Canadiens' Arber Xhekaj reportedly ‘really pissed off' after Martin St. Louis leaves him out of the lineup
The Montreal Canadiens have a huge game upcoming against the New York Rangers, and the team have reportedly frustrated a young name after a healthy scratch.
In the NHL today, the physical style of play has become less and less important, and while there's still a place for it, players that only play that style are becoming less key to a lineup. That may be what's happening in Montreal, as young blue liner Arber Xhekaj is reportedly going to be a healthy scratch for the second straight game as the team battle the New York Rangers during the NHL's Frozen Frenzy.
Unsurprisingly, 'The Sheriff' was not at all happy with this, and was showing that he was 'really pissed off' at practice on Monday after the healthy scratch, as he believes he should be a regular in the Canadiens lineup.
- Éric Bélanger
As hinted at by Bélanger, the fact that Xhekaj waited until he was scratched to show this type of aggressiveness may be one of the reasons he's held out of the lineup, with Mike Matheson likely to slide into the lineup once more. Perhaps the most intriguing part of this story is the fact that Xhekaj will not dress against heavyweight Matt Rempe, who has shown he has the ability to turn a game with his physicality, especially after fighting all the NHL's top heavyweights a year ago.
It's unclear exactly why Xhekaj is not in the Canadiens lineup, but it's likely a conversation between he and St. Louis, so expect to see this change throughout the season.
