Montreal Canadiens: Who Will Aid Arber In Suddenly Tough Atlantic Division?

The Montreal Canadiens are in the Atlantic Division and it has added some toughness. The two newest guys set to bruise up the division are perhaps the cream of the crop when it comes to scrapping in the NHL.

Ryan Reaves and Milan Lucic are two very tough customers, and while it will be fun to watch them mix it up, other players and teams like the Canadiens might not be so keen to see them moving so close to home. Willingness to fight will certainly factor in more than previous seasons, as these players know their jobs. The importance of having a tough guy to stand up for his teammates will be crucial.

In Montreal, Arber Xhekaj definitely comes to mind. Not to take away anything from the two new bruisers in Toronto and Boston, but they don’t hold as important a role with their team as Xhekaj does with the Canadiens. The Habs blue liner has the potential to be a lot more than just a face puncher.

Xhekaj at times seemed to feel as though he had to answer the bell all the time in his rookie campaign. Over the course of a season that can become taxing. Such became very clear when Xhekaj got into a scrap with Oilers defensemen Vincent Desharnais and suffered a season-ending injury.

With the added toughness in the division, it’s hard to imagine that there will be fewer opportunities for Xhekaj to fight. With that said, his deployment should be monitored when other tough guys are on the ice. The Canadiens lost a tough guy in Edmundson, so who is left to throw some fists if and when necessary?

Backup For Arber

When it comes to toughness in the Canadiens lineup, there is no Nicolas Deslauriers or Georges Laraque to aid Xhekaj in the toughness department. But there are a couple of possible combatants that can help lighten the load. Let’s take a look at three options to drop the mitts, should Xhekaj need a little assistance. So let’s dive in.

Michael Pezzetta

If you’re surprised to see Pezzetta’s name first on the list, you shouldn’t be, as he is always a willing participant. To the degree that he dropped the gloves with the league’s toughest heavyweight Ryan Reaves. He doesn’t always come out on top of his battles, but that absolutely doesn’t deter him. While he isn’t a big bruiser, he is a bit of a throwback with his long flow, distinct moustache and rugged style. Because he slots in on the fourth line, he is the ideal guy to assist Xhekaj and protect his teammates. With the Habs heavy at forward and on the wings, Pezzetta’s willingness to get his nose dirty may help him play more often than others.

Josh Anderson

Ideally, if you don’t have to have Anderson chucking his knuckles, then you will opt for him not to, but he certainly has the toughness and temper to get into the middle of scrums. Anderson is a big body, and he plays best when he gallops up and down the ice, finishing his checks. He can and will protect his teammates if challenged, but adding another player to help would be in the best interest of the Habs.

Free Agency or AHL Call-up

While Hughes has been very calculated with when and where he spends money, it’s a certainty that you want to have some big tough guys to protect the younger and skilled players. Laval is an option should Hughes not have an interest in exploring the trade market or waiver wire. Somebody like John Parker Jones could be an exciting option. But externally, a few good options to add to the Canadiens’ bottom six when playing against the more physical teams would be Zach Kassian, Austin Watson or even Nick Ritchie.

These of course are just based on opinion, but a definite need is some toughness to insulate the smaller, less physical players. Especially seeing what their oldest rivals have done in Toronto and Boston.

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