Jack Todd: Xhekaj thinks the password is more than just a better game of nicknames for habs

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At least we have WiFi.

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On a night when the Canadians were being streamlined by a pretty good Dallas team, Arber Xhekaj, the guy they call Wifi, wrote another chapter in the best story of the young season with the first goal of his career.

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The goal also capped a brilliant week for the 21-year-old defenseman, who went undrafted. He recorded his first assist and became the youngest undrafted Habs defender to score a point. He scored seven against the Stars and a nice backhand pass that led to Mike Hoffman’s goal.

He also beat former hab and veteran NHL pugilist Zack Kassian as the Canadians defeated the Coyotes on Thursday night. The only time Kassian was hit worse in Montreal was the night seven years ago when his truck crashed into a tree.

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(Like everyone else, former heavyweight champion Chris Nilan loves the kid — but Nilan is right when he says Xhekaj doesn’t need to play in front of the crowd after a fight won.)

With his teammates calling him Wifi, Xhekaj also represents a major upgrade in the Canadiens’ nickname game. He leads a parade of exciting young players worthy of the nickname – like Filip “Tape” Mesar, “Fast Lane” Hutson and Owen “Hunt And” Beck. Xhekaj even has a good backup nickname: Before Wifi landed and got stuck, reader Brady Moffatt had suggested Scrabble, based on the fact that the great defender’s surname alone is worth 27 points in letter value.

But Wifi is – the best nickname for a Habs defender since Douglas “Crankshaft” Murray. Crankshaft could also score, but it took Xhekaj less time to beat up Kassian than it did for Murray to run from one end of the ice to the other. The rookie can skate and fight and bat and play, and getting him off the lineup will be just as difficult as moving him on the ice.

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That presents the biggest problem Canadians have: young depth. The pipeline is deeper than it has been since the 1993 Stanley Cup. That doesn’t solve the power play problem or Kirby Dach’s difficulties in faceoffs, but it all has to start with talent.

This team has talent and it only gets better with the draft picks they have. No matter what nickname they have.

Young Sheldon got it right

Sheldon Keefe is saddled with a bunch of talented prima donnas in Toronto, and unless the day comes when he can tear them up without having to retract his comments, the Leafs will never reach the promised land.

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That’s fine with me, but this bunch could use a three-year dose of vintage Pat Burns, staining the walls blue with well-deserved profanity. Auston Matthews, Mitch Marner & Co. will kill many trainers before they’re done, especially if the trainers aren’t allowed to speak their mind.

Drouin still doesn’t

If things don’t change soon, Martin St.Louis will have to give up Jonathan Drouin – and that’s a shame. Drouin just can’t find the “on” switch when he’s in the lineup. He plays a gentle, hesitant, unconcerned game.

The problem must be trust. Drouin has too much talent to play the way he does, but the long-term wrist injury coupled with his personal struggles could be too much for him to overcome. If he could believe in himself, the rest would follow – and if he can’t, it will be a loss not only for the Canadians but for the game itself.

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Lies, rumors &&&& malicious innuendos

Once again, Sunday games and deadlines mean we’re reduced to cheerleading roles for Wilfried Nancy and CF Montréal. New York City will be their toughest challenge yet, but word here is the club will keep rolling. So if they fall short, don’t blame me – blame the crystal ball. …

Here at Monday Morning Quarterback Central, we still see no reason to believe the 8-9 Alouettes couldn’t have done at least as well with Khari Jones as manager. It was an unnecessary, unfair dismissal, and nothing short of an underdog Gray Cup win will acquit Danny Maciocia in that regard. …

If intentionally waving a high stick at an opponent isn’t worth more than a regular-season suspension (hello, Evgeny Kuznetsov), then George Parros and the Department of Player Safety might as well just shut it down, because they are completely useless. …

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Brendan Gallagher needs to buy some happiness. …

Hockey has had its problems with terrible owners, and there are still a few, like Chicago’s Rocky Wirtz and Edmonton’s Daryl Katz. But the Washington Commanders’ Daniel Snyder is in a league with the likes of Jeffrey Loria and Harold Ballard. It doesn’t get any worse.

Heroes: Juraj Slafkovsky, Kaiden Guhle, Nick Suzuki, Cole Caufield, Martin St. Louis, Félix Auger-Aliassime, Wilfried Nancy &&&& last but not least Arber “Wifi” Xhekaj.

zeros: George Parros, Hockey Canada, Scott Smith, Ron MacLean, Canada Soccer, Alexander Ovechkin, Daniel Snyder, Tom Brady, Claude Brochu, David Samson &&&& last but not least Jeffrey Loria.

Now & Forever.

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