Former NHL tough guys send a serious warning to Arber Xhekaj

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MarcO
February 17, 2023 (5:51 PM)

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In a recent segment of La Poche bleue, Gonzo hosted Maxim Lapierre and former tough guy and now Gatineau Olympiques coach Louis Robitaille.

Lapierre had a very interesting warning for Arber Xhekaj.

"At some point, you have to choose that you can't fight every night. The guys on the other side will respect that. You can say your hand hurts or you need a ''break'' when things aren't going too well. The guys respect him so much and understand how tough he is. He can't start fighting 20 times a year." - Max Lapierre

Having been in that role in the NHL, the former CH number 40 knows full well what he's saying and the young defenseman needs to listen to his message.

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Even with three quarters of a professional season in his young career, Xhekaj has already made a name for himself and he needs to take advantage of that. He can now act as a protector for his teammates, without necessarily having to fight every time to get his message across to opponents.

Number 72 is proving that he is more than just a tough guy for the Habs. He knows how to play hockey, he knows how to score goals, he can get the offense going, in short, he has a lot more to offer his team than just fighting.

For his part, Louis Robitaille believes that Pezzetta needs to do more on his side, as he has fallen into the second chair this season, thanks to the arrival of Xhekaj.

"The Canadiens have to start protecting him and the solution may be to bring in another one. At some point, it's fine with Pezzetta's energy, but he needs to take fights so it's not Xhekaj's job all the time. In Montreal, Xhekaj is much more than just a guy who can fight." - Louis Robitaille

It's especially interesting to hear guys who have played the game, talk about topics and situations they've been through and know very well.

Crédit: Fanadiens.com

Previously on HockeyLatest

Insider rekindles the Jesperi Kotkaniemi debate today and it's causing a stir

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Unexpected turnaround involving Evgenii Dadonov for the Canadiens?

POLL
17 FEVRIER \| 70 ANSWERS Former NHL tough guys send a serious warning to Arber Xhekaj SHOULD ARBER XHEKAJ SLOW DOWN WITH THE FIGHTS?
Yes	54	77.1 %
No	16	22.9 %
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