End of Zack Kassian's career: Arber Xhekaj made it personal
When he arrived in the NHL, it didn't take long for Arber Xhekaj to show he was a high-quality tough guy.
Over time, we've also come to appreciate his playing skills, but what quickly made him a fan favorite was his ability to protect his teammates.
One of his first fights was against a renowned tough guy, Zack Kassian, when the Coyotes visited the Bell Centre.
Against all odds, Xhekaj handed Kassian a beating, and Kassian was never the same player afterward. He actually announced his retirement at the end of that season.
After that famous game, the Canadiens' defenseman didn't hesitate to share his thoughts. Even though he wasn't yet playing in the NHL and was still far from joining the Habs, something happened that he couldn't let go.
After beating Zack Kassian's ass & sending him to the fucking shadow realm in 2023, he told the media after that he remembered watching Kassian running over Sam Montembeault in 2022 & no Habs player doing anything about it."
- Habs on Reddit
On January 29, 2022, while Kassian was playing for the Oilers, he made contact with Samuel Montembeault behind the net, causing the goalie to lose his mask.
No player on the ice came to Montembeault's defense. This sequence actually contributed to Jeff Petry's departure, who had been heavily criticized at the time.
The following year, Xhekaj entered the NHL and remembered the event vividly. He had never worn the uniform yet, but he was already dreaming of defending his teammates.
Now, the message is clear, and other teams know it. When Xhekaj is in uniform, they need to be careful.
| POLL | ||
In your opinion, is Arber Xhekaj one of the best fighters in the NHL? | ||
| Yes | 203 | 90.6 % |
| No | 21 | 9.4 % |
| List of polls | ||
