Player Discussion Arber Xhekaj: The Sheriff

Habs

Who needs Michkov when you've got Bustbacher
Feb 28, 2002
22,476
17,043
Barron coming off a concussion somehow replaces Xhekaj.

Did Struble come off when he was too lazy to go get the puck four games ago? Come on. MSL is so annoying.

#FreeXhekaj
no Struble gets a free pass because he yells at people and is a greek god apparently
 

overlords

#DefundCBC
Aug 16, 2008
32,913
12,652
The City
How is Xhekaj not playing when Tom Wilson is on the other side?

oh-yea.gif
 
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Habs

Who needs Michkov when you've got Bustbacher
Feb 28, 2002
22,476
17,043
How is Xhekaj not playing when Tom Wilson is on the other side?

We will beat them with respekt and playing the game like gentlemen. When we lose another player (probably stupid Barron again) to a headshot or hit from behind, lets just pretend we didn't see it coming and act shocked. Hutson will be a target, and why wouldn't he be? If I'm the Caps I'm looking at the other team tonight and seeing a free pass on every hit.

Xhekaj haters will be 'He Isn't fighting now!!!!!!' well yeah, because he will get scratched for another 5 games
 

HabsAddict

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Feb 27, 2002
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X is out of the lineup AGAIN.

It's obvious that X was responsible for the 8-2 loss. I know because i asked Martys mirror.

If I'm the Bruins, I'm seeing another Chara V2 developing right before my eyes. THEY have the system and the support to develop him.

But who cares, we got Super Marty'o...

PS...if McLlrath or Wilson destroys one if our players, its TOTALLY on Super Duper Marty.
 
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417

Cole "Cold" Palmer
Feb 20, 2003
52,351
30,146
Ottawa
He's a saint for not asking for a trade. Honestly that's a testament to his character as a person imo.
Imagine thinking a dude who went undrafted, got an NHL contract from the Montreal Canadiens, has a cult-like following because of the Montreal Canadiens and has a grand total of 103 NHL games under his belt...

Is a "saint" for not asking for a trade because he's been playing like shit and made a healthy scratch 4 times lol.

I said all preseason he was playing like someone whose entitled, I wonder if it's fans with this kind of nonsense posts that made him that way.

A saint for not asking for a trade LMAO

X is out of the lineup AGAIN.

It's obvious that X was responsible for the 8-2 loss. I know because i asked Martys mirror.

If I'm the Bruins, I'm seeing another Chara V2 developing right before my eyes. THEY have the system and the support to develop him.

But who cares, we got Super Marty'o...

PS...if McLlrath or Wilson destroys one if our players, its TOTTALLY on Super Duper Marty.
Yes, because Tom Wilson gives a damn about whether or not Arber Xhekaj is playing.

Most overrated Habs player by a mile.
 

Mrb1p

PRICERSTOPDAPUCK
Dec 10, 2011
91,126
58,215
Citizen of the world
Imagine thinking a dude who went undrafted, got an NHL contract from the Montreal Canadiens, has a cult-like following because of the Montreal Canadiens and has a grand total of 103 NHL games under his belt...

Is a "saint" for not asking for a trade because he's been playing like shit and made a healthy scratch 4 times lol.

I said all preseason he was playing like someone whose entitled, I wonder if it's fans with this kind of nonsense posts that made him that way.

A saint for not asking for a trade LMAO
It's true he's not playing well.

It's also true that no one but Guhle and Hutson are playing well.

It's also true that last year he got the short end again by being sent down.
 

schwang26

Registered User
Mar 15, 2022
4,334
4,235
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.
Hutson will never clear the net or win puck battles. He needs to get there before they do or be really smart with his stick, which he is. He’s faced that his whole life, and honestly, I don’t find him to be a liability in his own end.
 

HabsAddict

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Feb 27, 2002
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We will beat them with respekt and playing the game like gentlemen. When we lose another player (probably stupid Barron again) to a headshot or hit from behind, lets just pretend we didn't see it coming and act shocked. Hutson will be a target, and why wouldn't he be? If I'm the Caps I'm looking at the other team tonight and seeing a free pass on every hit.

Xhekaj haters will be 'He Isn't fighting now!!!!!!' well yeah, because he will get scratched for another 5 games
If they got Mcllerath in there is no one on the Habs other then X to deal with him. NOBODY. If Struble or Guhle tries, we are going to lose them.

Just remember Marty is the smartest guy on the planet. He "knows" best.
 
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Kosseca

Registered User
Feb 23, 2020
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Arber needs to improve his game. I'm the first to think that given the skill set of the players MTL has, they need a player like him: mean, physical shut down first guy.

The way I see, and I said as much in another tread, Arber is stuck in between two role: the very responsible defensively dman and the enforcer and he's not succeeding in adapting. Part of this is due to MSL asking him to pick is spot for hitting and getting penalties. Now combine that with how the Refs are behaving with him. They are so concerns that things may get out of hand around him that they more often then not enforce the rules more stringently with him. This leads to him getting more penalties, and that must play in his head. If I was him would would be "F. this... nothing I do is ok".

That said, he need to play better too. How many of these one hand passes/push the puck to his d partner as he done? He make "lazy" plays at time. He need to be more engaged and take control of the play: assert physical dominance, create time and space, control the puck, make smart play.
 

HabsAddict

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Feb 27, 2002
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Hutson will never clear the net or win puck battles. He needs to get there before they do or be really smart with his stick, which he is. He’s faced that his whole life, and honestly, I don’t find him to be a liability in his own end.
I find him to be a liability because he's not winning any puck battles or regaining possession. He will lose 70% of those battles but he looks real good when he wins the 30%.

I don't have an issue with were he's at and going forward. I just don't think that he's he's going to be anything more then a bottom 7 defensivly...and a top 1 offensivly.
 

HabsAddict

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Feb 27, 2002
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Arber needs to improve his game. I'm the first to think that given the skill set of the players MTL has, they need a player like him: mean, physical shut down first guy.

The way I see, and I said as much in another tread, Arber is stuck in between two role: the very responsible defensively dman and the enforcer and he's not succeeding in adapting. Part of this is due to MSL asking him to pick is spot for hitting and getting penalties. Now combine that with how the Refs are behaving with him. They are so concerns that things may get out of hand around him that they more often then not enforce the rules more stringently with him. This leads to him getting more penalties, and that must play in his head. If I was him would would be "F. this... nothing I do is ok".

That said, he need to play better too. How many of these one hand passes/push the puck to his d partner as he done? He make "lazy" plays at time. He need to be more engaged and take control of the play: assert physical dominance, create time and space, control the puck, make smart play.
I'm beginning to think that the worse thing thst happened was Rein getting hurt. That welded Savard to Hutson and no quality defensive defenseman to play with X.

Right now, it's the rookies playing with rookies...and compounding errors.
 

Ezpz

No mad pls
Apr 16, 2013
15,257
11,751
Kind of weird he gets scratched versus every physical team though. Are they trying to prevent him from fighting to not get another shoulder injury? When Tom Wilson is taking liberties no one else is going to do shit tonight.
 

habdynasty

Registered User
May 26, 2008
7,571
3,158
I find him to be a liability because he's not winning any puck battles or regaining possession. He will lose 70% of those battles but he looks real good when he wins the 30%.

I don't have an issue with were he's at and going forward. I just don't think that he's he's going to be anything more then a bottom 7 defensivly...and a top 1 offensivly.
If you can predict his career 10 games in can you share winning lottery numbers.
 

Kosseca

Registered User
Feb 23, 2020
1,287
1,137
I'm beginning to think that the worse thing thst happened was Rein getting hurt. That welded Savard to Hutson and no quality defensive defenseman to play with X.

Right now, it's the rookies playing with rookies...and compounding errors.
Yeah, too many rookies at the same time and no "mentor" to help him into the role he may be good. I mean, Savard is the closes to a shut down D, but he's not a mean and physically punishing D. I'm a broken record with this, but man would have Pesce be a good fit right now.
 
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HabsAddict

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Feb 27, 2002
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Arber needs to improve his game. I'm the first to think that given the skill set of the players MTL has, they need a player like him: mean, physical shut down first guy.

The way I see, and I said as much in another tread, Arber is stuck in between two role: the very responsible defensively dman and the enforcer and he's not succeeding in adapting. Part of this is due to MSL asking him to pick is spot for hitting and getting penalties. Now combine that with how the Refs are behaving with him. They are so concerns that things may get out of hand around him that they more often then not enforce the rules more stringently with him. This leads to him getting more penalties, and that must play in his head. If I was him would would be "F. this... nothing I do is ok".

That said, he need to play better too. How many of these one hand passes/push the puck to his d partner as he done? He make "lazy" plays at time. He need to be more engaged and take control of the play: assert physical dominance, create time and space, control the puck, make smart play.
All valid points.

I just don’t know how he's going to improve when he's the coaches yo-yo. Or playing with his equals...that are equally lacking.

The 4th goal in the last game is playing in my mind. He made a huge error...but his partner was also in error because of his positioning. And so were the forwards who failed to come back.

A comedy of errors...but only one paid the price.
 

417

Cole "Cold" Palmer
Feb 20, 2003
52,351
30,146
Ottawa
It's true he's not playing well.

It's also true that no one but Guhle and Hutson are playing well.

It's also true that last year he got the short end again by being sent down.
Savard ain’t getting scratched, fair or not that’s just how it is.

Either way, demanding a trade?!!!!!
Come on man lol he doesn’t have that kind of clout yet
 

Rapala

Registered User
Mar 29, 2013
42,257
39,271
Montreal
Kind of weird he gets scratched versus every physical team though. Are they trying to prevent him from fighting to not get another shoulder injury? When Tom Wilson is taking liberties no one else is going to do shit tonight.
Marc Denis made a great point.
When Xhekaj is struggling the opposing coach is saying "Keep #72 on the ice"
He needs to get his head out of his ass and play like he did against St Louis.
 

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