Why Martin St-Louis is pushing Arber Xhekaj toward a Canadiens exit

Let’s be honest, the Arber Xhekaj situation is becoming increasingly concerning as the Canadiens keep him out despite physical matchups.

Simply put, Xhekaj was not in the lineup against Washington, Boston, or New York-teams known for their physical play.

Several observers now fear this could be the beginning of the end for the towering defenseman in Montreal.

Let’s be honest, Jayden Struble seems to have a level of trust that the Sheriff has never received.

Against the Islanders, Struble finished the game with a -1 rating. He made multiple positioning mistakes without truly asserting himself physically.

Meanwhile, Xhekaj has refined his game this season by avoiding unnecessary penalties.

His puck movement is efficient and his execution is solid, but the coach’s trust simply isn’t there.

Is the Sheriff being sacrificed for Jayden Struble?

You can’t leave young stars like Lane Hutson or Nick Suzuki without protection.

In a physical game, no one was there to push back when tensions rose against the Islanders.

Trading an asset like Xhekaj would be a major mistake for a team in the middle of a rebuild.

Defensemen with his size who can skate and protect their teammates are rare.

Martin St-Louis is playing with fire by sidelining one of the most popular players among fans.

St-Louis appears to favor Jayden Struble’s positioning and puck-moving reliability over Arber Xhekaj’s physical style, limiting his trust in key matchups.

If the Canadiens decide to move on from him, management will have to answer to a wave of angry fan reactions.

The Canadiens hold a 38-21-10 record this season, but the internal atmosphere around the defensive group appears to be growing increasingly tense.

We’ll be watching closely to see what happens next.