More praise is piling up for Arber Xhekaj, and this time it’s coming from inside the Canadiens’ coaching staff.
Assistant coach Stéphane Robidas offered a strong read on Xhekaj’s development in an interview with RDS, pointing to growth that goes well beyond what shows up in the box score. Robidas said the defenseman has made major strides since arriving in the organization, especially in the way he carries himself as a professional.
"Arber has progressed a lot over the last few years. When people talk about 'becoming a pro,' I've seen huge growth in him on that front.
He's a player who is proud to play for the Montreal Canadiens, and he takes it to heart. He wants to help the team win."
Robidas’ comments line up with the kind of public support Xhekaj has already received from Geoff Molson and Nick Suzuki, both of whom have also spoken positively about his work this season.
The bigger point from Robidas was about maturity. That’s the part that’s harder to quantify, but it’s clearly what the Canadiens value most here. Xhekaj has also kept training in Brossard even without a contract, which fits neatly with the image Robidas described.
There’s still no resolution in sight, though recent reporting suggests the main issue in the negotiations is ice time, not the money on the table. That’s what has kept the process moving slowly over the last several weeks.
Xhekaj, 25, is listed at 6-foot-4 and 240 pounds. Last season, he posted 4 points in 65 games, finished at -8, and racked up 116 penalty minutes. Still, the Canadiens’ internal praise makes clear that his value to the team isn’t being measured by those numbers alone.
In Other News...
Canadiens Suddenly Have A Chris Kreider Option Worth Debating
Chris Kreider has suddenly become the kind of name Montreal has to at least think about, because his path to a new team no longer runs through a trade market. After clearing waivers, the veteran winger is free to sign anywhere, and that changes the conversation for a Canadiens club that could use more size, direct play and a little more presence around the net.
For Montreal, the appeal is easy enough to see. Kreider brings playoff experience, a physical edge and the sort of short-term fit that can help a team without locking it into a long commitment. What makes this worth debating is how cleanly the fit now lines up, even if the real question is whether the Canadiens want to move quickly on a one- or two-year solution while the option is sitting there. [Read more 🡒]
Canadiens Risk A Costly Distraction With Martin St. Louis Unsettled
Martin St. Louis has become a central part of the Canadiens rebuild, not just because of the way the team has started to climb back toward respectability, but because of the manner in which he has handled a young roster still learning how to win. His influence on the development of Montreals core has been a steadying force, and with the group pushing closer to playoff competitiveness, continuity behind the bench matters as much as talent on the ice.
The issue now is timing, and timing is where the risk sits. Montreal can ill afford a season where every rough patch invites questions about the coachs future, especially with a young team that still needs a clear voice and a stable plan. The longer the contract situation lingers, the more it threatens to become an unnecessary backdrop to a year the Canadiens should be spending on progress rather than speculation. [Read more 🡒]
Claude Lemieuxs Brother Shares A Painful New Look At His Death
Jocelyn Lemieux has spoken publicly for the first time since the death of his brother, former Montreal Canadiens forward Claude Lemieux, and his comments brought a painful new layer to a tragedy that has shaken the hockey world. In the interview, Jocelyn revisited the brothers shared path through the game, including the rugged style that helped define both of their careers, while also reflecting on the growing conversation around brain trauma and what it can do to players who spent years absorbing the physical toll of the sport.
What made the loss even harder to process, he said, was how recent their contact had been and how normal Claude had seemed before his death. Jocelyn also described personal notes left behind by his brother, including one that exposed a side of Claude he had never seen before, a detail that underscored just how much pain was hidden beneath the surface. [Read more 🡒]