Florian Xhekaj made his presence felt in Toronto tonight, and he did it the hard way.
The young forward dropped the gloves with Marshall Rifai during the game between the Canadiens and the Maple Leafs, delivering the kind of message that doesn’t need much translation inside a camp battle. It was the latest sign that Xhekaj is trying to carve out a spot on his own terms.
That edge has been part of his look all training camp. Xhekaj has been pushing to bring pace and identity to his game, and the physical side has only become more noticeable after he arrived at 215 pounds this year, 20 more than last season. That extra bulk is showing up on the ice, where he appears better equipped to handle bigger opponents.
Earlier this week, he was skating in practice with Phillip Danault and Josh Anderson, a combination that had already been seen several times during camp and was confirmed again tonight.
Last season, Florian played just five NHL games and finished with one assist, but there’s an expectation that number will climb this year.
The timing of this push also stands out for the Xhekaj family. His brother Arber has just signed a one-year deal with the organization, putting even more focus on the name this week.
Florian knows nothing will be handed to him. A regular role has to be earned in this organization, and he seems determined to get the attention of Kent Hughes and Jeff Gorton the only way that really counts: by making himself impossible to ignore.
A fight like this can matter more than it looks, especially in the eyes of a head coach. Martin St-Louis is paying close attention to every detail in camp, and that includes the young players trying to force their way into the picture.
Tonight’s game is part of the final preseason stretch before the official start of the season, and Xhekaj chose a memorable moment to make his case.
In Other News...
Patrik Laine's Market Just Took A Turn Canadiens Fans Should Watch
Patrik Laines free agency has settled into a strange holding pattern, and the longer it goes on, the more the landscape around him seems to shift. The winger played only five games last season because of injury and has seen his production dip since arriving in Montreal, yet he still has not signed anywhere after the market opened, leaving plenty of room for teams to keep circling.
Pierre LeBrun has now suggested another club could be in the mix, and the ripple effect matters for Canadiens fans because Laines next move is still very much part of Montreals recent story. Several teams have reportedly shown interest already, including Ottawa, the Islanders, Tampa Bay, Dallas, Florida, Toronto and Los Angeles, and the uncertainty only grows as the market searches for a fit. [Read more 🡒]
Canadiens Suddenly Have A New Way To Add Size And Toughness
Chris Kreiders arrival gives Montreal a little more size and edge in a place where those traits are always valued, and coach Martin St. Louis made clear he sees more than just a body coming into camp. St. Louis, who knows Kreider well from their time together in New York, praised the wingers skill and the way he can fit into different roles, which matters for a Canadiens roster still looking to round out its identity as camp gets moving.
Arber Xhekaj only adds to the intrigue. The defenseman said hes open to playing forward, a position he briefly tried last season, and that kind of flexibility can matter on a team trying to find more toughness and versatility without sacrificing structure. With Florian Xhekaj also in camp, Montreal suddenly has a few different ways to think about how it wants to use its bigger bodies, even if the exact answers are still to come. [Read more 🡒]
Arber Xhekaj Deal Puts Canadiens Blue Line Plans Under The Spotlight
Arber Xhekaj is back under contract with the Canadiens after a drawn-out negotiation that left Montreals blue line looking crowded for much of the summer. The one-year deal keeps the physical defenseman in the fold and gives the team another layer of depth on a back end that had been the subject of plenty of speculation as the roster took shape.
Xhekaj made it clear he would have liked more term, but the short deal also gives him a chance to re-establish himself and set up his next round of talks. He also confirmed Montreal had been pursuing trades to sort out the defense mix, though none came together, leaving the Canadiens to carry those roster questions into camp and beyond. [Read more 🡒]