The phrase “use it or lose it” can really apply to hockey gamers. Not less than it ought to, particularly as it would pertain to Montreal Canadiens defenseman Arber Xhekaj after he was scratched in opposition to the Washington Capitals within the crew’s 6-3 loss on Halloween.
It’s a recurring theme, in that, general, Xhekaj has performed simply eight video games. Whereas the Canadiens have solely performed 11 complete, Xhekaj has solely seen the ice for 15:19 on common, the bottom amongst all Habs defensemen who’ve suited up this 2024-25 season. Underneath these circumstances, why not assure him extra of a daily shift by sending the waiver-exempt defenseman all the way down to the American Hockey League?
Xhekaj vs. St. Louis?
There’s the actual fact Xhekaj signed a two-year, one-way extension final offseason. So, optics wouldn’t precisely be good. Nonetheless, issues don’t precisely look all that good proper now, with head coach Martin St. Louis seemingly lately having singled out Xhekaj within the media, criticizing the third-year defenseman for not having improved relative to his rookie days as a lot as he would have favored.
Now, to be clear, St. Louis was requested particularly about Xhekaj. So, it’s not like St. Louis was volunteering his opinion to anybody who would hear about how a lot he, playfully paraphrasing right here, hates Xhekaj. Moreover, St. Louis was merely being candid, one thing each media members and followers alike admire in precept. So, any suggestion St. Louis was off base equates to an extremely spectacular show of psychological gymnastics, contorting time and house to make it appear as if the participant’s coach, by way of and thru, has an axe to grind with Xhekaj.
That having been stated, St. Louis clearly isn’t using Xhekaj as a lot as he may. And, in sure respects, that’s comprehensible. As an example, Xhekaj clearly makes errors. A Xhekaj giveaway deep in his personal zone in opposition to the Seattle Kraken instantly led to a objective in opposition to by Oliver Bjorkstrand.
Nonetheless, have a look at it one other means: The Canadiens misplaced that sport on Oct. 29, 8-2. Lots of people made errors. And it’s not like Xhekaj ‘s turnover was chargeable for shifting momentum at a vital level. They have been already down 3-0 on the time… halfway by way of the primary interval. The Habs successfully determined at puck-drop to not present up in opposition to a fourth-year membership, as a crew. It might heat the guts, not less than if the gift-giving they have been so gung-ho to show had been reciprocated.
The membership’s efficiency that sport is arguably extra so on St. Louis than anybody participant. And, seeing because the Habs are 4-6-1 a this level, having delivered a number of listless performances already, St. Louis is topic to criticism himself, justifiably talking or not. Finally, this can be a younger crew that’s nonetheless creating, Xhekaj, nonetheless simply 23, included. And that’s the place St. Louis was improper. Errors are nonetheless going to occur. It’s how the gamers reply that can come to outline them.
Xhekaj Greater than a Typical Seventh Defenseman
There are two views right here. One, which St. Louis appears to share, is that Xhekaj hasn’t responded properly by 12 months 3 of his profession. In distinction, the second is, if Xhekaj is stapled to the bench, he’s probably not being given an opportunity to reply properly. After all, somebody needs to be the crew’s seventh defenseman. And, primarily based on how he’s been deployed, not simply this season, however final, it’s not precisely a shock to see St. Louis go along with the participant he has to fill that position by all appearances.
What’s disheartening is Xhekaj has proven important potential, even tossing apart his undrafted standing. He’s proven important potential to be a top-four defenseman, interval. St. Louis could, emphasis on “could,” argue the ice time he’s giving Xhekaj now isn’t a mirrored image of how he’ll be deployed as soon as he begins to achieve his ceiling. Nonetheless, if Xhekaj continues to be creating by way of that lens, shouldn’t that imply the defenseman continues to be studying and shouldn’t be anticipated to be good?
St. Louis shouldn’t have it each methods. And, within the head coach’s protection, nobody apart from both of them is aware about their personal conversations. Individuals don’t understand how prepared to Xhekaj has expressed himself as being to enhance. If he hasn’t to St. Louis’ satisfaction, to the purpose a younger defenseman with immense potential isn’t getting the reps he ought to, possibly everybody is best served taking part in Xhekaj within the AHL. As a result of, as Xhekaj continues to be creating by all rational accounts, an absence of ice time is much from conducive to him changing into that hypothetical top-four defenseman.
Certain, been there, executed that, as Xhekaj spent a big period of time within the AHL final season too. So did Logan Mailloux, for only one instance, although. And the Canadiens simply re-demoted him. There have been apparent extenuating circumstances (accidents), which necessitated his promotion (or that of somebody in his stead). Nonetheless, between Mailloux’s one-game promotion final April and basic supervisor Kent Hughes having traded away fellow-defensemen Jordan Harris and Johnathan Kovacevic, every of whom play or have been performed on Mailloux’s proper facet, the thought was clearly to make room.
Associated: Canadiens Open Door for Mailloux to Make Habs After Buying and selling Harris
Finally, Mailloux wasn’t prepared. Possibly Xhekaj isn’t both. Seeing as they’ve discovered success within the AHL taking part in collectively earlier than, it stands to cause they may once more. And that needs to be the popular objective right here, to put gamers in one of the best place to search out success. The Canadiens merely aren’t doing that with Xhekaj.
Xhekaj vs. Lindstrom
If St. Louis needs an precise seventh defenseman, may Hughes curiosity him in a Gustav Lindstrom, maybe? Hughes infamously acquired Lindstrom within the Jeff Petry commerce with the Detroit Pink Wings. Hughes maybe extra infamously went on file as saying the crew’s scouts noticed Lindstrom as solely having attained 70% of his potential, just for the Canadiens to chop him out of coaching camp and the Anaheim Geese to ultimately declare him off waivers.
Hughes stealthily re-signed Lindstrom early this season, including depth to the group’s protection. Lindstrom is form of a recognized amount at this stage, who, regardless of Hughes’ preliminary evaluation of getting a better ceiling to achieve, uh, in all probability doesn’t. So, his improvement shouldn’t be adversely impacted as a daily scratch. Bringing him as much as substitute a demoted Xhekaj within the lineup is the logical plan of action right here, assuming after all the Canadiens act rationally and both play Xhekaj as his one-way deal would prescribe (within the NHL) or allow him to play elsewhere.
If the Canadiens don’t, they considerably threat dropping the kind of participant everybody has lengthy since acknowledged they and nearly each different crew wants: somebody with dimension, talent, and toughness. So, logic would dictate, in the event that they don’t benefit from their means to ship Xhekaj by way of waivers now, as soon as he turns into eligible and so they decide he wants extra seasoning, that “elsewhere” can be with one other crew. One other crew wouldn’t hesitate to take an opportunity on the man.
Xhekaj will not be a famous person expertise. He’s tough across the edges. He’s proven an absence of self-discipline. Nonetheless, a failure to nurture the expertise he does have, in order to smoothen these edges, may find yourself being one in all this administration group’s greatest regrets. It’s as much as them to find out how finest to try this, simply so long as they do.
