In this Habs Daily News episode, Coach Frenchy dives into the stellar performances of Arber Xhekaj and Joshua Roy in the Canadiens’ last three games. Their remarkable contributions make them the standout players on the ice. Stay tuned until the end to discover why Roy deserves to stay with the Habs until the season’s conclusion. Catch Habs Daily News every day, subscribe, like the video, and join the hockey discussion! š #HabsHighlights #ArberXhekaj #JoshuaRoy #CanadiensPerformance #HabsDailyNews
CANADIENS’ ARBER XHEKAJ HIGHLIGHTS
11 Comments
If Roy is top 6 its a clear indicator of the dilution of talent among the Habs forwards. Watch Roy and see how many times he's knocked off his feet by the slightest contact, a good skater isn't only speed but strength on his skates too. Roy needs to spend his summer doing power skating under a top skating coach.
Great show, I love it!
I think Roy can be a top 6 but need to get another top 6 winger to play with him and Dach…
What I like about Xhekaj's last 3 games- physical but not chasing around the ice looking for big hits and getting out of position.
ARBER prevailed
This is what is meant by physical-taking the body, bodychecking, and clearing players from in front of the net. Does not mean fighting but good to know that he has this in his resume. His progression in last 3 games is mostly about being given more TOI. This is how you develop and not like when he was playing 8-10 min /night or being benched for a penalty. I'm glad MSL has restored some confidence in Xhekaj.
Roy definitely the tools to be a top 6 and I suspect he will at some point soon. He and Dach will need another true rugged winger with the ability to score and skate. Perhaps comes from this years draft?? One thing for sure is Newhook is not a top 6.
I dream of the day both Xhekay's are HABS.
I just hope that Martin SL doesn't try to fit Wifi ( a square peg ) into a round hole – he has something else to offer that is VERY hard to find. His hard edge will have 30 teams lined up at the door to acquire him. Matin has to work with him and his unique grit and development him into a solid defenseman.
Xhekaj getting more ice time is needed for his development/progress, good to see it happening. He's being physical without overdoing it and taking penalties as a result. He has that shot from the point that often gets through. He can stretch pass well. I've noticed him poke check just outside his blueline a few times disrupting the opponents rush, his defensive stick work is progressing. Between the stick work and physicality rushing down his side of the ice will become more and more difficult for opponents with time, the best is yet to come.
Roy. Personally, it's too bad he's in the line-up because of injuries. I think a complete season in Laval and AHL playoff experience would have been best for him. With the current line up in Montreal, he is top 6 more than anyone else aide from Suzuki's line. Whether he's future top 6 on a formidable team remains to be seen. He has a good shot that he doesn't get off enough (doesn't have the line-mates), good vision, smart positioning, defensive smarts…has the tools to be top 6 apart from his skating/speed. He has the hockey IQ to compensate for it but is it enough in the speed of today's speed in the NHL to be top 6? If his skating could go up a notch and his stick handling plus his processing the game remain in sync, then yes he'd be top 6 with defensive smarts as the icing on the cake.
Enortap says in the comments Newhook is not top 6. I said it when those picks were traded for Newhook, I didn't like the acquisition they could have gotten a better 3rd line player by trade of just kept the picks…look where Roy was picked in the draft. You never know. I don't think Newhook's ceiling is much higher than what we see now, if any higher. Hopefully he proves me wrong.
never ever doubted Xhekaj for 1 second here. I believe in the kid 1,000%. I have since the Kitchener Rangers. (just like I believed in Suzuki when i was living in Oakville and going to see him with the Guelph Storm). There are other players I believe in from what i have seen. Owen Beck… Joshua Roy… Logan Mailloux… Arber Xhekaj… I am also becoming sold on Florian Xhekaj
Lets face it all players need to prove them selves.