Arber Xhekaj out for the remainder of the season.
Written by Fred Arshoff
Edited by Judy Pitcher
I would like to thank two ladies for their help with this article. First, my edtor Judy Pitcher , adding in researched facts and new information between the time I’ve written the article and it’s being published. Second, Martine McGuire who messaged me as soon as it was announced that Arber Xhekaj would be out for the remainder of the season and with research for this article. A tip of my hat to Judy and Martine.
On Tuesday morning April 9, 2024 the HABS announced that Arber Xhekaj’s season was over. After evaluation by the team’s medical staff following the game against Tampa on April 4, 2024, the same game in which Kaiden Guhle was injured. Xhekaj would miss both the games on April 6 against the Leafs and the game on April 7 against the Rangers. On April 9th the day the HABS made the announcement that Xhekaj was out, he was already in Denver, Colorado undergoing surgery on his left shoulder, performed by the same Doctor who did the surgery on his right shoulder the previous season. If all goes well he should be ready to reurn to training camp for the 2024-25 season.
This is just to add to the injury list the HABS have already experienced this season. Although Kaiden Guhle has not returned to play, he has resumed practicing with the team wearing a non-contact jersey.
If there is a silver lining in the Xhekaj injury, it is that it is the end of the season and the HABS are already out of the playoff picture. This will give Arber plenty of time to heal and rehab before training camp begins without missing any further games. .
Arber Xhekaj’s stats this season: 2023-24 NHL GP44 G3 A7 Pts10 81PIM 2023-24 AHL GP17 G3 A8 Pts11 34PIM Last 10 games +1
This injury will mean that Justin Barron, who was called up from Laval on April 9, 2024 will remain with the HABS until the end of the season Barron may be loaned back to the Rocket for their playoff run, should they get in.
In closing Judy, Martine and I would like to wish Arber Xhekaj a full and speedy recovery and return next season even better.
JUDY’S THOUGHTS
Although everyone is looking at the game against Tampa as the game where Arber got injured. I feel the original injury to his left shoulder occured in the game against the Vegas Golden Knights on November 16, 2023 when he got hit into the boards by Ivan Barbashev. He missed quite a few games afterwards because his left shoulder was injured. When he returned to play, he was sent to Laval as a conditioning stint(improve his defensive play) for 17 games before being recalled to the HABS. April 9th must have been a bittersweet day for the Xhekaj family, because as Arber was undergoing shoulder surgery, his younger brother Florian was signing his 1st ever professional contract with the HABS.
Montreal Sports 