Arber Xhekaj

[Nemesis Prime]

most overhyped scrub i have ever seen

 

[Andy]

More than his physical play, he was this weird knack of getting wristers through heavy traffic, causing havoc on net. Not sure how he does it, but he's really, really good at it.

 

[Lazlo Hollyfeld]

Yes
YES

I don't know much about him but if he gets Reaves whining then I'm a fan.

 

[Jared Dunn]

He has potential to be a little bit more, but right now he is a bottom pairing defender.

I don't think anyone would argue with that, but I also don't think there's more than a few teams who wouldn't swap either of their bottom pairing D for him in a heartbeat - even age and upside aside

He’s awesome but that Reaves fight was a draw.

Reaves hits Guhle.
Arber jumps in.
Reaves gets a few shots.
Then Arber does.
Then they go into the net.

But then Reaves was avoiding him all game! Yeah, almost like there’s some sort of code between players and it was a close game, or something.

Fearless and I respect that - but you don’t want him fighting every game because he’s actually a very good player, great at clearing the crease and getting shots through.

This is why I proposed bringing in another tough guy in the summer and was roasted for it lol. When he was fighting too much last year his play suffered, he has a chance to be a really unique and valuable player a la Wilson/Lucic and while I think he can keep up with the heavyweights I hope he's not cornered into being just that. His little bro can't get here soon enough

 

[cc]

He's physical and he can play so I like him. I like the fighting aspect of hockey but if I'm to be honest, it doesn't really make much of an impact in the game anymore.

 

[Sheppy]

He still needs a few good tilts to be in conversation as one of the toughest in the league. He's not there yet, but he definitely can be.

I like the kid. He's similar to what the Bruins had in Adam McQuaid.

 

[red devil]

Yes
YES

Reaves wasn't even jumped, Xhekaj gives him time to stand up and accept the fight and Reaves throws the 1st punch .

 

[PB37]

Odds are more often than not that the player jumping the other is usually going to control the fight. Even despite that Reaves still landed equal shots, maybe even the edge before they crashed into the net. I’d call it a draw. I’d be interested to see a bout between these two where both have the opportunity to square up first. Two tough customers. Could go either way.

Reaves is the better fighter, at least in my book. But I've got WiFi as the stronger of the two and that's going to keep him in the fight and make Reaves look silly if it comes down to a wrestling match.

 

[Frank Drebin]

Reaves didn't get jumped lmao

 

[Artemi Panarin]

most overhyped scrub i have ever seen

 

[Deam78]

He might be better in the future, but right now he is a 3rd pairing defender.

There's nothing wrong with that

 

[Bouboumaster]

Will play in the NHL as a solid 3rd pairing defenseman.

He has the occasional brain fart and ain't the best passer but overall he's good enough
He has a really good shot and of course, he's a 6'3" hot headed albanian badass

 

[EveryDay]

most overhyped scrub i have ever seen

This is not a thread about Marner, try to keep up.

 

[Nemesis Prime]

This is not a thread about Marner, try to keep up.

You're right, this is the glorified Hal Gill thread.

 

[Edgelord]

His name still kills me, looks like a cat walked across a keyboard and pronounced jackeye like wtf!!!

 

[PaulD]

Thats not even remotely correct. As a Canes fan he would be slotted well behind both Chatfield and D'Angelo. Ahl level on the Canes


He made the team on one of the worst if not the worst team in the league. Still hell of a personal accomplishment being undrafted and getting a roster spot, but truth is that would be a hell of a lot tougher on most teams in the league and impossible on some

Yea, he's no Holl.

 

[My3Sons]

He's got the luxury of developing on a bad team where he is not counted on to make a difference so the fighting will be enough for the fans and he will be given time and resources to develop as a player. I still think his impact as a player will matter much more than his impact as a fighter. It's not like his fighting ability wins any games for the Canadians and it's not like he's going to beat up Connor McDavid or Drai or Patterson or Hughes or name your skilled 1C. Still a great story and I'm amazed he went undrafted for multiple drafts.

 

[Namikaze Minato]

Reaves is the better fighter, at least in my book. But I've got WiFi as the stronger of the two and that's going to keep him in the fight and make Reaves look silly if it comes down to a wrestling match.

Wont really matter anymore though, not scheduled to face each other again until f***in March.

 

[Picaroon]

Reaves wasn't even jumped, Xhekaj gives him time to stand up and accept the fight and Reaves throws the 1st punch .

I'm sure there are half a dozen videos out there of Reaves doing exactly what Xhekaj did. He stood up for a teammate after a dirty hit. Reaves sounds more like someone who just had their ego fractured. I doubt he is looking forward to fighting Xhekaj again.

 

[The Gr8 Dane]

most overhyped scrub i have ever seen

 

[Sypher04]

I'm sure there are half a dozen videos out there of Reaves doing exactly what Xhekaj did. He stood up for a teammate after a dirty hit. Reaves sounds more like someone who just had their ego fractured. I doubt he is looking forward to fighting Xhekaj again.

He has no reason to have “his ego fractured” in a fight that was a draw. He obviously felt like he got jumped or he wouldn’t have said it. I think there’s an argument he was. That said, as you pointed out it’s nothing he’s never done himself.

 

[TLEH]

1. Reaves never got jumped
2. Xhekaj has defied expectations but I still wouldn't want him playing D on my team. If he was a F, maybe.

He has value, I don't think he's just a scrub, but guys like Reaves and him just don't have the affect the league thinks, at least in my opinion. Thats speaking purely on the ice. Locker room and team wise there is certainly valid aspects but from the outside all of that stuff seems emotional and over stated.

 

[Over the volcano]

Yes
YES

What a puss - dude flexes during introductions then says he was jumped after a fight where he throws the first punch and proceeds to get out muscled. He doesn't need that (or maybe he thinks he does, in which case that contract aged badly after his first game).

 

[Goose]

I love him as a Scrabble word.

 

[Sheppy]

What a puss - dude flexes during introductions then says he was jumped after a fight where he throws the first punch and proceeds to get out muscled. He doesn't need that (or maybe he thinks he does, in which case that contract aged badly after his first game).

Then after the fight does a stupid little taunt, haha.

Like I said, I like Reavo, but he definitely put on this gimmick after the true HW's were faded out. Now he's a big fish in a small pond and he gets away with it.