WOW: Arber Xhekaj Reveals What He Really Thinks About Jayden Struble

However, in recent days, the Laval Rocket defenseman finally agreed to break the silence regarding his situation. Indeed, Arber Xhekaj was straightforward in commenting on Jayden Struble's performances, fully understanding that the defenseman is currently playing a key role in Martin St-Louis' squad.

"He came into the team and played well. He's not making mistakes, he uses his stick well. There's no reason for them to cut him. It's a nice problem for them to have, but obviously, from our side, it pushes us to work harder and want to earn our spot." - Arber Xhekaj

Wow! Xhekaj clearly has the right mindset, and it's very reassuring to see that he wants to give more to regain his spot in the lineup instead of being simply depressed about his fate. He admitted that he watches the Canadiens' games closely, particularly keeping an eye on Struble's performances.

The good news is that he obviously maintains a positive attitude and is using his time in Laval to improve certain aspects of his game, such as his effectiveness in the defensive zone and his discipline. He reiterated his confidence in the organization by mentioning that he firmly believes he is part of the team's plans, wanting to become a key player in Montreal's defensive brigade.

"I don't think they want me to be a sixth or seventh defenseman in Montreal. I think they want me to be a key player who will eventually play 20 minutes, and that's what I'm working towards. So, I think I just need to clean up my game in the defensive zone and hope that translates up there." - Arber Xhekaj

Despite his demotion to the American League, the sheriff remains focused on his main goal, to become a complete defenseman and rejoin the lineup soon. This is exactly what Kent Hughes wanted when he decided to send number 72 to the farm team.

It must be really difficult to comment on the performances of the player who is currently taking your spot, but the defenseman did not hesitate to praise Jayden Struble. This speaks volumes about his mindset, but also about his personality.

Hats off to Xhekaj!

Credit: Habs et LNH