From Costco employee to Montreal Canadien? Arber Xhekaj lays it on the line for roster spot
So, think about it for a second. He went from being undrafted to getting in the head of an opposing team’s NHL coach before ever playing a meaningful hockey game. That’s one heck of an opening statement.. He’s a menace out there,” a junior scout said. “Absolutely terrorizes his opponents. When he’s on the ice, whether he touches the puck or not, everyone notices. And you love having a guy like that out there.
Xhekaj has a whopping zero professional games to his credit. His run to the Memorial Cup with Hamilton meant missing out on a late-season opportunity to represent the AHL’s Laval Rocket as they headed on their own playoff run. Xhekaj, though, was a leader on a Hamilton Bulldogs team with no shortage of them, and his teammates loved having someone that battle-tested around. He’s the definition of someone willing to give his all for his teammates, and that’s how he got to this point in his career.
With big Joel Edmundson out indefinitely with a back injury, Xhekaj could be that mean-streak defender on the third pairing. He plays a heavy game, and nobody is doing it like Xhekaj. Kaiden Guhle isn’t afraid to lay guys down, but Xhekaj can do a bit more in the physical department, and the Habs don’t need Guhle throwing haymakers. And, again, Xhekaj is more than just a big man: he’s a great skater for his size, can jump in on the rush and doesn’t lose many board battles, either.
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