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 time, it didn’t assure him a spot in Martin St. Louis‘s lineup, which may 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. Nevertheless, 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 said 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 recreation,” Laraque stated. “Arber, being in his prime, can’t settle for being out and in of the lineup.”
Whereas it’s irritating, we’ve got seen this across the league with different groups, the place the participant’s and workforce’s timelines are completely different and don’t match. Nevertheless, Xhekaj nonetheless has a methods to go in his improvement and may’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 bother with the officers. Unfairly or not. However head coach Martin St. Louis would really like him to play just a little extra beneath management.
“The model of his recreation, when he retains it in test, he generally is a very influential and really impactful participant; I feel the Canadiens consider that’s a part of their future as effectively,” Darren Dreger stated on TSN Radio in Montreal on Friday.
And the highest 4 of the Montreal Canadiens protection is about. You have got 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 recreation. He can’t all the time play with that edge that will get him in bother. However he’s nonetheless younger.
“When you’ve 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 previous. Defenseman normally develop later, and he’s obtained some measurement, you’ll be able to’t coach that.”
And look, did the Canadiens go up towards some groups that had been extra bodily? Certain. 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 recreation?
St. Louis and the remainder of the Montreal Canadiens administration need him to develop. They nonetheless consider 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 recreation. Taking part in on the sting is ok, however it’s a must to hone taking part in on the sting by taking part in good protection and never costing your workforce.
It will likely be fascinating to see how issues develop between the Canadiens and Arber Xhekaj.
