A lot of water has ran under the bridge since Arber Xhekaj showed up to the Montreal Canadiens’ camp as an invited undrafted player. With dedicated and gritty play, the blueliner convinced GM Marc Bergevin to sign him to an entry-level contract and three years later, he convinced GM Kent Hughes to sign him to a two-year pact worth $2.6 M.
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While that’s already quite an accomplishment, the rugged defenseman is not done. Essentially, Hughes signed him to a “show me deal” earlier this Summer and that’s exactly what Xhekaj will try to do this season.
He’ll try to show his shoulders are no longer a concern and that they can withstand the grind of an NHL schedule. He’ll try to show he’s ready for a regular roster spot, that his extended stay in Laval has made him a more reliable defenseman in his own zone and, that he belongs with this young Canadiens’ team long term.
Arber Xhekaj and Mark Kastelic come to blows in a preseason game between the Montreal Canadiens and Ottawa Senators. Photo credit © Eric Bolte-USA TODAY Sports
© Eric Bolte-USA TODAY Sports
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Xhekaj will also want to show that he has evolved as a player in the sense that he can now pick his fights better and not have everything end in a full-blown battle. The fact he can be the team’s official protector is a good card to have up his sleeve since the Canadiens have needed that for so long and will need it again.
Looking ahead, Montreal will have some big players such as Juraj Slafkovsky and Kirby Dach (although he doesn’t play particularly big), but they still have some players on the short side; Cole Caufield and Lane Hutson (if he pans out) come to mind. Nick Suzuki and Alex Newhook are not particularly big either and their presence is something that can help Xhekaj book his permanent spot on this young team.
After struggling with injuries in his first two professional seasons, I expect Xhekaj to play a lot more games this season and all of them in Montreal since he would have to go through waivers to be sent down to Laval. The Canadiens’ GM is fully aware that his combination of skills and physicality isn’t that frequent in the league and he wouldn’t risk losing such an asset for nothing.
Even if there is a rotation system put in place on the blueline, I’d like to see Xhekaj dressed for at least 65 games. Of course, more than his own play will have an impact on whether it happens or not, but he’s got to show Hughes not only what he can bring to this team but why he is important to it. So far, Suzuki, Slafkovsky and Guhle have all been signed long-term and recognized as part of the core, this should be his objective.
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Offensive production wise, after seasons of 13 and 10 points, there is definitely room for improvement and there should be an increase there. In his rookie season, Xhekaj showed he could put the puck on net from the blueline with smart shots that would create rebounds. In his sophomore season, he put the league’s goaltenders on notice that he has a Shea Weber like slap shot. That’s a wonderful weapon and he has to unleash it more often, but show that he knows when it’s time to use it.
Health and time on ice permitting, there is no reason why Xhekaj’s offensive input shouldn’t go up to somewhere north of 15 points. If he plays enough games, he could perhaps even reach the 20-point mark.
It’s all well and good to be tough as nails, but in today’s NHL that’s not enough to guarantee you a roster spot, you have to be able to play hockey too and you can’t neglect either aspect of your game.
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