Analyst reveals the real impact behind Arber Xhekaj's fight with Adam Lowry

For the past few weeks, the Canadiens' tough defenseman has been at the center of constant debate. We saw Kurtis MacDermid try to lure him into a fight at the Bell Centre, and Xhekaj responded by pointing to the scoreboard instead of dropping the gloves.

On Wednesday night against the Winnipeg Jets, the scenario was entirely different. Late in the first period, Alexandre Carrier got roughed up in a scrum in front of the net, and this time, Adam Lowry found himself tied up with Xhekaj.

The two dropped the gloves, the Bell Centre erupted, and the Jets' captain headed to the locker room with him.

In an already tight game, Xhekaj logged 13:41 of ice time, registered a shot on goal, and took 5 minutes for his fight with Lowry. Carrier, for his part, played 18:18, once again used as an important top-four defenseman for Montreal.

This is where Martin Lemay's comment makes perfect sense. Fighting MacDermid - a tough guy who plays barely 4:25 per game this season in Ottawa - removes a Canadiens defenseman in exchange for a depth player with no points on the board.

Fighting Lowry is a completely different story. The 32-year-old Jets captain just signed a $25 million extension over five years, plays around 14 minutes per night, and already has three points in thirteen games this season. When he's in the penalty box, Winnipeg loses far more than a few punches.

At 24 years old, Xhekaj earns $1.3 million per season through 2025-2026 thanks to a two-year, $2.6 million contract.

For a rugged defenseman still under his coach's microscope, every decision matters, and a well-calculated move like this one can carry serious weight when the time comes to talk about his future in Montreal.

On Wednesday, he didn't just stand up for a well-liked teammate like Carrier. He also reminded the entire league that he can channel his sheriff role strategically.

No surprise that an analyst like Lemay tipped his hat. And judging by the fans' reaction, this time, everyone seems to agree with him.