We already drew consideration to this participant right here in November 2023 (see right here): Arber Xhekaj is without doubt one of the crowd favorites in Montreal. In Europe he’s the brand new hero a number of the Albanian-Kosovan group – particularly in Switzerland. And he briefly made a reputation for himself within the NHL along with his character and magnificence of play. He belongs to the brand new technology of so-called tricky guys, who don’t seem to be simplest outlined through tricky tests, intimidation or fist fights.
Popular with lovers, within the staff and a PR darling
Players like Xhekaj are very talked-about throughout the staff. Also as a result of they’ve a profitable character. And: they’re the sheriffs who – if important – display the opponent that you can’t assault your teammates too laborious and even with the intent to injure them with impunity. Arber Xhekaj’s trademark: Le Sheriff. And that is very a lot exploited and commercialized within the media in Canada – particularly, in fact, within the province of Quebec. Xhekaj now additionally loves to put on cowboy hats in his personal lifestyles and looks in some advertisements as a sheriff. Montreal advertisers and PR professionals are overjoyed. After PK Subban, he is almost definitely the following PR darling in Town. “I like taking part because I feel good in this role. I was once given this nickname. I can live with that. “But what I don’t want to be is a goon,” says Arber Xhekaj. Because he may also be a lot more than only a sheriff. He many times demonstrates tactical talents, excellent backchecking, continuously making improvements to positional play and too can ranking from the blue line – be it with an lend a hand or with targets. His brother Florian Xhekaj is a striker for the “Habs” farm staff in Laval and may be a fan favourite there. Arber: “My brother has more offensive talent. But what we have in common is the intensity and willpower that we want to exemplify as ice hockey professionals. That’s what ultimately got me into the NHL. What makes us very honored is the love from the fans. This shows that we are on the right path.”
A Cinderella tale
Xhekaj’s trail to the NHL is a brilliant tale. Raised in a first-generation working-class Canadian circle of relatives, he was once no longer drafted through the Ontario Hockey League (OHL) or the NHL. But his strength of will and concentrate on turning into a qualified ice hockey participant drove him additional. In order to succeed in this, the 1.90 meter tall and 110 kilogram defender needed to to find his area of interest – his position throughout the staff. As his self assurance will increase, so does his degree of play. So a long way, he has confirmed that he has the mobility and defensive talents important to turn out to be a constant starter within the NHL. His bodily taste brings an edge that seems like a throwback to old-school defenders. And but he is regarded as a brand new technology of enforcers. Many combatants and coaches mentioned after a recreation in opposition to the “Habs”: “It’s no fun playing against Arber Xhekaj.”
On the path of Tie Domi & Co.
When requested concerning the Albanian-Kosovan group, Arber EHC Basel) as one of the crucial few Albanian-Kosovar ice hockey pros. Most Kosovar Albanians flip to soccer. Things are moderately other in Canada, the place ice hockey additionally evokes the second one and 3rd technology of immigrants. The NHL’s first in reality giant ice hockey big name with Albanian and/or Kosovar roots was once Tie Domi – nicknamed “The Albanian Assassin”. His son Max Domi has additionally made it and has been a longtime NHL skilled for a few years, who – how may or not it’s in a different way – additionally performs an excessively extensive taste. But extra on a playful, working degree. Legendary at Tie Domi have been his fights at the ice in opposition to a lot larger combatants, similar to the only in opposition to Ulf Samuelsson in 1995, when he knocked him out. Or his battle in opposition to a fan in Philadelphia round 23 years in the past. When Domi – sitting within the penalty field – verbally provoked him, Domi splashed him with water. Which led to the fan to bend over the plexiglass to hit Domi. That wasn’t a good suggestion. Domi’s remark after the sport: “He was entering my territory.”
The new Tough Guys can do a lot more
The newest technology of tricky guys with playful, working and tactical talents additionally comprises gamers similar to Mathieu Olivier (Columbus Blue Jackets), Nicolas Deslaurier (Philadelphia), Radko Gudas (Anaheim), Kurtis McDermitt (Colorado), Zach McEwen (Ottawa), absolute most sensible performers like Jacob “The Train” Trouba and most sensible scorers like Brady Tkachuk (Ottawa Senators), most likely the enforcer with the very best issues of all occasions.
Goons like Ryan Reaves and Matt Rempe, who nonetheless take note the outdated days however can nonetheless shield their position as particular position gamers within the NHL, will quickly not be appropriate for the longer term NHL.
