Episode 62 of the Hockey Free For All Podcast 8-8-2-23

Episode 62 of the Hockey Free For All Podcast topics include-

#1. The Montreal Canadiens have signed their last unsigned player Jesse Ylonen to a new 1-year contract.

#2. The Washington Capitals have signed Tom Wilson to a new 7 year 45-million-dollar contract.

#3. Tom Wilson’s new contract should be speaking volumes to the Montreal Canadiens management and catching their attention regarding Arber Xhekaj and the rare skill set he brings to the team.

#4. If there is anyone who thinks that Arber Xhekaj is just a goon or an enforcer please stop watching hockey with your eyes closed. Arber Xhekaj is an excellent skater, he’s an agile and fluid skater, he has excellent lateral movement, he has a solid first step that was apparently unknown previously and not expected, he has an excellent first pass, he’s solid in the transition game, he’s got a canon for a shot not only from the point, he can head fake and skate right in on a goalie and score, he is very effective at not only clearing the front of his own net so that the goalie can see, but he also very effective at causing chaos in the oppositions end, he can get back quickly, he’s already very rarely caught out of position, and when he has been it’s because he is trying to bail out someone else who’s out of position.

#5. If you like watching and want to continue to watch Cole Caufield, Nick Suzuki, Sean Ferrall, Rafael Harvey-Pinard, Alex Newhook, Owen Beck, Emil Heineman, Riley Kidney, Filip Mesar, Joshua Roy, Adam Engstrom, Jordan Harris, Lane Hutson or Montreal Goaltenders have very long and successful careers in Montreal, you understand that Arber Xhekaj plays a very key role in order for that to happen.

#6. Ask Mat’s Naslund and Saku Koivu if they appreciated Chris Nilan and Larry Robinson.

#7Alexander Ovechkin if he appreciates Tom Wilson.

#8. There is no talent shortage in Montreal on the right side of the defense as they already have David Savard, Jonathan Kovacevic, Justin Barron, and Chris Wideman, not to mention Jordan Harris, Jayden Struble and Mattias Norlinder who can play either side of the defense fluidly. In addition to those players Montreal also has Logan Mailloux, Miguel Tourigny, Danill Sobolev, Dmitri Kostenko and Bogdan Konyushkov who are all natural right defensemen. Adam Engstrom can play both his natural left as well as the right side, where’s the shortage?

#9.  Alex Newhook will be sporting the number 15 on his Montreal Jersey.