Senators arrange to give Arber Xhekaj a hard time tonight

Arber Xhekaj will be in uniform tonight for the Laval Rocket.

This will be the defenseman’s first career AHL game, and for the occasion, the Belleville Senators will be visiting Place Bell.

The Senators know Xhekaj well, by the way. The CH defenseman injured Angus Crookshank in the 2021 Rookie Tournament with a body check, and the following year, Xhekaj knocked Zachary Massicotte out of the game in the Rookie Tournament:

Crookshank’s injury was serious, by the way: Xhekaj’s check caused him to miss a full season of activity…

And the Senators organization remembers it well.

Crookshank will play on the Senators’ first line tonight, accompanied by pugilist Bokondji Imama.

The Sheriff is likely to be shaken up quite a bit…

Arber Xhekaj has a proven track record and everyone knows he’s not afraid to drop the gloves for justice.

Bokondji Imama will certainly be called upon to bother him throughout the match, and Xhekaj will need to keep his cool to avoid getting his team into trouble.

The Habs want to see Xhekaj be more disciplined, after all, and that has to start tonight.

The guys will be lining up in the AHL to take him on, but he doesn’t necessarily have to fight every night either. He needs to pick his fights (well), and that’s going to happen as he matures.

The following video sums it up:

Meanwhile in the American League…

The Return of the Sportsmen, from 3pm to 6pm every day.️ @MartinLemay pic.twitter.com/qXDsZHa0up

– BPM Sports (@BPMSportsRadio) December 6, 2023

Tonight’s clash promises to be quite interesting, thank you. Especially since we know the rivalry between the CH and the Ottawa Senators.

I can’t wait to see how Xhekaj responds to adversity, though. Being demoted to the AHL can be tough on his morale, but he needs to keep things simple and prove to the organization that he deserves his place under the sun.

It’s up to him now.

In gossip

– Former CH player signs contract with Moscow Spartak.

– A true legend.

Mario Lemieux is one of the best and most well-respected athletes the city of Pittsburgh has ever seen.

But what he’s done away from the ice has made him the true Pittsburgh hero that he is today.

The Quest to Win presented by @Questrade pic.twitter.com/GBlBrGX3wP

– Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) December 6, 2023

– Good idea from the Habs:

– Whoa!