Photo credit: Screenshot
Montreal Canadiens defenseman, Arber Xhekaj, made a big statement in the eyes of Martin St-Louis on Saturday night against the Detroit Red Wings.
Arber Xhekaj doesn’t need a microphone to be heard. Saturday night, things got intense around him.
On X, Anthony Martineau and Marco D’Amico highlighted a game in which No. 72 imposed his physical presence. And in Montreal, that kind of night quickly becomes a message sent straight to the bench.
A signature game and a defining gesture for Arber Xhekaj
Let’s just say this sequence perfectly represents his game.
The message is simple. If Xhekaj plays with that level of intensity, Martin St-Louis doesn’t feel like taking him out of the lineup. He can’t take him out.
Not because it’s a storyline fans are following, but because it directly impacts the energy of a game.
At the Bell Centre, the crowd quickly gets involved when clean, committed hits are being delivered.
Arber Xhekaj reminds Martin St-Louis of his value
What’s fascinating is that his path has never been smooth sailing. Xhekaj is an undrafted defenseman, built for the playoffs, standing 6 feet 4 inches and weighing 240 pounds.
He’s already had an important role, then tougher nights, then coaching decisions that sparked debate.
That comes with the position, especially within a defensive group that changes often and where competition never sleeps. He never strays from his identity, even when the context changes.
And that’s where things get interesting going forward. In a season where the lineup is constantly in flux, a player who can set that tone night after night becomes useful very quickly.
Put simply: when Xhekaj is “everywhere,” it’s noticeable, even without a perfect scoresheet.
And it was noticeable last night.
Previously on Montreal Hockey Fanatics