"Wouldn't crack the Marlies": NHL fans react to Arber Xhekaj turning down Toronto Maple Leafs offer

NHL fans on the internet reacted to Arber Xhekaj's decision to turn down the Toronto Maple Leafs offer. After not being selected in the NHL drafts, Xhekaj patiently waited for an opportunity, eventually receiving the call to play for his childhood team, the Montreal Canadiens.

On the "Spittin' Chiclets" podcast, Arber Xhekaj said:

"Toronto called me. Florida called me, and then that was it. So me and my agent were talking, and we were like, we were checking the prospect pool, and we're like, okay, like, let's go to Florida.

"And then after that, I was like, Wait, just give it a second. Like, wait a few days. ... something's coming. Because I knew Montreal was super interested. Like, that's my favorite team. That's where I wanted to go."

Fans were quick to react to Xhekaj's statement, sharing a range of opinions and reactions on X/Twitter. One tweeted:

"Wouldn’t crack the Marlies"

Another tweeted:

"Damn … an AHL calibre defenseman chose the Habs over the Leafs … devastating."

Here are some of the other top reactions on X:

"I respect a person who waits to try to get to his favourite team," one opined.

"Not one of the clowns here with negative comments TRULY aren't choked he didn't decide to sign with Toronto. A team notoriously weak on D for years now. And that would've meant not having to sign a bum like Reaves. Bonus," posted another.

"Canadiens know what they are. Leafs pretend to be something they'll never be. I'd take honesty over wannabes," another commented.

"Why do I doubt this is true? As bad as our D has been, he still wouldn't have cracked the team last year," wrote another.

---

Paul Bissonnette considers Arber Xhekaj one of the top heavyweights in NHL

Earlier this month, former NHLer Paul Bissonnette lauded Arber Xhekaj for his impressive size, youth and eagerness to engage physically on the ice.

Bissonnette predicted that the 23-year-old Canadiens defenseman is already among the top contenders in the NHL's heavyweight division.

"I would consider him easily probably in the top five right now in the heavyweight division in the NHL, if not top 10. But to have a guy of that size and that young who is that willing, he'll be top five in no time if he ain't already there," said Bissonnette.