Wow: Cole Caufield Stuns With Statement on Arber Xhekaj
Although he is now in the American League with the Laval Rocket, Arber Xhekaj quickly established himself as an important member of the Montreal Canadiens' defensive brigade last season, proving he has ample potential to become a very good defenseman in the Bettman circuit.
The 22-year-old instantly became a crowd favorite with his ability to deliver solid checks and defend his teammates by dropping the gloves. Indeed, the 6'4", 240-pound giant immediately earned the respect of all his opponents across the league, hence the emergence of his nickname "Sheriff" due to his ability to enforce the law on the ice.
However, many fans wondered if the defenseman had the same attitude off the ice, appearing fearless when he hits the ice. According to Cole Caufield's comments during his appearance on the "Spittin' Chiclets" podcast, Arber Xhekaj is the same in everyday life.
"We call him the sheriff. So, he's just like he is on the ice, he thinks he's the man for the job. He thinks he's the man in the locker room. He comes in and there's no fear factor for him. I mean, what do you say to a guy who could kill you." - Cole Caufield, chuckling
Moreover, after meeting Arber's brother, Florian Xhekaj, at the training camp, Cole Caufield confirmed that the latter had the same mindset as his brother. This bodes well for the Canadiens' prospect, who could form a terrifying duo with his brother in a few years.
"I met him at training camp this year and it's the same thing. He just has this attitude in him that's crazy." - Cole Caufield
Since his demotion to the American League, Arber has fully focused on his defensive play, and this is greatly reflected in his performances. Paired with Logan Mailloux on the team's first pair, number 72 has greatly improved, notably regaining his offensive touch with three goals and seven assists (10 points) in twelve games.
As for Florian, he is having a rather promising season with the Brantford Bulldogs in the Ontario Hockey League (OHL), scoring 13 goals and accumulating 27 points in 34 games.
| POLL |
9 JANVIER | 346 ANSWERS Wow: Cole Caufield Stuns With Statement on Arber Xhekaj Do you think the Canadiens should call-up Xhekaj? |
| Yes | 308 | 89 % |
| No | 38 | 11 % |
| LIST OF POLLS |
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