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Top 20 Canadiens Prospects: Xhekaj Is Defying The Odds
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- Top 20 Canadiens Prospects: Xhekaj Is Defying The Odds
IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
The Montreal Canadiens did not hesitate to pull the trigger on drafting Florian Xhekaj early in the fourth round of the 2023 NHL Entry Draft, despite very few pre-draft outlets ranking him among the 224 players expected to be chosen that weekend.
It has become the defining trait of the Kent Hughes regime.
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If the Habs believe a player has underrated potential, they will ignore the public rankings, a rather logical choice given that every team is looking to fill different needs during the draft.
Xhekaj, 22, has appeared in a handful of games for the Canadiens, which is quite the feat considering his draft position. You could easily make the argument that he has already defied the odds , as players drafted in the fourth round face an intense uphill climb if they hope to play in the NHL.
Previously published Montreal Canadiens prospect rankings
No. 9 – Florian Xhekaj – 22 – C/LW – Shoots Left – 6'4″ – 205lb – Laval Rocket (AHL) – Drafted 101st Overall 2023
Xhekaj enjoyed the best rookie goal-scoring season in Laval Rocket history, finding the back of the net on 24 occasions in 2024-25. It was particularly impressive, as he mostly played on the fourth line throughout the regular season, with additional time spent on both the powerplay and the penalty kill.
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He also served as one of Pascal Vincent's favourite shutdown players, making him one of the most important players in the lineup, given his versatility and usage.
His surprising rookie season raised the bar to a certain extent, with some suggesting his sophomore season was a clear-cut downtick in production, as Xhekaj scored 17 goals and 12 assists in 64 games.
However, when we consider that he missed a stretch in the AHL due to his NHL promotion, it becomes clear that his production was very similar.
In his first season in the AHL, Xhekaj had a 0.50 points-per-game ratio, while the following year saw him post a 0.45 ratio. More than anything, his shooting percentage normalized a little, but he was once again used in a bottom-six role, which is far from conducive to scoring.
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Xhekaj still managed to finish third in Rocket scoring, tied with Sean Farrell, who played eight additional games.
Any way you cut it, having a player among the top three goalscorers who was being used in the bottom six is a positive result.
As a bonus, Xhekaj also managed to get his name on the scoresheet in his NHL debut, though most will likely remember his tilt with Toronto Maple Leafs defenceman Dakota Mermis.
Xhekaj Projection
If Xhekaj were a pure goon, I'd suggest he would have very little long-term value to the Canadiens.
But given his versatility, work ethic, truculence, and underrated hockey skills, you'd be hard-pressed to argue that he will not be given every opportunity to eventually carve out a fourth-line role in the NHL.
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I'd go so far as to say that players of his ilk have better odds of making the NHL than players who possess a little more talent but lack the rough-and-tumble style that Xhekaj uses to terrorize his opponents.
There will always be room for players with size in the NHL, particularly if they can offer tertiary scoring while playing minimal shifts every night.
Xhekaj won't win an Art Ross or the Maurice Richard Trophy, but don't be surprised if he ends up spending more time in the NHL than many players who were drafted well ahead of him in 2023.
All Montreal Canadiens prospect and Florian Xhekaj statistics via Elite Prospects.
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