Value of: Arber Xhekaj value in a trade

TBF1972

Registered User
May 19, 2018
8,359
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Absolutely no way Xhekaj is getting traded for less than a first. He's a unicorn who is young, big, already one of the best fighters in the league, mobile, good shot, feisty, with a good work ethic and room to grow. They'll just keep him if they don't get that.
i even more room to grow, but i don't think it is adding postive value
 

John Mandalorian

2022 Avs: The First Dance
Nov 29, 2018
11,672
7,397
Montreal should keep him. He’s young enough and with some potential growth seems to fit their window nicely. You can draft a forward or sign a free agent. But if you trade AX, there’s a decent chance you’ll be trying to replace what he brings and end up looking for to make another roster addition.

Also, if Montreal is unsure about some of it’s recent draft picks, wouldn’t trading something that has value and is known for a draft pick make one feel a little uneasy?
 
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HuGort

Registered User
Jun 15, 2012
21,672
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Nova Scotia
According to reports, The Habs sent him down to AHL for him to learn how to play defence. Has he learned anything yet?

Also according to reports, he lost his physical edge while down there, has he regained that yet?

Acquiring teams would like to know.
We not trading him.
 

OVO16

#WeTheNorth
Apr 16, 2017
10,666
10,688
Not sure why the Habs would entertain trading him. He's young and fits their rebuilding core moving forward.

Considering the culture of the NHL, he'll be the captain in like 5 years lmao
 

HuGort

Registered User
Jun 15, 2012
21,672
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Nova Scotia
Someone somewhere else suggested that we need forward talent more then toughness. i disagree. i wouldn't trade him unless it's a massive overpayment...but that's just me.

I don't need to talk about his obvious physicality and fighting abilities and as of right now, he is good enough for the Habs top 6, but not good enough on an top contender. Will he improve? Sure he will. He was working for COSTCO a few years ago and he's in the NHL now. That's verticle progress. He needs faster footwork and better vision. One is trainable and the other, in time. I'm expecting that he will be legitimate top 4 in a 3-4 years. I'm also expecting a much more defensive system oriented team and coaching, which is a huge benefit for players like X.

Obviously if he was already a top 1 or 2, unless it was superstar potential young forward, hang up the phone.

Soo...what value would you put on him in a draft trade?

We need better forwards more then more defenseman so what would be your offer one for one in a young forward?
Pagnotta was on 690 today, said Hughes turned down a first round pick for Xhekaj.
 

Habsrule

Registered User
Jun 13, 2004
3,599
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People on here tend to way over value draft picks.

I have to assume that whatever team offered a 1st round pick for him would be a playoff team. No lottery team or border line playoff team would do that. Let’s assume that the pick is in the #20-32 range.

If you are drafting in that range and I told you that you would select a bottom pair defenceman who is 6’4, 230 pounds and a top 10 heavyweight fighter in the NHL we all would take that. Come playoff time a player like that is worth a lot more.

Now say that you selected that said player in the draft. You would have to wait years for him to develop and is good enough to be a roster player.


So moral of the story is why trade Xhekaj for a player who most likely maxes out as a Xhekaj but you have to wait 4 or 5 years for that drafted player.
 
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JustAHabFan

Registered User
Apr 8, 2008
7,830
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Xhekaj is playing well the last few games. He should stay. A physical defenseman worth a lot.
 

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