Done for Arber Xhekaj in Montreal? The rugged defenseman could spend the rest of the season in Laval

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David St-Jean
December 8, 2023 (5:57 PM)

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Arber Xhekaj is now in Laval, and according to comments from his first game, he was unrecognizable. It was almost pitiful to see him play, according to several observers.

Number 72 was stunned by this decision, and it showed in his attitude and his game. However, he has time to digest the news and work hard to make a comeback.

Stéphane Waite had a lot to say on the subject:

"The guy surprised everyone last season. It was a big surprise. But this is often the second year, where expectations are high, and you don't surprise anyone anymore, on the contrary. Now you have expectations towards you. It has been much more difficult for him this season, and if he sees it as a demotion, he doesn't take it the right way. The guy had the chance not to play in the American League, which is very rare, especially for a guy with his profile. To play a few games in the American League, it can last two weeks, a month, two months, or the rest of the season, we don't know, but it can only be good for him at his age. It's not a punishment."

- Stéphane Waite

We have to admit that Waite is not wrong, and Simon-Olivier Lorange added to the possible duration of his stay in Laval:

"With David Savard approaching a return to play, Jayden Struble doing a good job, Jordan Harris coming back, Gustav Lindstrom playing well and being right-handed, if the Canadiens' defensive brigade stays healthy, Xhekaj could, in my opinion, finish the season in Laval."

- Simon-Olivier Lorange

That makes a lot of sense, and it wouldn't be surprising at all to see the sheriff with the Rocket for the entire season. To help a young player, it's not by moving him from left to right that it will happen.