Value of: Arber Xhekaj value in a trade

[pth2]

Easily worth more to the Habs than what we could get for him.
He's not for sale.

The way I see it, if Xhekaj is worth so little, we'll see Harris or Struble moved, instead.

 

[Ciao]

He'll be 23 next month and I would say being sent to the AHL is a decline

You're not wrong.

 

[TBF1972]

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]

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?

 

[HuGort]

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]

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]

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.

 

[Golden_Jet]

Pagnotta was on 690 today, said Hughes turned down a first round pick for Xhekaj.

Wow, if true that’s awful news for habs fans.

 

[HuGort]

Wow, if true that’s awful news for habs fans.

He said many teams interested in Xhekaj

 

[Frank Drebin]

Wow, if true that’s awful news for habs fans.

eh, we'll just get a first for savard or dvorak instead

 

[Golden_Jet]

He said many teams interested in Xhekaj

I doubt he said many teams want to pay a first though.

 

[dgibb10]

Pagnotta was on 690 today, said Hughes turned down a first round pick for Xhekaj.

Sounds like a bad GM

 

[HuGort]

I doubt he said many teams want to pay a first though.

Likely, but it set the price though. May get more closer to deadline.

 

[dirtydanglez]

Pagnotta was on 690 today, said Hughes turned down a first round pick for Xhekaj.

was it the same one that was offered for josh anderson.

 

[The Devilish Buffoon]

Pagnotta was on 690 today, said Hughes turned down a first round pick for Xhekaj.

I could see a team offering a 2028 1st, top 20 protected, in perpetuity

 

[beachcomber]

Likely, but it set the price though. May get more closer to deadline.

How about Noah Juulsen plus a 7th rounder from the next draft? 2025. Another dimension for the Habs D.

 

[Wayfarer13]

was it the same one that was offered for josh anderson.

Value at the time. What would you give up for Wayne Gretzky today?

 

[Habsrule]

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.

 

[JustAHabFan]

Xhekaj is playing well the last few games. He should stay. A physical defenseman worth a lot.

 

[Adam da bomb]

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.

According to your theoretical situation that good team would also have more years of control which would help as their star players are expensive.

 

[Xirik]

So the Hab's GM turned down a 1st for Anderson and a 1st for Xhekaj?

 

[StreetHawk]

So the Hab's GM turned down a 1st for Anderson and a 1st for Xhekaj?

X I can see. Anderson I just can’t. Not without retention.
X is a big mean nasty Dman. But don’t think he has the upside of a regular top 4. But he brings an element teams covet come PO time.

As for Montreal, I get them not wanting to move him. Plus, I don’t think they need more draft picks as they have an extra first and second this draft and CBJ 2nd in 2026. Should add some extra more draft capital at the tdl.

If they move him they need to get back someone who can play now.

 

[dgibb10]

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.

There are I'd estimate at a minimum 500 NHLers currently better than Xhekaj.

Would you pay a 1st for all of them? I'll sell you Nate Bastian for that florida first because it's unlikely that florida first turns into anything.

Also, calling Xhekaj a bottom pairing dman is generous.

This "Most 1sts don't pan out therefore insert player is worth more" is such a stupid line of thinking that's only used to justify fans asking for ridiculous prices for scrubs.

the real comparison is this:

Arber Xhekaj at 1.30 mill x2, or Colin Miller at 1.5 mill x2 for free in UFA this past year

Colin Miller is a much better hockey player who was obtained for free at the same cap hit.

 

[bud12]

Xhekaj isn't going nowhere. He finally play good after a rough start and you can see how beneficial he is for his team