While many Canadiens fans are aware of the last name Xhekaj, due to the waves that defenseman Arber Xhekaj's no-nonsense defensive play style creates, his younger brother Florian is carving out a name for himself.
With training camp a couple of months away, Montreal Canadiens fans are buzzing about Florian Xhekaj after his explosive rookie AHL season with the Laval Rocket, with a quick highlight reel below.
Even Laval's head coach, Pascal Vincent, has expressed being impressed by Florian since rookie camp. During his first AHL season, Vincent mentioned being surprised and highlighted the fact that Florian is always finding ways to elevate his game. Vincent also mentioned, "He's got good skills. He's got a good shot. He's willing to drive the net. We know he's tough [...] His curve is going uphill [...] It's very, very interesting how he's progressing and absorbing the information," when asked about Florian Xhekaj's progression in an interview, clearly outlining hockey analysts and Laval's head coach's belief that he is ready for NHL consideration.
«Je ne devrais plus être surpris, mais Florian Xhekaj trouve toujours des moyens d’élever son jeu.»
— Anthony Martineau (@Antho_Martineau) May 22, 2025
-Pascal Vincent
1. Who is Florian Xhekaj
Draft and Contract: Drafted 101st overall in 2023, Florian signed his 3-year entry-level NHL contract in April 2024. Florian currently plays with the Laval Rockets and previously played with the Hamilton/Brantford Bulldogs.
Physical Profile: 6'4 and 194lbs
Playing Style: Powerful left winger, net-front presence, aggressive board style, and a physical edge to kill penalties and win battles at the boards
2. Why This Matters for the Canadiens
As a power forward, Florian provides a resourceful net-crashing style and hits that energize his teammates, which can wear out his opponents. Xhekaj's gritty style could make him an ideal fit to form a hard-hitting checking unit with Gallagher and Evans.
Alongside his penalty killing abilities and secondary scoring contributions, his addition could be a cost-effective entry-level deal that is vital to add to the younger generation of Canadiens.
Playoff-wise, the Canadiens have struggled to keep up with the big, aggressive play style that teams like Washington and Florida bring to cup contention and success. Florian Xhekaj's hard-hitting style and physical prowess will help the Canadiens fight their way back into succeeding in the playoffs.
3. 2024-2025 AHL Season Performance
Stat Category - AHL Rookie Numbers
Games Played: 69
Goals: 24
Assists: 11
Points: 35
Penalty Minutes: ~175
Plus/Minus: +10
Notes: Florian sets a Laval rookie record with 17+goals in one season,
"Florian Xhekaj of @RocketLaval is the first #AHL rookie since Cedric Paquette with Syracuse in 2013-14 to score 20 goals and collect 150 penalty minutes in a season."Stéphane Leroux via X
Florian Xhekaj possesses the capabilities to be one of Montreal's most exciting late-blooming stories. Emerging as a legitimate candidate to crack the Canadiens' NHL roster this season, everybody is looking forward to what his momentum and talent can bring to training camp, and hopefully, the bright future of the Montreal Canadiens.