Serious warning from Arber Xhekaj: he's starting the hostilities
Since joining the Canadiens, Arber Xhekaj has proven that he has everything it takes to protect his teammates and that he will never back down from anyone.
That being said, over time, we've also seen that he's a much better hockey player overall than we initially thought.
Xhekaj has a powerful and accurate shot, whether it's a wrist shot or a slap shot. It's no coincidence that he's been used on the power play a few times.
Although producing offensively isn't his primary role and with Lane Hutson and Logan Mailloux arriving, he may not be used on the power play again, Xhekaj can still contribute 5-on-5 when the opportunity arises.
He's also becoming increasingly solid in his own zone, and what's most impressive is that he can now be very physical without crossing the line or dropping the gloves all the time.
So, he can remain the fan-favorite "sheriff" without constantly visiting the penalty box. However, don't think that his shoulder surgeries will change his game. He's sent a very clear warning to other NHL players.
You're not going to get away with anything with my teammates, because I'm here to make sure that never happens!"
- Arber Xhekaj
And Arber has a long memory. Don't think that because he's not in the game or because he's on the bench, he won't come back with a vengeance.
Just look at what he did to Zack Kassian during his rookie season. He gave Kassian a solid beating because Kassian had made contact with Samuel Montembeault the previous year.
That was a gesture that shocked Xhekaj when he was still not in the NHL. During the last game of last season between the Canadiens and the Maple Leafs, Xhekaj was injured and Ryan Reaves took advantage to impose his will on the ice.
I don't know about you, but I can't wait to see Xhekaj take care of Reaves in the next matchup between the two teams.
| POLL | ||
Do you think Arber Xhekaj is feared by other NHL teams? | ||
| Yes | 232 | 89.6 % |
| No | 27 | 10.4 % |
| List of polls | ||
