Arber Xhekaj hasn't forgotten about Ryan Reaves, and a message is sent

When the Canadiens play against the Toronto Maple Leafs, Ryan Reaves is absent from the ice; you don't see him out there, except when Arber Xhekaj is absent.

We saw the difference Saturday night when the sheriff was injured. Reaves had his way with the Canadiens and even humiliated them during his fight with Michael Pezzetta.

There won't be any more matchups between the two clubs this year, but next year, expect Arber Xhekaj to respond to this affront.

The Leafs' tough guy "takes a pass" when Xhekaj is around and has fun when he's not. Here we see the importance of number 72 in the lineup.


Without necessarily fighting, Xhekaj commands respect throughout the league, even against a solid fighter like Reaves.


It's quite evident. Without saying that Reaves is afraid of Xhekaj, he surely remembers their fight at the beginning of the season, where the sheriff humiliated him quite solidly.

This holds true against the Leafs but also against other NHL teams. Xhekaj in the lineup is a policeman; he's the one who maintains order, and his role is greatly underestimated.