Arpon Basu might have confirmed the place of Arber Xhekaj in the Montreal Canadiens lineup
Arber Xhekaj, known as "the Sheriff," continues to attract attention during the Montreal Canadiens' training camp, but recent updates suggest he might be at risk of losing his spot in the lineup.
According to journalist Arpon Basu, Xhekaj is in direct competition with Jayden Struble for a spot in the Canadiens' top-six defense group as the season opener approaches.
Jayden Struble, who is having an impressive camp, appears to be gaining the upper hand over Xhekaj in the depth chart. Basu has noted that Struble is currently winning this battle, which could mean Xhekaj might find himself out of the lineup for the start of the season and potentially assigned to Laval.
Many fans see Xhekaj as a crucial piece of the team, especially for his physical presence and toughness, which could be invaluable in matchups against rivals like the Toronto Maple Leafs. However, with Struble on the rise, the Canadiens might opt to go with the younger defenseman for the beginning of the season.
If Xhekaj does indeed lose his spot in the lineup, there are several questions regarding his immediate future. Would he be sent down to the Laval Rocket, or kept as a seventh defenseman in the press box at the Bell Centre? His absence from key games could represent a significant loss for the team in terms of physicality and grit.
It remains to be seen if head coach Martin St-Louis and his staff will give Xhekaj an opportunity to play in all 82 games. Xhekaj has shown that he can make a considerable impact, but he may need to keep fighting to secure his regular spot in the lineup.
