2024-01-07 17:46:01
SPECIAL COLLABORATION
This Saturday marked the month anniversary, if you can call it that, of Arber Xhekaj’s first game in the American League. After a difficult start, Xhekaj only confirmed what we already knew; he should be in the NHL. His nine points in 11 games tie him with Logan Mailloux for the lead among Rocket defensemen and he’s trailed by only eight defensemen in the entire AHL over that span.
Tableau Arber Xhekaj
And yes, there are also his many fights and his impactful body checks. This is obviously a key aspect of Xhekaj’s game, but to limit it to that would be a disrespect to him. Yes, his tough play is a huge part of his success, but what makes him unique is that he is first and foremost a good defender at both ends of the ice. Offensively, he doesn’t hesitate to shoot when the opportunity presents itself and he is an asset in transition while offering solid defensive play.
He would obviously prefer to continue his development in the NHL, but if we look at the positive, this stay in Laval offers him an opportunity that he would not have in Montreal, at least not in the near future: a role on a first defensive pair.
Xhekaj is seeing more ice time than ever in Laval. He has played more than 19:30 per game on average since joining the Rocket, which places him 2nd in ice time among the club’s defensemen. That’s a workload he would never see in Montreal behind Mike Matheson and Kaiden Guhle. In fact, he has surpassed 19:30 only four times in 68 games with the CH, and that’s with two of those games requiring overtime. He plays important roles on both facets of the special teams in Laval and faces the best opposing teams more regularly than when he is on the third pair in Montreal, where he had by far the easiest competition of all CH defenders this season.
The problem for Xhekaj is that someone did everything to steal his chair while he was away from the game: Jayden Struble. The Northeastern University alum has impressed since being called up with his solid play. He limits his errors and offers constant play to Martin St-Louis, who gives him more and more opportunities. In his first 15 games, he averaged 13:10. That average has exploded to 18:09 in the last six games, culminating with 20:28 once morest the New York Rangers last Saturday. He brings a physical touch which is reminiscent of Xhekaj. In fact, Xhekaj and Struble are first and second among CH defenders this season in hits per 60 minutes.
I’m sure Martin St-Louis would love to be able to play everyone, but unfortunately that’s not possible, and the Struble/Xhekaj debate is just a small part of a bigger problem in Montreal.
Similar to the city itself, the Canadian has a traffic jam at its blue line that is only going to get worse over the coming months and years. Montreal already has five left-handed defensemen who deserve a regular spot in the lineup: Mike Matheson, Kaiden Guhle, Jordan Harris, Struble, and Xhekaj. Lane Hutson is expected to make his debut later this year when his college season is over and Adam Engstrom continues to impress in Sweden, with 14 points in 31 games for Rögle in the SHL.
And all that doesn’t take into account right-handed defensemen like David Savard, Justin Barron, Jonathan Kovacevic, Gustav Lindstrom, David Reinbacher, and Logan Mailloux. Or the 22* CH choices in the next two drafts which will undoubtedly add a few other defensive hopes. Or any player who might come out of nowhere like Xhekaj.
Right there, that’s 13 defensemen who either played for CH this season or who are seen as prospects with very good chances of playing in the NHL in the coming seasons. Having too many options is a good problem to have, but it’s still a problem.
No matter how much you like the Habs’ various defensemen, the reality is that the blue line only has room for six starters and one or two substitutes, not a dozen defensemen. Kent Hughes has shown that he is very creative in the transaction market. He will have to find a way to use his many pieces to improve the team. Whether it’s another Dach/Romanov trade or a bigger deal for a true offensive star or to move up in the draft, something will have to happen sooner or later. It will be a difficult choice that will undoubtedly divide fans, but it’s simply inevitable.
Which defensemen do you think the Canadiens should trade? Let us know in the comments.
*Depending on millions of conditions on the Flames’ 1st round pick, which might be carried over to 2026.
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