Karine Hains: In Hainsight: What to Expect from Arber Xhekaj How will Arber Xhekaj fare this upcoming season on the crowded Canadiens’ blue line?

If Matheson continues to play as he has since joining the team he could bring in quite the haul at the TDL. I would think a first round pick and a prospect would be the minimum return. Smart move by Hughes to keep building the high end defensive propects. Only way to acquire them on the cheap is through the draft. Great assets to have

he needs to fight less and stick to hockey if he wants a long career in this league. Lucic and Reaves? Please. No. Wifi can actually play.

I expect a rotation as well. Wideman is more the 8th defenseman than the 7th one right now. Hes the one I would send to Laval, waivers or not.

Barron needs a better camp than last season. The fact he plays on the right side helps him, but it wont be enough if all the others are way better than him at camp.

Injuries can change play Wifi is still on the IR, last I checked.

If Matheson continues to play as he has since joining the team he could bring in quite the haul at the TDL. I would think a first round pick and a prospect would be the minimum return. Smart move by Hughes to keep building the high end defensive propects. Only way to acquire them on the cheap is through the draft. Great assets to have
- Hardbalz

Yeah, they are not trading Matheson next season. They need him in mtl.

This blue line is greener than Pats weed

Yeah, they are not trading Matheson next season. They need him in mtl.

This blue line is greener than Pats weed
- deadpoulet

He won't be traded, certainly not this year, but I can see the Habs being in a place where they do not extend him when his contract is up, if the kids develop as expected.

Also, I suggested last year, and a few times this summer, given Savard, Matheson and Ghule are locks for 3 spots, that Xhekaj, Kovacevic, Harris, and Barron should rotate into the last 3 spots giving each player somewhere around 60 games on average (some a little more, some a little less).

I was impressed by the Kovacevic-Harris pairing last year, I expect that to continue for most of this upcoming year.

He won't be traded, certainly not this year, but I can see the Habs being in a place where they do not extend him when his contract is up, if the kids develop as expected.

Also, I suggested last year, and a few times this summer, given Savard, Matheson and Ghule are locks for 3 spots, that Xhekaj, Kovacevic, Harris, and Barron should rotate into the last 3 spots giving each player somewhere around 60 games on average (some a little more, some a little less).

I was impressed by the Kovacevic-Harris pairing last year, I expect that to continue for most of this upcoming year.
- Mashadar

If they dont send Barron or Wifi down in Laval, they wont have much option but to rotate a few defensemen. Ghule is ahead of the others young defensemen, he just need to stay healthy.

If you agree with a rotation, you have to agree that they cant keep the pairing of Harris and Kovacevic for most of the season. Both will have to take their turn in and out of the line up. When they are both in the line-up, sure, why not keeping them on the same pair.

AX will see plenty of games in the NHL this next season.

The logjam with talented D-men will only get worse this time next year when Hutson and Mailloux might be knocking on the door. Gorton and Hughes will makes moves that improve the group of Forwards, while easing the logjam. Who gets moved is impossible to know, eh

Aston-Reese a Hab yet?

Aston-Reese a Hab yet?
- Mashadar

is that some kind of candy bar?
in any case, no.

is that some kind of candy bar?
in any case, no.
- fidopro

Or a car made of peanut butter..

Or a car made of peanut butter..
- pete26

Peanut?

Peanut?
- mr.peanut

Butter..

Butter..
- pete26

Butt filler?

The habs without Arber are TOAST.....MILK TOAST....Arber immediately keeps other teams honest. No Arber no chance to get better. Can we stop taking him out of the lineup already?

Lol Barron and Wideman crowded defense

The habs without Arber are TOAST.....MILK TOAST....Arber immediately keeps other teams honest. No Arber no chance to get better. Can we stop taking him out of the lineup already?
- Hockey Pucker

Lol Barron and Wideman crowded defense
- Fredo

When you have a wide man, things will certainly be crowded

Still waiting on those habs dominoes of Garland, Dumba and Aston-Reese to fall.

Still waiting on those habs dominoes of Garland, Dumba and Aston-Reese to fall.
- Mashadar

if you want Dominos...order from them directly.

https://www.dominos.ca/en/

Canadiens Montréal
@CanadiensMTL
·
50m
Sérieux, ils auraient pu appeler ça Y et ils auraient gagné leur division

Should have named it Y and clinched the division tbh

#GoHabsGo

Canadiens Montréal
@CanadiensMTL
·
50m
Sérieux, ils auraient pu appeler ça Y et ils auraient gagné leur division

Should have named it Y and clinched the division tbh

#GoHabsGo


- Mashadar

pas pire pas pire

new blog: https://www.hockeybuzz.com/blog.php?post_id=122388