An odd little moment from the Canadiens-Maple Leafs doubleheader had people talking long after the final buzzer: Arber Xhekaj, while sitting in the penalty box in Montreal, was caught watching his brother Florian’s fight on a cell phone.
The scene came during the preseason matchup at the Bell Centre, with the Xhekaj brothers split up for the night - Arber with Montreal and Florian dressed for Toronto. Even with the brothers in different buildings, the older Xhekaj was clearly locked in on what the younger one was doing.
That’s what made the moment stand out. Players are not supposed to be using cell phones on the bench or in the penalty box, and the NHL rulebook is strict about it. A Sportsnet analyst immediately raised the question of whether the Canadiens defenseman could be fined for the move.
Because it was only a preseason game, the hope is that the league takes a lighter approach and lets common sense win out. At the very least, Montreal could still be looking at a small warning.
The bigger takeaway from the night, though, was Florian Xhekaj’s performance. He made a strong case for himself with a dominant showing, and his fight was only part of it. In just under 12 minutes of ice time, he recorded an assist, blocked a shot and threw four solid hits.
Florian is clearly trying to show the coaching staff he belongs in the NHL this season. He’s also in the mix for one of the jobs on the fourth line, potentially alongside Josh Anderson.
In Other News...
Florian Xhekaj Just Forced A Bigger Canadiens Roster Debate
Florian Xhekaj has spent training camp making himself harder to ignore, and not just because of the name on the back of the sweater. He has been skating with established players, showing the kind of physical development that tends to catch a coachs eye in September, and the broader Canadiens picture only adds to the intrigue with his brother Arber having recently signed a one-year deal in the organization.
The latest reminder came in a preseason meeting with Toronto, where Xhekaj dropped the gloves and added another layer to an already interesting camp battle. For Montreal, it is the sort of development that can sharpen a roster conversation quickly: a young player pushing for attention, a team looking at its depth and identity, and a decision that gets tougher when the physical edge starts to show up in real games. [Read more 🡒]
Canadiens Face New Lineup Concern After Practice Absences
The Canadiens had a different look at practice as Alexandre Carrier, Jake Evans and Lucas Condotta were not on the ice with the regular group. Josh Nadeau and Dillan Bentley were moved into Group A, while Laurent Dauphin joined Group B to help fill the gaps, a sign that the club was shuffling things around before its next preseason outing against the Ottawa Senators.
The absences have not been explained, so it is not clear whether this was simply maintenance or tied to what happened in the previous game. Evans is the name worth watching most closely after he left that contest early with an apparent injury, and with no official lineup announced yet, the Canadiens still have a little uncertainty hanging over how they will look when they return to game action. [Read more 🡒]
Canadiens Keeping One Kraft Hockeyville Answer Under Wraps
The Canadiens are set for a notable stop in Trois-Rivires on Monday, when they face the Ottawa Senators at the Colise de Trois-Rivires in the Kraft Hockeyville game. Both clubs will be on the ice there for practice before puck drop, with arrival and session times already announced, turning the rink into a full day of team activity and a hometown showcase for the area.
One piece of the picture remains fuzzy, though, and it is the one fans usually care about most: who will actually suit up for Montreal. The lineup has not yet been confirmed, even as Samuel Montembeault and Zachary Bolduc are expected to be part of the trip, leaving the Canadiens with a little bit of suspense heading into what should be a lively showcase game. [Read more 🡒]