Georges Laraque questions Martin St-Louis' handling of Arber Xhekaj following latest decision
Photo credit: Marc DesRosiers-IMAGN Images
Martin St-Louis' decision to keep Arber Xhekaj in the press box for tonight's game against the Buffalo Sabres is generating a lot of discussion.
Tonight, Arber Xhekaj will once again watch the Canadiens' game from the press box.
On BPM Sports, Stéphane Gonzalez and Georges Laraque do not understand the decision.
In their view, it makes no sense to sit Xhekaj in favor of Jayden Struble.
They also point out that Struble was not solid against the Minnesota Wild.
Meanwhile, Xhekaj had just strung together a few more stable and more consistent games before being taken out of the lineup.
Arber Xhekaj sent to the press box: a decision that isn't going over well
Yes, things are heated right now around Martin St-Louis in the media.
Here's what they said about the situation:
"Xhekaj isn't playing tonight. It makes no sense. He'd been playing well lately too, and then Struble didn't play well the other day. I don't know what it is, but normally in hockey it doesn't work like that. If a guy doesn't play well and you've got an extra, you take him out and put the other guy in.
He watched Struble's game and thinks, 'That's the guy they're playing next game.' And he's still out again - especially since he'd been playing well recently. The coach was praising him, how he was playing and everything; hockey-wise, he was physical.
If Xhekaj had played the kind of game Struble did last game, he wouldn't be playing tonight. We all agree on that."
- Georges Laraque and Gonzo
He watched Struble's game and thinks, 'That's the guy they're playing next game.' And he's still out again - especially since he'd been playing well recently. The coach was praising him, how he was playing and everything; hockey-wise, he was physical.
If Xhekaj had played the kind of game Struble did last game, he wouldn't be playing tonight. We all agree on that."
- Georges Laraque and Gonzo
The numbers help explain why this is stirring up debate in Montreal.
This season, Xhekaj has played 45 games, with 1 goal, 1 assist, for 2 points.
He also has 102 penalty minutes, but his contribution obviously goes well beyond those numbers.
On the other side, Struble is not exactly an unknown either.
He was drafted 46th overall in 2019, and he has already had a season of 56 games, 2 goals, and 13 points.
Gonzalez and Laraque see a player they believe is earning his spot as a true regular (Arber Xhekaj), only to have it cut short abruptly.
In the end, the decision belongs to Martin St-Louis, and the locker room follows.
But with every night Xhekaj is scratched, the discussion becomes heavier and heavier.
Also read on Montreal Hockey Fanatics :
It appears decided for three players, including Patrik Laine, for the game against the Sabres
It appears decided for three players, including Patrik Laine, for the game against the Sabres
Previously on Montreal Hockey Fanatics
| POLL | ||
JANVIER 22|1830 ANSWERS Georges Laraque questions Martin St-Louis' handling of Arber Xhekaj following latest decision Should Arber Xhekaj play instead of Jayden Struble? | ||
| Yes | 1740 | 95.1 % |
| No | 90 | 4.9 % |
| List of polls | ||