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Habs Season Thread: 2024-25 Regular Season

A trade, sure. A minor leaguer for a 3rd round pick is technically "a trade" but it doesn't move any needles. And it's way too early in the season for anyone to want the surplus depth that a plug like Dvorak, Armia, or Anderson would provide. So unless we're trading Xhekaj for Zegras or something I doubt we'll be blown away.
 
GGpX said:
Mailloux's usual problem arise: He's not great defensively.
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You can be taught how to play better defense. But offensive talent is something you have to be born with. That's why Caufield makes more than Evans.

Mailloux has the tools. He just needs more training in how to use them and what tool is right for which job. But again, think of offense as an artistic ability and defense as a trade which can be learned. Mailloux is an offensive player who can be trained to play better defense. But Xhekaj, for example, is a guy who will never be an offensive threat because he hasn't got the God given gift.
 
WeHaveMoreCupsThanYou said:
You can be taught how to play better defense. But offensive talent is something you have to be born with. That's why Caufield makes more than Evans.

Mailloux has the tools. He just needs more training in how to use them and what tool is right for which job. But again, think of offense as an artistic ability and defense as a trade which can be learned. Mailloux is an offensive player who can be trained to play better defense. But Xhekaj, for example, is a guy who will never be an offensive threat because he hasn't got the God given gift.
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I think Xhekaj has some offensive ability, he has the big slapshot. Maybe he could become like a Sheldon Souray, who similarly was a big tough defensive d-man who wasn't that good at defence.
 
I'm not sure Xhekaj has offensive ability beyond his career-long statline: 6G 11A.

He always ends up at that amount +/-

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The joke with Sheldon Souray was, he missed a full season and returned with a bionic arm, along with one of the NHL's most lethal slapshots. And even then, his breakout season was at 27 years old.

The goal for Xhekaj shouldn't be to become Sheldon Souray. It should be to become Brandon Carlo.
 
I don't need Xhekaj to be a scoring threat. I just need him to not be a dumpster fire behind his own blue line. I need him not to be a liability.
 
GGpX said:
I'm not sure Xhekaj has offensive ability beyond his career-long statline: 6G 11A.

He always ends up at that amount +/-

View attachment 22613

The joke with Sheldon Souray was, he missed a full season and returned with a bionic arm, along with one of the NHL's most lethal slapshots. And even then, his breakout season was at 27 years old.

The goal for Xhekaj shouldn't be to become Sheldon Souray. It should be to become Brandon Carlo.
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Brandon Carlo is a better d-man than Souray was, but I don’t think Xhekaj has that ability. He’s still young but hasn’t gotten better IMO than his rookie year.
 
Sal_Butera said:
He’s right though - in Gorton’s past Bruins & NYR rebuilds were sped up strictly as a result of significant UFA signings. Chara w Bruins and Panarin / Fox w NYR

Much to the fandoms dismay HuGo will not have that UFA luxury in Mtl
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And those signings happened because players don't have to be convinced to sign with teams like the Rangers or Bruins. UFA's WANT to play there.

The Habs will have no such advantages.
 
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