"He’s fighting for one of us": Cole Caulfield defends 'protector' Arber Xhekaj's violent conduct after Senators hit parade 

By Mike Whitaker

Modified Oct 03, 2024 04:03 GMT

Montreal Canadiens defenseman Arber Xhekaj was in the headlines once again this week thanks to his blindside hit of Ottawa Senators forward Tim Stutzle, a hit which knocked him from the game.

He had previously run afoul of the NHL thanks to his retaliation against Toronto Maple Leafs forward Cedric Pare after he injured teammate Patrik Laine. He earned the maximum fine as allowed by the Collective Bargaining Agreement.

But while the debate rages on as to whether or not Xhekaj should face discipline from the NHL Department of Player Safety for his hit on Tkachuk, his teammates are standing up for him.

“Obviously, there’s no intent to injure, there’s no intent to hurt anybody, but he’s a protector,” said Cole Caufield of Xhekaj. “He’s a guy that you want on your team, that everybody respects, and I know he’s respected around the league. He’s physical, and he brings a lot of other things too. There’s right and wrong ways to go about it, but at the end of the day he’s fighting for one of us and he’s always ready to go to war for whatever happens."

"And I think that’s the way he was raised, it’s the way he was brought up — he always takes care of the people who take care of him," he continued. "It’s nice to have a guy like that on your team that will do anything for you. It’s rare to have someone who will do it as consistently.

“I think we stand up for one another, but he’s the best example of that.”

Currently, Xhekaj isn't expected to face any further discipline from the NHL.

Arber Xhekaj isn't expected to face further discipline from the NHL

It was Xhekaj who immediately jumped Pare and pummelled him with several punches (albeit still wearing his gloves) to the back of his head after he delivered a knee-on-knee hit that injured Laine.

And while he was fined for his actions on Saturday night, NHL Insider Frank Seravalli doesn't anticipate any further discipline thanks to his hit on Stutzle.

"No final determination yet," he wrote on X. "But not expecting any supplemental discipline for #GoHabsGo Arber Xhekaj for his hit on #GoSensGo Tim Stutzle last night."

Xhekaj and the Canadiens will again face the Senators in their final exhibition matchup prior to the start of the regular season. The opening tilt on their 82-game schedule sees them face the Maple Leafs.