NHL Accused Of Protecting Stars After Arber Xhekaj’s Explosive Playoff Incident

Arber Xhekaj put Martin St-Louis and the Canadiens in a tough situation with one strong punch at the Bell Centre on Sunday night.

Right now, we are waiting to hear what the league will decide, but it’s certain there will be a conclusion: a fine, a ban, or no punishment at all.

The NHL’s Department of Player Safety is going to closely examine the play, and they should.

Sam Carrick went down right away after Xhekaj hit him cleanly with a right hook.

What catches attention is what happened just before the punch landed.

Carrick’s arms seemed caught while Xhekaj still had one arm free, and that’s when things went from a messy tussle to a situation where there could be a suspension.

This type of situation usually leads to more than just a quiet warning.

The league has made it clear before that hitting a player who can’t defend himself leads to serious consequences.

Xhekaj plays aggressively, and that aggressiveness is what makes him valuable on Montreal’s defense.

However, there is a difference between setting the tone and doing something that player safety feels they must step in to handle.

This situation crossed that line. The video is brief, obvious, and unpleasant enough that nobody in Montreal should think it will just be forgotten by lunchtime.

It seems more likely that Arber Xhekaj will get a suspension instead of just a fine.

The main problem isn’t just that Xhekaj threw a punch in a heated moment. It’s that Carrick looked like he wasn’t ready for a fair fight when the punch landed.

That detail is important in these reviews.

Player safety usually prioritizes how vulnerable a player is, and Carrick’s stance in the video gives the league a strong reason to consider extra punishment.

So yes, the expectation around this play should be clear.

Xhekaj probably will receive some kind of punishment, and it seems smart to expect that an announcement from Player Safety will come later today.

That would put Montreal facing a problem with their team before the next game starts.

Xhekaj has a tough attitude, stands up for his teammates, and has a strong presence, and there isn’t anyone else in the team who can do what he does.

This situation also puts extra pressure on St-Louis, since issues like this usually end up being the coach’s responsibility.

The Canadiens can handle emotional situations.

But they can’t ignore how bad that punch looked.

By Monday, people likely won’t be discussing why he did it.

It will be about how many games Xhekaj will miss.