Montreal Canadiens defenseman Arber Xhekaj has been handed the maximum fine of $3,385.42 by the NHL for unsportsmanlike conduct during a preseason matchup against the Toronto Maple Leafs. The incident occurred in the first period of Saturday’s game, which saw Toronto emerge victorious with a 2-1 score.
Xhekaj’s actions earned him a minor penalty, a 10-minute misconduct for instigating, a major penalty for fighting, and a game misconduct. The fine, which is the highest allowed under the collective bargaining agreement, will be donated to the Players’ Emergency Assistance Fund.
The 23-year-old defenseman has built a reputation for his physical play, having accumulated 182 penalty minutes in 95 career games with Montreal over the past two seasons. Despite going undrafted, Xhekaj has proven himself to be a valuable asset to the Canadiens, recording 10 points and a team-high 81 penalty minutes in 44 games last season.
Standing at 6-foot-4 and weighing 240 pounds, Xhekaj is a force to be reckoned with on the ice. He ranked second on the club in rating (plus-6) and fourth in hits (125) last season. In July, the restricted free agent signed a two-year, $2.6 million contract extension with the Canadiens, solidifying his place on the team’s roster.
Leave a Reply