Surely with all these great dmen montreal isn't the worst defensive group in hockey.
Value of: Arber Xhekaj value in a trade
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Intangir
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Pittsburgh exists.
But yeah, the time when MTL wouldn't trade Xhekaj for a late first has passed a long time ago, when he failed to show much progress from his rookie year to now.
I say that, but even now Xhekaj has some value as a bottom-pairing defenseman with some toughness and upside left to tap into, more than people will admit to on HfBoards at least.
Xhekaj is also currently playing a much steadier game now than he (and the entire team to be clear) was earlier in the year, a time where the qualificative "trainwreck" would have been apt in describing Xhekaj and the team's defensive play overall.
But if we look at recent Habs' games, before the recent wins in Columbus and Edmonton the Canadiens weren't playing that bad in the couple games prior to that.
They were just losing-out because of costly mistakes at critical times, the goalies (mostly Primeau but Montembeault too) allowing a bunch of softies, and/or not getting the bounces to go their way at all when it mattered.
If the whole team keeps up that level of defense throughout the year, I actually think the Habs could turn their season around some and actually not finish in the absolute basement of the league.
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Intangir
Registered User
Go check your stats again.
EDIT: As of the 19th of November, MTL allowed 71 goals in 19 games whilst Pittsburgh allowed 80 goals in 20 games.
Everybody has to eat crow sometimes, this is just your day.
Pittsburgh has allowed 78 from both evolving hockey and pro hockey reference.
Ahh, found it. Whatever site you're using counts shootout losses as goals against. Find a better site.
But yes, with the game today the canadiens have moved to 2nd last in goals against rate.
Anyway, the problem is you see shit like:
Xhekaj is worth 13th overall+
Guhle is worth a top 10 pick++
Matheson is worth a mid 1st
Savard is worth a 1st
Struble/Barron are all valuable pieces
And then the things you hear about Hutson.
Imagine hearing this about the sharks dcore, or the penguins dcore, or the ducks dcore.
The sum of the parts = dogshit, but all of the parts are gold?
ICanMotteBelieveIt
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Walksss
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Nobody said Xhekaj is worth 13th+ anywhere. I remain surprised Romanov got moved for that price but whatever it was good value.
Yeah Guhle is worth a ton.
Matheson for sure returns a 1st round pick, no question. Savard of last year does as well. This year he's been much more sketchy, maybe the wheels are coming off at 34, but he's been better in the last stretch of games. Depends how he's playing in March but that's the prototypical cup contender pickup, he'd have a market if he's healthy and playing decent.
Barron and Struble are at this point worth very little, every team has players like that. They aren't worth nothing though as they are both young with decent potential.
Hutson is unreal as a 20 year old rookie and is absolutely untouchable in any trade. You can quote whatever nonsense advanced stats you want, he's going nowhere ever.
HuGort
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Value (or not) aside, a 2025 first rounder cant wear skates.
I have doubts that Wifi can ever be more than a 3rd pairing DMan, and whether he can be much more than a goon. If that is the case, then yes a 1st is something you should jump that.
However, to make that decision, you need to be sure that whatever you take up from laval is ready for minutes. I think those guys would benefit more from Laval's success than NHL minutes, not to mention they are not all meant for 3rd pairing duties.
I wouldnt say the GM is bad; just that there are likely more considerations.
Moose Head
Registered User
No the Anderson one went for Chiarot instead and the Xhekaj one went for Monahan.
You can't blame Matheson and Savard for the poor results of their pairings with Guhle and Hutson while claiming they're both worth 1sts.
If Matheson and Savard are that good, then it does not speak well to the other two considering the pairings as a whole do not have good results.
Can't have your cake and eat it too
Well they have Struble, Barron, Mailloux. to be 5 6 7 if need be.
They also had Kovacevic and Harris
If you're telling me none of those guys can play in the NHL, I call bullshit, considering half of them are better than xhekaj anyway.
18th lmaooooooo.
HuGort
Registered User
Chiarot went for UNPROTECTED first and 4th. Xhekaj be worth more 100 times out of 100.
Interesting, i saw that Struble and Xhekaj were playing together yesterday but i hadnt caught on that they were both LD.
Struble and Barron are already 5, 6 or 7. I think Kovacevic was traded specifically because management thought Mailloux was ready at the time. Mailloux is back down because they figure it's better for him to have big minutes there than small minutes here.
We agree Xhekaj for a 1st rounder probably gets Mailloux called up, but then what? Not much down there in term of nhl-ready depth.
The problem is giving up Harris and Kovacevic for virtually nothing IF a 1st for xhekaj was out there (I don't believe it actually was).
Chiarot was a 23 minute a night dman on a playoff team
Xhekaj is a 15 minute a night dman on a dumpster fire
HabsAddict
Registered User
Hughes didn't trade X for s mid-late 1st last year, he wont trade him for a 5-10 pick this year.
Value wise he's behind Guhle and Hutson but ahead of the rest. Hoping Mailman will surpass him too.
My dream is for X to become our Chara. He has the rarely used canon and the disposition to get there.
Hopefully Mailman develops into an offensive dynamo but i think in the long term it will be Guhle-Mailman...but nothing wrong with X-Mailman. Again, long term...3 years from now.
Value wise he's behind Guhle and Hutson but ahead of the rest. Hoping Mailman will surpass him too.
My dream is for X to become our Chara. He has the rarely used canon and the disposition to get there.
Hopefully Mailman develops into an offensive dynamo but i think in the long term it will be Guhle-Mailman...but nothing wrong with X-Mailman. Again, long term...3 years from now.
pth2
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- Jan 7, 2018
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No. Chiarot was a proven top 4 having a great season after being part of a run to the Finals. Xhekaj is a 3d pairing D going through growing pains. With luck he'll top out as a borderline, complementary #4 guy, but he could also end up not improving and remaining a 3d pair D. He needs to commit to playing actual sound defensive hockey rather than counting on his fists to keep himself in the lineup.
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Comparing in-season value of a young player to rentals is never wise: rentals have value *because* there is no long term salary commitment, and they are a short-term top-up on a team with a specific need, and when acquired are known to be healthy. This has nothing in common with the reasons why a team would acquire Xhekaj, or why NYI acquired Romanov for #13.
Are you saying Xhekaj is more valuable than an unprotected 1st + 4th rounder?
Please tell me this is exactly what you mean..
HuGort
Registered User
I doubt Montreal would trade Wifi for 13th overall.Are you saying Xhekaj is more valuable than an unprotected 1st + 4th rounder?
Please tell me this is exactly what you mean..
That was just a trade proposal made by a Habs fan back in the day. The rumor of Hughe's getting a 1st round pick for Anderson actually had some legs.
Golden_Jet
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I love that you think you're making a big statement when your team is simply second worst defensive team like that changes literally anything
It doesn't really feel like a "heh gottem" moment, my man.
