On Friday, the Montreal Canadiens players spoke to the media for one last time before heading home for their Summer holiday, and Arber Xhekaj was no exception. The hard-hitting blueliner said he was pleased with his season overall, having worked on establishing his defensive style.
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Speaking about the void being left by David Savard, he said it would be impossible to replace what the veteran brought to the team on and off the ice, but that there would be room for someone to step up, and he would like that someone to be him.
When he was asked if it was hard for him to find the balance between his skill set and playing the defensive game like the team wants him to play it, he explained:
Yeah, at times, it was definitely a little tough. Obviously, I like to run around a bit sometimes, but when I was most effective, I was kind of calm, sitting back, good stick, good gap, and I think that’s what kind of helped me this year.- Arber Xhekaj on his style of play.
Despite being a healthy scratch at the tail end of the season and the start of the playoffs, the big defender still feels appreciated and valued by the team. He understood that it was hard to change the lineup when the team was winning, so he practiced as hard as he could and aimed to be ready for his opportunity.
Of course, someone had to ask him about his relationship with coach Martin St-Louis since there was so much noise about the bench boss not being a fan of the rugged defenseman’s style, Xhekaj replied:
Yeah, it was great. He just helped me. We idolize him in the room, and he’s our leader. He helped me a lot this year with balancing, toeing the line, and all that stuff.- Arber Xhekaj on Martin St-Louis.
As for what the coach’s main message to him was, he said:
Sometimes it’s not to cross the line, and he keeps me behind the line a little bit. We have a great relationship, and he helps me every day pretty much.-
He added that the coach always reassured him when he was scratched about still being an important piece for the team and told him to stay ready because things change quickly in the NHL.
When a journalist told him that he plays his best hockey when he’s allowed to roam free on the ice, as Maxim Lapierre suggested last week, he said he likes playing that way, but it’s essential not to be given bad penalties and sent to the box for five minutes or more. He’s hearing St-Louis’ message loud and clear and maturing. Hopefully, this reassures the fans who feared the rugged blueliner would soon be on his way out of town.
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