Arber Xhekaj potential.

[KevSkillz4]

What is the potential of Arber Xhekaj?

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[banks]

Players can break their ceiling. It happens. But that doesn't mean that the sky's the limit for everyone.

I went with 3rd pair. He's playing about 15 minutes a game this season and doing fine. With him coming out of nowhere to get here, there's no reason to expect even better out of nowhere.

 

[Bouboumaster]

I love me some Jack-Eye but I can't see him as a top pairing option

I think at his best he could be a solid #3 or #4

 

[Sasha Orlov]

For sure Top 4

 

[Mrb1p]

Players can break their ceiling. It happens. But that doesn't mean that the sky's the limit for everyone.

I went with 3rd pair. He's playing about 15 minutes a game this season and doing fine. With him coming out of nowhere to get here, there's no reason to expect even better out of nowhere.

Hes a good 3rd, borderline 2nd pair player at 21... are you expecting no growth at all?

 

[Voight]

3rd pair.

 

[LemonSauceD]

I see him as an Andrew Ference type player. Mainstay #5-6 defenseman.

 

[banks]

Hes a good 3rd, borderline 2nd pair player at 21... are you expecting no growth at all?

If he was on a normal progressing career curve, sure. But, as I said, he's come out of nowhere. He was undrafted and played in the OHL last season. Being a good 3rd pair player at 21 is already a pretty big surprise.

I'm not saying he can't grow. But no, I'm not expecting it. A career regression is just as likely, or more so, than a progression.

 

[DaPhazz]

I see him as an Andrew Ference type player. Mainstay #5-6 defenseman.

That's a depressing comparison

 

[beowulf]

If he continues to develop like he has a top 4 dman is possible but more likely to be solid bottom 4 dman.

 

[The Great Weal]

I'm hoping for an Erik Cernak type player

 

[JoelWarlord]

I voted third pair but there's a sorta arbitrary "#4-5D" category that's missing between bottom pair and top 4 that he could fit into IMO. A guy who can be a 4 next to a good partner or excel as the 5 running your 3rd pair.

 

[Gurglesons]

Third pairing guy.

 

[biturbo19]

I voted third pair but there's a sorta arbitrary "#4-5D" category that's missing between bottom pair and top 4 that he could fit into IMO. A guy who can be a 4 next to a good partner or excel as the 5 running your 3rd pair.

Yeah. This is what i'd say. It's why i tend to break down defencemen into somewhat different categories.

Where i could see Xhekaj becoming that 4th wheel alongside the right partner in the right situation...but more likely is probably just a guy who you'd rather have as a mainstay anchoring your bottom-pairing. Which in his case, is still absolutely "found money" for the Habs.

 

[banks]

If he continues to develop like he has a top 4 dman is possible but more likely to be solid bottom 4 dman.

If he continues to develop "like he has", he'll be Ray Bourque in 3 years. That's what people seem to be missing here. He literally skipped an entire league in his development. He never played in the AHL.

2020-21 Didn't play due to OHL's cancelled COVID season
2021-22 Undrafted rookie-camp try-out. Plays in OHL.
2022-23 NHL 3rd pairing.

That's not a career arc that you can extrapolate. He's already miles above what anyone would have said his potential was. And that's great. Don't get me wrong, I'm cheering for the guy. But this isn't a normal career arc. Expecting him to make the same year-to-year progress as a typical rookie is crazy.

 

[beowulf]

If he continues to develop "like he has", he'll be Ray Bourque in 3 years. That's what people seem to be missing here. He literally skipped an entire league in his development. He never played in the AHL.

2020-21 Didn't play due to OHL's cancelled COVID season
2021-22 Undrafted rookie-camp try-out. Plays in OHL.
2022-23 NHL 3rd pairing.

That's not a career arc that you can extrapolate. He's already miles above what anyone would have said his potential was. And that's great. Don't get me wrong, I'm cheering for the guy. But this isn't a normal career arc. Expecting him to make the same year-to-year progress as a typical rookie is crazy.

Which is why I am more conservative and say he is most likely to be bottom 2 pairing, as in spend time on the 3rd pairing with time on the 2nd pairing more than the 1st pairing. But time will tell.

 

[Kudo Shinichi]

A 2nd pair unicorn dman
Unicorn because there aren't a lot of dmen like him. He'll be as intimidating as Lucic was.

People think that Xhekaj has little offensive talent because he's undrafted and fights a lot, but that's far from the truth. He's quite talented and I could see him scoring 40+ points if he reaches his potential.

 

[Marc the Habs Fan]

3rd pairing D who will provide decent offence as he has a really good ability to get shots through from the point.

Still incredible he got to this point considering what his story has been but anyone expecting a top 4 d-man (in the context of a good team) will be disappointed, IMO.

 

[jiboy]

I figure he could become a luxury 3rd pairing guy

 

[BLNY]

His size, speed, and untapped offensive skills are all tantalizing. If he puts it all together he's a top pair guy. If he puts together some of the puzzle he's top 4. He's already a third pair guy. I think saying he's maxed out is pretty biased.

 

[dirtydanglez]

3rd pair.

 

[Tanknation]

I see him as an Andrew Ference type player. Mainstay #5-6 defenseman.

Arent you the same guy that claimed vancouver to be the best and deepest team In history of sport at the beginning of the year? I think I will avoid all of your takes on here.

 

[Albatros]

Defensive role player that can play top 4 minutes in a shutdown role but is probably more naturally bottom-pairing still.

 

[Dutronc]

Sheldon Souray alike

*without Andrei Markov

 

[BenchBrawl]

Sheldon Souray alike

*without Andrei Markov

Much better skater than Souray, and I'm a big Souray fan.