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CH refused a first-round pick for Xhekaj in recent months (according to David Pagnotta)

Arber Xhekaj is not having a great season.

He’s not as physical on the ice anymore, he doesn’t produce offensively (one point in 15 games), he doesn’t shoot much on net (13 shots), he only blocked 12 opposing shots… Yep.

Sometimes – too often for my taste – he looks invisible on the ice.

But Arber’s potential is still there because he’s 23 years old. We are, after all, talking about a “late bloomer” who developed late.

NHL teams know this, and that’s why the defenseman has great value across the league.

That said, David Pagnotta spoke about him on the radio (TSN 690) and he shared an interesting piece of information: in the last few months, Kent Hughes’ phone rang for Xhekaj.

And the price offered shows how much other teams love him.

One team wanted to give up a distant first-round pick for Arber Xhekaj. The Canadian said: no thanks, we like what we have at the moment. –David Pagnotta

One has to wonder if his average start to the season is affecting his value right now.

But if Kent Hughes refused, that means he still believes in his protégé’s potential and that means he has a plan to develop him.

Arber

We’ve seen him be useful in training at times and that’s what teams like.

When the Sheriff plays the sheriff for real… he stands out because of his physical strength and it’s an attribute that can make some NHL GMs salivate.

On the other hand, Arber needs to get his game back because he is no longer progressing in my eyes.

He has to start hitting the opponent again… And at this level, maybe it’s up to Martin St-Louis to give him a little more rope too.

It should not be distorted, after all. Because if that happens, that’s when its value will skyrocket…

In burst

– Ouain…

– Oh!

– Sick.

– Bill Daly to replace Gary Bettman? [RDT]

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