Arber Xhekaj has been back with the Canadian for three games and we can say that staying with the Laval Rocket has been beneficial for him.

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In 17 games with the Rocket, the defender collected 3 goals and 8 assists and, above all, he played a lot and often with Logan Mailloux, a young man who is on the rise.

“It felt good to play 20 minutes or more a game and be the guy we were hoping for while I was there,” the defenseman said Thursday. Just having a good feeling for the game after a long absence boosts your confidence.”

Martin St-Louis noted the good mood Xhekaj has been in since his return to the Canadian's fold.

“He’s dedicated, he wants to learn and he has a good attitude.”

Mistake

Xhekaj has often been criticized for certain mistakes, but St-Louis has put that perception into perspective. Above all, he made it clear that he needed time to continue his progress.

“Make mistakes but stop making the same ones, you have to learn from your mistakes. Arber had a good time in Laval, I saw him play there. But it takes repetitions, the game is faster here and you have less time. But every game he does something and that’s encouraging.”

He also defended Xhekaj by pointing out the context in which certain mistakes can be made. Above all, he doesn't want to suffocate his player.

“You have to ask yourself what the intentions are. Did he read it correctly but couldn't execute it? We have to be careful how we guide the players so that they don’t constantly question themselves.”

energy

In Laval, Xhekaj met Brandon Gignac, the Rockets' leading scorer, who signed an NHL contract with the Canadian last week.

The forward from Repentigny played his first NHL game since March 9, 2019 on Tuesday in the colors of the New Jersey Devils, the team that drafted him in the third round in 2016.

Gignac played in the fourth session and spent almost 15 minutes on the ice, even appearing once on the power play and once on the penalty kill, a situation in which he excelled with the rocket. Martin St-Louis is still waiting to see him to clarify his verdict.

“He brought exactly what I expected from him: speed and fighting spirit. He will play more games and feel more comfortable.