Canadiens: Is Former Canadiens Enforcer Leaping The Gun?

Arber Xhekaj grew to become an on the spot hit with Montreal Canadiens followers not simply because he may struggle but additionally as a result of he is a tough employee who beat the chances and bought to the NHL with out being drafted. He is from an immigrant household that labored tirelessly to make its youngsters’ desires come true, and it labored. He is the underdog everybody loves.

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Whereas he is a fan favorite, the left-shot blueliner finds himself in fairly a crowded house on the group. The left facet of the protection is stuffed with younger and hungry defensemen who wish to be a part of this group long-term, however no person is aware of but who might be left standing when the mud settles.

Mike Matheson and Lane Hutson are fairly snug of their respective chairs, and Xhekaj and Jayden Struble are preventing for the third chair. They’ve already outlasted Jordan Harris, who was sacrificed to amass Patrik Laine. But when one factor was made clear by Kent Hughes’s contract with The Sheriff this summer time, he is nonetheless auditioning.

Hughes did not decide to Wifi, as Chris Wideman used to name him, long-term as he did to Guhle. He nonetheless has to win his chair. Sure, he brings one thing nobody else brings to the protection corps in Montreal in his potential to struggle and shield his teammates, however that does not imply he is exempt from fulfilling the remainder of the duties that befall a rearguard.

Proper now, Xhekaj is competing with Struble, who’s within the final 12 months of his entry-level contract. Hughes must know precisely what he brings, and he must know that on the NHL stage, Struble has to play.

A rotation system is nothing new on the Montreal blueline, it has been used for the final two seasons, it is not a shock. Now, as a result of Xhekaj was made to take a seat out the final two video games, former Canadiens enforcer Georges Laraque believes it means he’ll get traded and his days are numbered in Montreal as he mentioned on native sports activities radio station BPM Sport.

Related: Canadiens: What to Expect From Arber Xhekaj

I imagine he is leaping the gun large time right here. There have been quite a few reviews from insiders akin to Elliotte Friedman that Hughes was getting calls from different groups to inquire about Xhekaj’s availability final season, however he turned them down. Chatting with TVA Sports activities final season, the GM defined why the blueliner was in Laval, and it wasn’t as a result of he was now not a part of the group’s plan. Irrespective of how proficient a fighter or how good a fighting coach Laraque is, he is generally fast to leap to conclusions.

Whereas the rugged defenseman is successful with followers and has fascinating attributes in his toolbox, it doesn’t suggest he is robotically owed a everlasting spot within the lineup. He must study to pay his dues if he’s offended by sitting out generally.

I do not purchase the “Martin St-Louis would not like him” narrative or the “St-Louis would not need any powerful guys on the group” one. The coach merely needs his gamers to have the ability to play a well-rounded recreation. Was he content material with Cole Caufield being a sniper-only participant? No, he labored with him on different features of his recreation, which can be what’s going on right here with Xhekaj.

So, within the phrases of a sensible goalie from the not-so-distant previous, “Sit back.” We’re seven video games into an 82-game season, and it will likely be an extended and winding highway. Because the Beatles as soon as sang, do not burn your self out simply but.

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