Arber Xhekaj throws the gloves off against Mark Kastelic

Obviously, Arber Xhekaj is already starting to make enemies in the NHL.

In the game between the Canadiens and the Senators, the defender threw down the gloves against forward Mark Kastelic.

Arber Xhekaj the winner by split decision pic.twitter.com/pCW3htbsB8

— Matt Drake (@DrakeMT) October 4, 2022

The fight is not the result of a hitting check or other gesture. In fact, Xhekaj seems to have accepted the invitation to Kastelic in order to answer for his acts committed during the recruit camp.

The Senators didn’t like Arber Xhekaj at the rookie tournament in Buffalo.

Mark Kastelic invites him to fight. Xhekaj defended well against a guy who got 87 penalty minutes in Belleville last season.

— J-F Chaumont (@JFChaumontJDM) October 4, 2022

Recall that when the Canadian had faced Ottawa during this tournament, Xhekaj had injured two Senators players and he had even knocked out an opponent in a fight.

A player of Sens had even testified to the feeling of the Ottawa players against the CH defender.

Angus Crookshank on Arber Xhekaj’s hit that injured Victor Lodin today:

“It’s a dirty hit. You could ask anybody in that room, there’s not a lot of respect for that guy and how he carries himself to be quite frank.”

Crookshank suffered torn ACL after hit from Xhekaj last year.

— Ian Mendes (@ian_mendes) September 18, 2022

Besides, Kastelic is certainly not an altar boy. His dad, Ed Kastelic, was also a badass who played over 200 NHL games. Xhekaj had his share of fights in the junior ranks, but it’s different against physically mature adults like in the NHL. The fact that he did so well is very impressive.

At the end of the period, Brady Tkachuk even went to chat a little with Xhekaj.

Kastelic and Tkachuk will yelp towards Xhekaj at the end of the period. At first glance, he doesn’t seem nervous to me. No love lost here tonight

— Marc-André Perreault (@MA_PerreaultTVA) October 4, 2022

Whatever your opinion of fights, you have to admit that it’s the kind of event that says a lot about the defender. He is already starting to make a name for himself as a formidable player across the league.

In any case, the Senators do not seem to appreciate it…

Then it will also allow him to earn points in the race for a position in Montreal. Xhekaj has a tough aspect to his game that no other player in the organization has in his arsenal. He clearly won’t make the club with his fists, but it’s something that can work in his favor.

With the intensity of the preseason games between the CH and the Sens, one can imagine that the rivalry between the two clubs could escalate to the level of that between MTL and the Bruins in the 2010s.. if the two clubs are competitive at the same time. for several years.

— Kevin Vallee (@KevinMVallee) October 4, 2022

A lot of

– It’s been a long time!

It’s been 454 days since the last time someone donned a ‘C’ for the #Habs as new captain Nick Suzuki will make his preseason debut tonight. pic.twitter.com/cyRiTipmYL

— Priyanta Emrith (@HabsInHighHeels) October 4, 2022

– Joel Armia wears the “A” tonight.

Joel Armia is one of two assistants to Nick Suzuki tonight. Can’t say I expected this

— Guillaume Lefrançois (@glefrancoisLP) October 4, 2022

– They (barely) defeated a German team.

Yes…????https://t.co/1TVta4fmdd

— TVA Sports (@TVASports) October 4, 2022

– It is still unclear where Filip Mesar will play this year.

The contracting and dismissal of Filip Mesar to Laval does not seal his short-term future. No decision has yet been made on where he will spend the next season. He could start in Laval and then be sent back to the junior ranks (OHL)

— Francois Gagnon (@GagnonFrancois) October 4, 2022

– It’s not ideal.