Look, it’s by no means simple for a participant within the NHL to be a part of a rotation, whether or not between the pipes or on protection. The Montreal Canadiens have seen this image and are going by way of it once more with 23-year-old defenseman Arber Xhekaj.
Though the Canadiens signed Xhekaj to a new two-year deal over the summer season, it didn’t assure him a spot in Martin St. Louis‘s lineup, which could be irritating for a participant.
Simply look what occurred with the Toronto Maple Leafs and Timothy Liljegren. He signed a brand new two-year deal at $3 million a season. Nonetheless, he didn’t earn the time or impress new head coach Craig Berube to get into the lineup. Liljegren is now in San Jose.
Though he has been a wholesome scratch lately, that doesn’t imply the Canadiens are losing the prime of Xhekaj’s profession.
Former Canadiens participant Georges Laraque lately acknowledged on French Canadian radio that Xhekaj is sad with always being out and in of the lineup. He anticipated to play extra with the brand new contract.
“It’s regular that Xhekaj isn’t completely happy as a result of he’s in his prime and expects to play in each sport,” Laraque stated. “Arber, being in his prime, can’t settle for being out and in of the lineup.”
Whereas it’s irritating, we’ve seen this across the league with different groups, the place the participant’s and workforce’s timelines are totally different and don’t match. Nonetheless, Xhekaj nonetheless has a methods to go in his growth and might’t be only a one-dimensional play.
Arber Xhekaj brings a bodily presence to the lineup the Montreal Canadiens haven’t had in a very long time. Xhekaj performs with an edge that has gotten him in hassle with the officers. Unfairly or not. However head coach Martin St. Louis would love him to play slightly extra beneath management.
“The type of his sport, when he retains it in examine, he is usually a very influential and really impactful participant; I feel the Canadiens imagine that’s a part of their future as properly,” Darren Dreger stated on TSN Radio in Montreal on Friday.
And the highest 4 of the Montreal Canadiens protection is ready. You could have Mike Matheson, David Savard, Kaiden Guhle, and Lane Hutson. What’s Arber Xhekaj, a sixth or seventh defenseman at greatest? However he wants to enhance his defensive sport. He can’t all the time play with that edge that will get him in hassle. However he’s nonetheless younger.
“When you’ve gotten that six, seven man who’s extra a bodily presence, who isn’t nice defensively, and he’s not nice defensively, like we all know why he’s on the market, proper?” Dennis Bernstein stated on TSN Radio in Montreal on Friday. “I imply, can he show defensively? He’s 23 years outdated. Defenseman often develop later, and he’s acquired some measurement, you may’t coach that.”
And look, did the Canadiens go up in opposition to some groups that had been extra bodily? Positive. The Washington Capitals this previous Wednesday, for example, had Dylan McIlrath and Tom Wilson. However would Arber Xhekaj’s presence matter in the results of that sport?
St. Louis and the remainder of the Montreal Canadiens administration need him to develop. They nonetheless imagine he can develop. However to say he’s on the prime of his profession couldn’t be farther from the reality.
Arber Xhekaj nonetheless must play a greater defensive sport. Enjoying on the sting is ok, however you need to hone taking part in on the sting by taking part in good protection and never costing your workforce.
Will probably be fascinating to see how issues develop between the Canadiens and Arber Xhekaj.
