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Slafkovsky Maturing Different Than Xhekaj, Habs/Sabres Pregame



Montreal Canadiens Juraj Slafkovsky is maturing differently than Arber Xhekaj right now.
Montreal Canadiens vs Buffalo Sabres December 9th, 2023.

#habs #montrealcanadiens #buffalosabres

22 Comments

  1. Yah not buying it. Lets remember that tussle with Ryan Reeves Only happened because Reeves ran Guhle so thats all you want stick up for teammates. Some bad penalties some bullshit penalties also

  2. Arbor has to figure out how to play physical without getting suckered into retaliatory penalties. How many times do you see two cross checks in front of the net not get called but the return cross checker gets the gate. Usually the crosscheck will be committed by someone who hasn't any desire to throw down the gauntlets with Xhekaj. Arbor will become the official's usual suspect if he isn't already.

  3. Step away?! I've been anxiously waiting for your video since the game against the Kings on thursday!…loll…Slaf is doing great. Hope he keeps it up!. I agree with @terrylarson7596 Xhekaj has to stop getting penalties.

  4. Slafkovsky is maturing by learning to use his body? Does that mean he's a future 4th line grinder? I mean that checks out point production wise. Imagine if the Montreal brain trust hadn't thought that pick into the ground and had just taken Cooley instead.

  5. Slafkovsky will never have or understand the pressure xhekaj is under , even though Slafkovsky is a first overall. It’s one thing coming as a project first overall than coming up against all odds then producing better than any other defensemen prospects and having to defend everyone on the team at the age of 22. Any player on the planet will tell you that not many guys in the leagues history can do the things xhekaj can do as oppose to what Slafkovsky can

  6. Costo to NHl
    Commercials ads stardom as most popular player on Habs team at 22 years.
    He will be fine. Laval needs him desperately too
    Let him come back to Earth 🌎 ego check. Work hard on D
    See him end of season when Savard gets traded

  7. WiFi displayed plenty of emotion after fights, but was absolutely stone faced upon scoring his first NHL goal. He needs to talk less about fighting and let his sizeable fists do the talking ala Larry Robinson. If he approaches fighting like he's in the WWE then he will attract problems and have a very short career. He has speed and size, I hope he matures and makes himself indispensable. This team is small and it needs a Sheriff, and Xhekaj is the best one out there.

  8. Arbor was such a huge heart and protector of the team last year. I hate this. I hate they way he is being treated right now.i how the habs lost every single game that Arbor is not playing. Its also going to be interesting to see how each team out muscles them.

  9. Give us a break Drew, Arber is a team player, game in game out. He played physical, mean, and everyone knew when he was out there. From a fan perspective he didn’t disappoint on a nightly basis and was fun to watch. Sending him to Laval is ridiculous. A team that is struggling and without a decent coaching staff. The prof is in the stats.

  10. Game just ended. Maybe these armchair GM's will shut up now. Slafkovsky has been doing great and was great again tonight. Not Happy about Arbor not in the lineup. Good to see ya back bud ! GHG

  11. I agree with the points you made in the video, however, I believe that sending him to Laval will not help him because they are trying to drastically change the nature of the player he is and this will end the game and the qualities he has. have to be unique in this current team, all the other players are more or less similar in terms of skills, skating, speed among others, but resilience, toughness, altruism, putting your physical health in favor of your teammate, these are qualities that don't develop, you are simply born with it.
    I fear that this downgrade will demotivate him as a player and athlete, disrupting his natural game which can indeed be improved and not altered as MSL wants to do with him, just look at the decline in his game after the alleged conversation that MSL had with him in the locker room.
    I see that he committed unnecessary fouls but not as much as Gallagher has done lately and honestly, I don't see MSL lauding a veteran who made the Habs lose games due to his mediocre fouls.
    I honestly hope I don't lose Xhekaj because he is very special, I'm sure many teams in the NHL are in contact with him, can you imagine him wearing the Boston Bruins jersey?
    Between Xhekaj and MSL I prefer to stay with Xhekaj,

  12. These two youngsters have different roles and positions. D-men mature later. Different pressures. ARBER should be there to protect players like Slav but MSL sent him down. This is not a good move. Slav is a #1 overall, ARBER is not.both are valuable. They need grit and no idea what management is trying to accomplish. At least have pezetta in. Character. Great win tho.

  13. your correct slav was soft & needed maturity, arber was tough & was already mature….. slav was no. 1 overall, arber was a late round pick…. slav couldnt protect himself or anyone else, arber had to protect himself & protect others….. so st louie & you put slav in the game more & arby get less minutes & sent down…… what do habs fans think they want to watch more & will translate more to help the habs in the future??????? the kiss ass approach or the kick ass approach ????????? i say win every shift & we r gonna get a cup!!!!!! you say rebuild !!!!! thats a word true habs fans dont use!!!!! the habs when they were ever good played fast & had pride enough to handle themselves on the ice. the marty st louie habs r soft , slow & loosers. the frogs in montreal shouldn't put up with it….. get a god dam coach who can coach no matter what language he speaks !!!!! win at all cost!!!!!

  14. You said it – LONG TERM. Everyone is missing Arber's long term potential and skill. If he can develop that along with his edge, then he is FAR more valuable down the road when we are competing. He's smiling in Laval so I am not worried.

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