a former player that might be accurate.

Of course X is playing scared. He's making mistakes, no doubt about that and his mistakes are apparently from a different religion then every other player who makes plenty of mistakes.

First of all, we have no veterans to work with our rookies. If we had Markov or Weber, then X would be on a completely different trajectory. Instead we have the lost puppies playing with other lost puppies.

I wrote the previous post about X and Mailman leading to the 4th goal. A vet defenseman would of given more room to get the pass AND if X still made the mistake, they would talk about it and try not to repeat it.

We have plenty of rookies getting help from vets. Komisarek with Markov, Chiarot with Weber, etc...

 

[Walksss]

Definitive answer?

You have any opinion it's nothing more then that.

X development is dependent on two things. His motivation and his circumstance. As an ex COSTCO employ a few years ago, his motivation is fine. His development in the Habs organization is suspect.

Ok you're right he might be the next Chara. Close the thread, MSL is the only one holding him back lol.

 

[The Real Timo]

Is Robidas the guy to teach the young dmen? His name never gets mentioned here. I guess time will tell.

How much time?

 

[Halakitlikethat]

24hr ban for using the nickname 'Mailman' !

 

[salbutera]

Xhekaj, like a lot of players on this team is playing like someone whose afraid to make mistakes.

Nilan just has more sympathy because he's a former fighter and Xhekaj can fight too.

Yet the riskiest Dman of them all (Hutson) is playing loosey goosey?

Xhekaj would’ve been fine playing during Nilan’s era, but needs to focus on play reading to stay a regular Dman in the modern game which is so dependent on above avg hockey IQ for keeping a regular job

 

[Habs]

Yet the riskiest Dman of them all (Hutson) is playing loosey goosey?

Xhekaj would’ve been fine playing during Nilan’s era, but needs to focus on play reading to stay a regular Dman in the modern game which is so dependent on above avg hockey IQ for keeping a regular job

Our entire blueline (besides Guhle) are making multiple blunders every game though. If you are going to embarrass one guy by scratching him, sit the other bozos as well. I don't think it sends the right message at all. Yes he has coughed the puck up, so has everyone. Hutson does it once game, so does Savard and Struble.

We aren't on a cup run, let him play 6 games in a row without thinking every mistake is his last, unlike the other guys who can mess up with total impunity

 

[417]

Yet the riskiest Dman of them all (Hutson) is playing loosey goosey?

Difference is that’s just who he is and he stays true to it.

He’s going to try plays.

Xhekaj would’ve been fine playing during Nilan’s era, but needs to focus on play reading to stay a regular Dman in the modern game which is so dependent on above avg hockey IQ for keeping a regular job

Agreed

 

[WeThreeKings]

Our entire blueline (besides Guhle) are making multiple blunders every game though. If you are going to embarrass one guy by scratching him, sit the other bozos as well. I don't think it sends the right message at all. Yes he has coughed the puck up, so has everyone. Hutson does it once game, so does Savard and Struble.

We aren't on a cup run, let him play 6 games in a row without thinking every mistake is his last, unlike the other guys who can mess up with total impunity

If he plays that means Barron or Struble is sitting.

They are all young defenseman who deserve time to play, so it's going to be about merit. Xhekaj had opportunities twice with Struble and Barron getting hurt, and both times, he has not shown enough consistency game to game to keep his spot when those players are ready to come back.

Struble, Barron and Xhekaj are part of a rotation until two of them grab the bull by the horns. Let's stop making excuses for Xhekaj that no one else gets simply because he's a great fighter and a fun player.

I want Xhekaj to establish himself, so does Marty, so does HuGo, but you don't get a free pass out of the competition because you can occasionally punch someone in the face.