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.

 

[Habs]

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.

True, but you shouldn't get a free pass because you danced the puck out of your own zone and coughed it up 2x along the way. I know everyone loves Hutson, but he needs to share the blame and the media doesn't knock on him one bit.

 

[Favster]

True, but you shouldn't get a free pass because you danced the puck out of your own zone and coughed it up 2x along the way. I know everyone loves Hutson, but he needs to share the blame and the media doesn't knock on him one bit.

They are obviously more lenient with Hutson, he's a rookie. Arber is at the point now where he needs to establish himself as a full time NHLer, so far he's failed to do that. To me he just looks lost out there, not sure if it's systematic or something else but he needs to figure it out and fast.

 

[Habs]

They are obviously more lenient with Hutson, he's a rookie. Arber is at the point now where he needs to establish himself as a full time NHLer, so far he's failed to do that. To me he just looks lost out there, not sure if it's systematic or something else but he needs to figure it out and fast.

What's Savard's excuse then? Just fat , old and slow?

 

[WeThreeKings]

True, but you shouldn't get a free pass because you danced the puck out of your own zone and coughed it up 2x along the way. I know everyone loves Hutson, but he needs to share the blame and the media doesn't knock on him one bit.

Hutson provides an immense amount of value throughout the game. Xhekaj is providing nothing at all if he's not providing negative plays.

Hutsons game will always be does the good outweigh the bad? And it has very quickly into his career.

You wouldn't treat a Quinn Hughes giveaway the same way you treat a Jet Woo giveaway and i think you know that.

 

[417]

True, but you shouldn't get a free pass because you danced the puck out of your own zone and coughed it up 2x along the way. I know everyone loves Hutson, but he needs to share the blame and the media doesn't knock on him one bit.

It’s the honeymoon phase

Hutson time will come, he’s still a novelty for fans/media right now.

It will wear off like it has for every other player that came before him.

 

[Favster]

What's Savard's excuse then? Just fat , old and slow?

Mehhh, he isn't part of the future so I don't care. Same as Dvorak, Anderson, Armia etc. Won't lose sleep over their poor play.

I think Xhekaj has a future with this club but I am a bit concerned over his lack of coverage awareness in the D zone, hopefully he figures it out. Struble is already miles ahead of him in that facet.

 

[Habs]

Hutson provides an immense amount of value throughout the game. Xhekaj is providing nothing at all if he's not providing negative plays.

Hutsons game will always be does the good outweigh the bad? And it has very quickly into his career.

You wouldn't treat a Quinn Hughes giveaway the same way you treat a Jet Woo giveaway and i think you know that.

I think Hutson has loads of talent obviously, but at some point they can't let his awful turnovers not be held accountable it isn't a good look for the other guys in my mind.

 

[schwang26]

They are obviously more lenient with Hutson, he's a rookie. Arber is at the point now where he needs to establish himself as a full time NHLer, so far he's failed to do that. To me he just looks lost out there, not sure if it's systematic or something else but he needs to figure it out and fast.

I’m sure they’ve bitched at him for taking penalties. His play this year has reflected that. He rarely throws big hits and rarely fights. He’s not playing his game. Even his offensive production is down. He barely gets involved offensively now. The only guy with a true bullet from the point, and they don’t use it. I honestly think he’s being mishandled. My fear is, they’ll trade him, get nothing and he’ll have success somewhere else. People think we’re soft now, just wait.

I think Hutson has loads of talent obviously, but at some point they can't let his awful turnovers not be held accountable it isn't a good look for the other guys in my mind.

Matheson gets a pass as well. I know he has his place, but man. Some games this year, he’s been a turnover machine. I get it though, the more you handle the puck, the more you’ll turn over.

 

[HabsAddict]

I think Hutson has loads of talent obviously, but at some point they can't let his awful turnovers not be held accountable it isn't a good look for the other guys in my mind.

Hutson never clears the net and rarely wins puck battles in the corner. But he tries. And tries.

Don't get me wrong, i LOVE the kids IQ and motor, but he's given a stack of get out of jail cards that a rookie like Mailman is not. Mailman is expected to be a full responsibility defenseman and he better be one yesterday or on the AHL bus he goes. Ditto for X.

There is no way any other young defenseman doesn't see this and start to chaff.

Hutson MUST score and prove he's an exception if for nothing else, then team cohesion.

 

[Habs]

Hutson never clears the net and rarely wins puck battles in the corner. But he tries. And tries.

Don't get me wrong, i LOVE the kids IQ and motor, but he's given a stack of get out of jail cards that a rookie like Mailman is not. Mailman is expected to be a full responsibility defenseman and he better be one yesterday or on the AHL bus he goes. Ditto for X.

There is no way any other young defenseman doesn't see this and start to chaff.

Hutson MUST score and prove he's an exception if for nothing else, then team cohesion.

it would piss me off if I'm the only one getting scratched, and I am not the worst culprit lol

 

[Deebs]

it would piss me off if I'm the only one getting scratched, and I am not the worst culprit lol

He's been the worst defenseman all year.

 

[Nevins]

Delete

 

[HabsWhiteKnightLOL]

What's Savard's excuse then? Just fat , old and slow?

last year ufa , veteran , french canadian habs .

 

[HabsAddict]

There is a very delicate and fine line between "friendly" competition for a job and resentment. After all, careers and tens of millions are on the line.

Don't be suprised and don't blame the player if one or two want out.