Arber Xhekaj in the spotlight following comments from Martin St-Louis
Photo credit: Montreal Hockey Fanatics
The head coach of the Montreal Canadiens, Martin St-Louis, recently made a strong statement about his young defenseman, Arber Xhekaj.
The tone is clear. During a press conference, St-Louis insisted on one simple idea: consistency.
He says that Xhekaj has been playing very well lately and that he is playing according to his identity.
The coach wants to know exactly what he is getting, shift after shift, from his young defenseman, and that is exactly what he is finally getting.
The most interesting aspect is how he measures it. St-Louis does not promise a fixed number, he talks instead about minutes that can vary. He mentions 8 minutes, 10 minutes, sometimes 13 or 14, but the same level of effort. In short, regardless of ice time, he wants the same product.
Arber Xhekaj is truly starting to earn Martin St-Louis' trust
Xhekaj's recent numbers explain why the discussion keeps coming back.
Habs Martin St. Louis on Arber Xhekaj
"He's played extremely well as of late. He's found a lot of consistency, he's played to his identity[...] If it's 10 minutes, play the best 10 minutes you can. If it's 8, the same. It might be 13-14. It's got to be the same. We got to know what we're getting, and we have that right now, which solidifies our defence"
- Via Chris Habs
"He's played extremely well as of late. He's found a lot of consistency, he's played to his identity[...] If it's 10 minutes, play the best 10 minutes you can. If it's 8, the same. It might be 13-14. It's got to be the same. We got to know what we're getting, and we have that right now, which solidifies our defence"
- Via Chris Habs
In 2024-2025, he played 70 games with 1 goal and 6 points. He also collected 118 penalty minutes, a total that stands out. That type of profile always draws attention in Montreal.
The year before, in 2023-2024, he played 44 games and recorded 10 points. He finished that season with 81 penalty minutes and a plus-6 rating. In 2022-2023, he had 13 points in 51 games, along with 101 penalty minutes.
That makes three seasons where his statistics tell a different, but consistent, story.
That said, today he is more efficient and more consistent than ever. In this context, St-Louis' comments take on a different meaning. He is not talking about a defenseman who needs to transform himself, he is talking about a defenseman he wants to be able to read easily.
When a coach repeats that he wants to "know what he is getting," it becomes a standard for the rest of the locker room. This situation is also a reminder of the pace of the season.
Games pile up, decisions are made quickly, and the Canadiens do not have the luxury of improvising every night. If Xhekaj maintains the consistency St-Louis is talking about, he will continue to force the issue, minutes or not.
I can't wait to see what's next for the Sheriff!
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