[Habs on Twitter] The Canadiens have activated Arber Xhekaj off IR and loaned him to the Laval Rocket.

25 comments

1. Don’t they usually mention it when it’s for conditioning purpose?

2. Why? Do they want to give Struble more reps in the NHL?

3. I’m so conflicted by this. Yes, Struble has played better and Xhekaj could benefit from perfecting his game against lesser competition BUT the AHL is such a rough league — the concern is that he will be tempted to fight more often and may risk getting injured again as a result of the AHL’s physicality.

4. that’s cool, Struble deserves to stay up. been really solid so far

5. I’m sad to see this but Struble earned it

6. He’s gonna make the baby sens cry so hard

7. Would have preferred to see Lindstrom go back.

8. I just hope he is on the team next time we play the Ducks

9. Hockey Junkie gonna be PISSED

10. We eventually need to move one of these guys, but even if we are just showing off some of these guys to move one for futureS it makes sense. Maybe lindstrom or kovacevic for a pick and some open space.

11. I thought he was going to Laval as there are no roster spots right now.

12. Literally nothing wrong with this

13. IK for some Arber is a fan Favorite but to me Struble is the better player right now and also fill a similar job without taking as much stupid penalties. But for what’s it’s worth the guy who’s fire burn the hottest under his ass right now is Harris and am all for. We have a surplus of young D, so let them duke it out for a while, keep the good apples and ship the rest for asset in our weak spots.

14. Xhekaj is a second year rookie who got to play in the NHL last year mostly because we had nobody to play D. It’s ok for him to take a slight step back and go back in the AHL to work on a few things. With all the depth we have on LD, we can’t just commit on giving him icetime that someone else deserve.

    He’s still waiver exempt.

15. Good choice struble has earned his spot

16. “This town ain’t big enough for the both of us…

    So I’m leaving bye!”

17. Nothing wrong with this. Rather see him get minutes in Laval than be in the press box.

18. 😔

19. With the way the current 6 are playing, you wouldn’t want him just in the press box when he is waiver exempt and can go get huge minutes with Laval. All 6 of our d-man merit to stay in the lineup.

20. Great. Guys like Harris and X have made the team without deserving it 100%. The AHL is the perfect league for them to work on their game and “appreciate” the NHL more after. I’m a firm believer that you shouldn’t give everything right away to your young players (all things considered).

21. I don’t know about this one. I think people seriously underestimate what a player like him brings to a team. It seems like the players love nothing more than a guy who stands up for his teammates

22. I think we want a longer look at Struble, its only a few games but he’s looked very good…

    Find out what he is first, then figure out what to do.

    I think Arber is staying long term, he’s young, committed, and a unique valuable kind of player…don’t see him going anywhere.

    How long before Hutson is here? 2 yrs? Expect we’ll hang on to Matheson til then…and I agree with a lot of Hab fans, Harris seems to be the odd man out…

    So in a couple of years:

    LD: Hutson, Ghule, Xhekaj (maybe alternating w Struble if that guy turns out to be a stud?)…

    RD: Reinbacher, Mailloux, Barron…and some other guy…

    I think we’re in really good shape on D…now we can concentrate on getting some firepower up front.

23. They want him playing every game, and learn to be more responsible defensively.

    They want to see what’s Struble worth in the NHL. At least one of Harris, Struble or X will have to be traded, we have too many young D.

    And he’s waiver exempt.

24. Would much rather not be running the circus that is our 3 goalie rotation situation…

25. At first I was a bit disappointed but the more I think about it, It might be the beat thing for Arber development. Hes an undrafted player, made the team last year, just that is an accomplishment. He already has the shot, the passes and the physicality. If this AHL stint can make his defensive playe better then so be it. Barron went down last year and look at him now