The fairy tale of Arber Xhekaj coming to an end in Montreal? Kent Hughes will have a significant decision to make with the arrival of Jayden Struble
The Canadiens and their fans quickly fell in love with Arber Xhekaj for his enforcer qualities on the ice, but also because he has other strengths.
The one seen as irreplaceable can drop the gloves and reach the net with good shots on a regular basis, but there is one thing that troubles some analysts, and that is his defensive play.
However, Xhekaj will never be more than a third-pairing defenseman, and without taking anything away from him, it's true that he has defensive shortcomings. He compensates with the rest of his qualities.
Jayden Struble played his first game against the Ducks, and already, he made his presence felt. He is mobile, plays hard, and is not afraid to drop the gloves. Could he replace the current enforcer on the team?
We know that fights are becoming less popular. If Xhekaj fought less often, would we have the same enthusiasm for him?
Kent Hughes will have important decisions to make in the coming years. With the arrival of Lane Hutson, David Reinbacher, and Logan Mailloux, in addition to Kaiden Guhle, Michael Matheson, Jordan Harris, and company, some will have to leave the ship.
Sacrificing Xhekaj could become an option, and Kent Hughes will have to act quickly. The number 72 has incredible value right now, and several teams would be willing to pay a high price for his services.
If Jayden Struble is able to do his job better, the Canadiens' GM might be tempted to make a trade. Once again, we emphasize that we love Xhekaj and do not wish for him to be traded, but we said the same thing about Alexander Romanov, and nobody misses him today.
| POLL | ||
Do you believe Xhekaj is irreplaceable? | ||
| Yes | 76 | 42.2 % |
| No | 104 | 57.8 % |
| List of polls | ||
