Martin St-Louis' Defensive Lines Appear to Define Arber Xhekaj's Fate in Montreal

Between Arber Xhekaj and Jayden Struble, two young solid and very physical defensemen, many observers wondered who would stand out to begin the regular season.

Now, the defensive pairings used in today's practice give a clear clue about the outcome of this competition.

This choice by Martin St-Louis therefore means that Xhekaj finds himself in pole position for the role of sixth defenseman, leaving Struble on the sidelines.

The surprise is considerable, since Struble has been one of the most consistent players since the beginning of preparations.

His mobility and quick puck movement had caught the attention of many analysts, but it seems that in the end, the toughness and experience of Arber Xhekaj weigh more heavily in the balance.

Another interesting point: Lane Hutson was once again paired with Kaiden Guhle. This duo, which we saw a lot last year, combines Hutson's offensive flair with Guhle's defensive reliability. I think this pair could become an important pillar for many years to come.

In my opinion, I believe that even if Struble finds himself behind for now, he will quickly get the chance to prove himself during the season, since injuries and adjustments are inevitable.

The message sent today, however, is clear: on the eve of the season, it's Arber Xhekaj who seems to have earned the trust of the coaching staff.