Arber Xhekaj Sends a Clear Warning to the Rangers and Jacob Trouba Following the Hit on Justin Barron

It was not only a 7-2 loss the Montreal Canadiens suffered at the hands of the New York Rangers on Tuesday night, but there is a good chance they also added to their growing list of injuries. While the blowout loss at the Bell Centre was painful, the real concern came when Canadiens' defenseman Justin Barron took a questionable hit courtesy of Rangers captain Jacob Trouba.

This has been hotly debated, as this could have very big ramifications in terms of what that means for the future of the team's defense. The Canadiens' defenseman Mike Matheson wasted no time in immediately getting up and fighting Trouba in defense of Barron after the hit.

Of course, for many sets of eyes on it, the line in the sand was that enforcer Arber Xhekaj of the Canadiens was a healthy scratch for the second game running. It was surprising to see the big and physical Xhekaj out, as not only would he have fitted the bill in this one, but he would never back down from sticking up for one of his teammates in a situation like that and his presence on the ice might have changed the complexion of the game.

Speaking to the media following the game, Xhekaj sounded frustrated at being scratched but perhaps hinted that had he been dressed, he would have had no issue stepping in to confront Jacob Trouba:

The 6-foot-4 blueliner has built a reputation on battling some of the NHL's most feared fighters, including Zack Kassian and Ryan Reaves, and seemed almost eager for a rematch when the Canadiens next face the Rangers. His comments have served as a warning for a more rough-and-tumble series of games going forward, but that is warranted based on how much hate there is between the two teams. Beyond the excitement of how he may fit into future action, Xhekaj showed accountability for his struggles earlier in the year.

The 23-year-old got off to a bumpy start, failing to record a single point in his first five games and coming out with a disappointing -4 rating. He didn't appear too worried about it and was confident that the coaching staff and management still believed in him. There was speculation, notably by former Canadiens enforcer Georges Laraque, as to what may happen with Xhekaj on the team, but the season remains young, and there is ample time for him to find his rhythm and start to make a more significant contribution.

The Canadiens are only 2-4-1 so far and have a long way to go, but their next game, against the St. Louis Blues on Saturday, will go a long way toward determining their future. Injuries and defensive struggles remain issues, but there is considerable time for such players as Arber Xhekaj to find significant roles as the year grows. The forthcoming games will be important as it relates to the development of the team, and the players will need to give it their absolute all for Montreal to find success.