Montreal Hockey Fanatics has no direct affiliation to the Montreal Canadiens, NHL or NHLPA

MONTREAL HOCKEY FANATICS


Arber Xhekaj under the microscope as St-Louis delivers a subtle post-game message in Colorado


PUBLICATION
Gabriel Sami
November 30, 2025  (9:04)
SHARE THIS STORY
FOLLOW US

Photo of Martin St-Louis during press conference
Photo credit: Montreal Hockey Fanatics / NHL

Once again during his post-game press conference, head coach Martin St-Louis was asked about the team's performance against the Avalanche.

In his post-game answers, he again addressed the press, particularly when it came to mistakes, details, and whether this was a setback. But he still delivered a fairly clear message.
"I don't know if it's a setback, but our details have to be better for the next match. If you have 2-3 matches with these elements of details, it's going to be a setback.

For now, as I said, I liked our start, we made a couple of mistakes, after that we tried to do too much, and our standards went down when we tried to do too much. The individual mistakes are setbacks and discouraging. Yeah, I think so.

Good credit to the other team. Good team. We helped them. Maybe a little bit of both, and when it's this team, forget it."

- Martin St-Louis
The individual mistakes St-Louis referenced align closely with the sequences involving Arber Xhekaj.

A clear message from Martin St-Louis regarding Arber Xhekaj, coming from many

On social media, there were many comments about the rugged young defenseman of the Canadiens.
Several outright asked Martin St-Louis to reconsider his priorities regarding the hierarchy of defensemen, while others emphasized the way Arber Xhekaj behaved on the two goals scored by the Avalanche early in the game.
"I didn't like how Arber Xhekaj handled himself on the two goals.

He keeps backing up forever and leaves a massive gap between the puck carrier and himself on the first one, when he could/should have held his blue line.

He loses his man on the second.

I await your anger."

- Anthony Martineau, TVA Sports
Xhekaj finished Saturday afternoon's game with a −2 differential and nine hits, in just over 13 minutes of ice time.
And in your opinion, where will Arber Xhekaj be in the Montreal Canadiens' defensive hierarchy at the end of the season?
POLL
NOVEMBRE 30   |   877 ANSWERS
Arber Xhekaj under the microscope as St-Louis delivers a subtle post-game message in Colorado

In your opinion, where will Arber Xhekaj rank in the Canadiens' defensive hierarchy at the end of the season?


MONTREAL HOCKEY FANATICS
COPYRIGHT @2025 • ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
TERMS OF SERVICE  ·  PRIVACY POLICY  ·  COOKIE POLICY
RSS FEED  ·  SITEMAP  ·  ROBOTS.TXT