The Canadiens are making their feelings on Florian Xhekaj pretty obvious.
What’s been said inside the room this week points in the same direction: the young No. 63 is earning trust, and he’s earning it fast. Nick Suzuki and Phillip Danault both had strong things to say about him today, and that kind of public support doesn’t happen by accident.
Anthony Martineau reported the comments in the last few hours, noting the tone coming from the room around Xhekaj. He wrote: "Shuffling the cards," "playing as a team."
Today, Nick Suzuki and Phillip Danault had VERY complimentary things to say about Florian Xhekaj.
The kind of words that mean a lot about the locker room's desire to see the young no. 63 start the season with the Habs.
Not only does Florian have a corrosive style appreciated by all, but he's impressing his teammates with his ease at the faceoff circle."
That faceoff work seems to be a big part of the story. Xhekaj’s style has already won people over, but his comfort in the circle is what’s really standing out to the Canadiens’ centers.
Danault went a step further yesterday, staying after practice to work with him one-on-one on his draws. That’s a significant show of support from a veteran, especially with Xhekaj potentially challenging for a spot that could affect the team’s center depth.
Kent Hughes also spoke about Xhekaj last night and highlighted his consistency. Martin St-Louis has been saying much the same thing, praising the way Xhekaj makes his presence felt every time he steps on the ice. That message has come up repeatedly this week.
Gilbert Delorme even went as far as saying Xhekaj should get the nod over Kirby Dach in the lineup to begin the season.
Taken together, the comments from teammates, coach, and management all point in one direction. Xhekaj is doing enough to stay in the conversation, and the backing he’s getting inside the organization is impossible to ignore.
Saturday’s final preseason game will be his last chance to put one more strong performance on the board and reinforce everything he’s built this week.
In Other News...
Former Canadiens Are Suddenly Fighting For Their NHL Futures
A cluster of familiar names hit waivers on Sept. 25, turning what is usually a routine roster squeeze into a reminder of how quickly NHL careers can shift. Joshua Roy, Jordan Harris, Sean Farrell and Corey Schueneman were among the players exposed, and for Canadiens fans, the list carries extra weight because these are all skaters who had been part of Montreals pipeline or recent roster picture.
Roy, Harris and Farrell had already been moved on from by Montreal earlier this offseason or in recent years, which makes this latest round of roster churn feel less like a surprise than a checkpoint. Add in Marc Del Gaizo and William Trudeau, both of whom were with the Laval Rocket last season and were placed on waivers by the New York Rangers, and the wider picture gets clearer: former Canadiens and recent organization pieces are suddenly fighting to keep their NHL paths alive. [Read more 🡒]
Oilers Linked To Kirby Dach As Bigger Roster Questions Loom
The Canadiens roster picture keeps widening beyond Montreal, and Kirby Dach has suddenly become part of that larger conversation. Around the league, teams are watching how contenders and cap-conscious clubs position themselves with the NHLs salary ceiling set to keep climbing, a trend that could reshape how front offices approach player deals in the years ahead.
For Montreal, Dach sits in the middle of a bigger valuation question than just one player or one contract. Interest from outside clubs is only adding to the intrigue around how the Canadiens see his role and how other teams see his upside, especially as trade chatter and contract strategy start to overlap with a cap environment that should look very different by the end of the decade. [Read more 🡒]
Bruins Are Suddenly In A Crowded Race For A Scorer
The Canadiens have already been tied to the search for a second-line center, with Winnipegs Mark Scheifele surfacing as a possible answer for that need. It is the kind of hockey-month chatter that usually follows a team trying to sharpen its middle six, and Montreal is not alone in watching the market closely as other clubs angle for help down the middle and on the wing.
Kirill Marchenko has become another name drawing attention from around the league, with the Oilers, Maple Leafs, Bruins and others showing interest, which helps explain why this forward market has started to feel crowded in a hurry. Edmontons interest in Montreal forward Kirby Dach is also part of the backdrop, and with no official trades announced yet, the Canadiens remain in the middle of a wider scramble that could shape how this group looks going forward. [Read more 🡒]