Arber Xhekaj quickly made his mark in the new season of the Montreal Canadiens, as he dropped the gloves against the league's most feared player, Ryan Reaves.
He even surprised many by overpowering his opponent in a show of strength rather than a boxing match. Nevertheless, the scene was quite violent, and the Canadiens' defenseman impressed the crowd.
After the match, there was even a wave of Maple Leafs fans who called on their organization to acquire the number 72 from the CH.
A well-known man from Toronto, a passionate Leafs fan who despises the Canadiens, even publicly posted this:
"Arber Xhekaj not hesitating for a single second to drop the gloves against Ryan Reaves. He'll be a problem for us (Toronto) for a long time, that one (referring to Xhekaj)."
Steve Dangle
Let's just say that speaks volumes about the impact Xhekaj had on hockey fans yesterday.
TVA Sports journalist, Anthony Martineau, even commented after being asked about the potential trade value of the player.