Arber Xhekaj and Mathieu Olivier give fans a treat

For the Montreal Canadiens, it's pretty obvious that they would rather Arber Xhekaj in the lineup healthy, impacting the game on the ice.

But you have to give it to him, he hasn't fought much this season at all; are you surprised? Nobody wants to fight him. But the Columbus Blue Jackets, have a local Quebec player on their roster, who is pretty good at chucking his knuckles. Mathieu Olivier, who gave up about two inches and nearly 30 pounds, appeared to get the best of Xhekaj.

But still, the Bell Centre hasn't got to see Xhekaj fight much this year, and we all know that he is at his best when he plays his game. While it isn't predicated on just fighting, he thrives when he plays a physical game. Lets hope that the knuckle chucking with Olivier gets him feeling good and perhaps on the scoresheet next game.

I think that we have to be honest that Olivier got the better of the two combatants, landing a couple of bombs that had Xhekaj stumbling. After heading for the therapist's room after the fight, Xhekaj returned to the bench ready to play soon after. Fighting has indeed become almost a rarity in today's game, but I do believe that it serves a purpose.

New school enforcers are very much relevant

You might not see much fighting in today's game, but you do see hits that are brutal and sometimes they go unpunished. When that happens, often the team on the receiving end wants to hold the player accountable. This results in a fight or a player targeting the opponent's best players, in an effort for revenge.

Fortunately, the Canadiens have Xhekaj, who generally keeps the opposition honest and prevents them from taking liberties against the team. An example of a team needing an enforcer is the Edmonton Oilers, who dealt with a poor hit from Ryan Reaves on Saturday night. Reaves caught Oilers defenseman Darnell Nurse with a high head hit that left him bloodied and visibly shaken up.

With Vincent Desharnais now playing for the Vancouver Canucks this season, the Oilers don't have a player that would be able to handle Reaves in a fight. But what is needed is for somebody to challenge Reaves, and let him know that hits like that won't fly. It's okay to throw a hit, but against a defenceless player, where it looks like the head was the principal point of contact is garbage.

I am grateful for Xhekaj and over the next few seasons, as he develops, matures and grows into his own he will become invaluable. You can't replace what he brings to the team, and it would be a mistake if they traded him. If you want a guy who keeps the other team honest and has untapped potential, keeping Xhekaj is a smart decision.