Latest news with #Xhekaj
Vancouver Sun
19-06-2025
- Sport
- Vancouver Sun
Cowan: Sheriff deserves a spot on Canadiens' blue-line patrol
One of the most interesting things to watch as this Canadiens rebuild takes another step next season will be the continuing development of defenceman Arber Xhekaj. That's if the Canadiens have a spot for him — which they should. Xhekaj has already beaten the odds, making it to the NHL as an undrafted player thanks in part to Michael Andlauer, who now owns the Ottawa Senators. Andlauer was part-owner of the Canadiens and also owned the junior Hamilton Bulldogs when they won the OHL championship in 2022, with Xhekaj playing a key role, posting 6-10-16 totals in 18 playoff games along with 50 penalty minutes. Andlauer helped Xhekaj get an invitation to the Canadiens' rookie camp and the 6-foot-4, 240-pound defenceman was able to make the jump directly from junior to the NHL. The Canadiens are loaded with young defencemen — including first-round draft picks David Reinbacher (the fifth overall pick in 2023) and Logan Mailloux (the 31st pick in 2021), who will be looking to make the jump to the NHL next season. Xhekaj is 24, Kaiden Guhle and Jayden Struble are 23, Lane Hutson is 21, while Mailloux is 22 and Reinbacher is 20. Start your day with a roundup of B.C.-focused news and opinion. By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. A welcome email is on its way. If you don't see it, please check your junk folder. The next issue of Sunrise will soon be in your inbox. Please try again Interested in more newsletters? Browse here. David Savard decided to retire , so there will be an opening on the blue line next season. But it wouldn't be a surprise if GM Kent Hughes acquires another veteran right-shot defenceman this summer to replace Savard, while also looking for a second-line centre. You have to give up something to get something and there's no doubt other teams will be interested in Xhekaj. You'd have to think the Senators are one of them. Xhekaj brings a unique blend of size, toughness and skill — although he's still raw at times — that is hard to find in today's NHL. He also has 165 games of NHL experience at a young age — along with nine goals, 20 assists and 300 penalty minutes. He still struggles defensively sometimes and was minus-13 last season. The last two seasons have been tough at times for the Hamilton, Ont., native. Xhekaj was sent down to the AHL's Laval Rocket for 17 games two seasons ago and was a healthy scratch for nine of the Canadiens' last 10 games this year, losing his spot to Struble. Xhekaj was also a healthy scratch for the first two games of the playoffs against the Washington Capitals. Canadiens head coach Martin St. Louis was asked about Xhekaj last week, when he was a guest on the Missin Curfew podcast with his former Tampa Bay Lightning teammate Shane O'Brien. 'He's come a long way and he can do way more than just fight,' St. Louis said. 'They call him the Sheriff in Montreal and he's very good at that. But there's a lot of other stuff that he's very good at as well. I think as a defenceman — especially a young defenceman — the hardest part of the league is defending. Defending in short space, reading the rush and all that. You forget that he's still very young and that he's going to keep improving. But he's got a nice package. 'Obviously, he can fight, but take that out of the equation and he's still a very young, promising defenceman,' St. Louis added. 'If he has to fight, he will, but he's learned to pick his spots. When he first came in, he felt like he had to do that and we tried to remind him that it's part of the game, but you got to play the game that's in front of you as well and he's learned to pick his spots. He's a lot of fun to coach, too.' That last comment should silence some Canadiens fans who think there might be something personal between St. Louis and Xhekaj that resulted in him not being in the lineup at times. I believe it's a case of St. Louis seeing the potential in Xhekaj and working to get the most out of him with some hard coaching. When asked about his relationship with St. Louis after the Canadiens were eliminated by the Capitals, Xhekaj said: 'It was great. We obviously talked a bunch. He just helped me. We idolize him in the room and he's our leader. He helped me a lot this year with balancing toeing the line and all that stuff. 'Sometimes it's to not cross the line and he kind of keeps me behind the line a little bit,' Xhekaj added. 'We have a great relationship and he helps me every day, pretty much.' Xhekaj has learned he's at his best when he stays calm on the ice, sits back a bit with a good stick and good gap control while focusing on his defensive game instead of looking for a big hit. 'I think as I learn that defensive side and I get really comfortable with it, I can start adding the big hits and I can line guys up better and know when the time is,' Xhekaj said. 'I think that just comes with experience.' There's a lot to like about Xhekaj in a Canadiens uniform moving forward.
Montreal Gazette
19-06-2025
- Sport
- Montreal Gazette
Cowan: Sheriff deserves a spot on Canadiens' blue-line patrol
Montreal Canadiens By One of the most interesting things to watch as this Canadiens rebuild takes another step next season will be the continuing development of defenceman Arber Xhekaj. That's if the Canadiens have a spot for him — which they should. Xhekaj has already beaten the odds, making it to the NHL as an undrafted player thanks in part to Michael Andlauer, who now owns the Ottawa Senators. Andlauer was part-owner of the Canadiens and also owned the junior Hamilton Bulldogs when they won the OHL championship in 2022, with Xhekaj playing a key role, posting 6-10-16 totals in 18 playoff games along with 50 penalty minutes. Andlauer helped Xhekaj get an invitation to the Canadiens' rookie camp and the 6-foot-4, 240-pound defenceman was able to make the jump directly from junior to the NHL. The Canadiens are loaded with young defencemen — including first-round draft picks David Reinbacher (the fifth overall pick in 2023) and Logan Mailloux (the 31st pick in 2021), who will be looking to make the jump to the NHL next season. Xhekaj is 24, Kaiden Guhle and Jayden Struble are 23, Lane Hutson is 21, while Mailloux is 22 and Reinbacher is 20. David Savard decided to retire, so there will be an opening on the blue line next season. But it wouldn't be a surprise if GM Kent Hughes acquires another veteran right-shot defenceman this summer to replace Savard, while also looking for a second-line centre. You have to give up something to get something and there's no doubt other teams will be interested in Xhekaj. You'd have to think the Senators are one of them. Xhekaj brings a unique blend of size, toughness and skill — although he's still raw at times — that is hard to find in today's NHL. He also has 165 games of NHL experience at a young age — along with nine goals, 20 assists and 300 penalty minutes. He still struggles defensively sometimes and was minus-13 last season. The last two seasons have been tough at times for the Hamilton, Ont., native. Xhekaj was sent down to the AHL's Laval Rocket for 17 games two seasons ago and was a healthy scratch for nine of the Canadiens' last 10 games this year, losing his spot to Struble. Xhekaj was also a healthy scratch for the first two games of the playoffs against the Washington Capitals. Canadiens head coach Martin St. Louis was asked about Xhekaj last week, when he was a guest on the Missin Curfew podcast with his former Tampa Bay Lightning teammate Shane O'Brien. 'He's come a long way and he can do way more than just fight,' St. Louis said. 'They call him the Sheriff in Montreal and he's very good at that. But there's a lot of other stuff that he's very good at as well. I think as a defenceman — especially a young defenceman — the hardest part of the league is defending. Defending in short space, reading the rush and all that. You forget that he's still very young and that he's going to keep improving. But he's got a nice package. 'Obviously, he can fight, but take that out of the equation and he's still a very young, promising defenceman,' St. Louis added. 'If he has to fight, he will, but he's learned to pick his spots. When he first came in, he felt like he had to do that and we tried to remind him that it's part of the game, but you got to play the game that's in front of you as well and he's learned to pick his spots. He's a lot of fun to coach, too.' That last comment should silence some Canadiens fans who think there might be something personal between St. Louis and Xhekaj that resulted in him not being in the lineup at times. I believe it's a case of St. Louis seeing the potential in Xhekaj and working to get the most out of him with some hard coaching. When asked about his relationship with St. Louis after the Canadiens were eliminated by the Capitals, Xhekaj said: 'It was great. We obviously talked a bunch. He just helped me. We idolize him in the room and he's our leader. He helped me a lot this year with balancing toeing the line and all that stuff. 'Sometimes it's to not cross the line and he kind of keeps me behind the line a little bit,' Xhekaj added. 'We have a great relationship and he helps me every day, pretty much.' Xhekaj has learned he's at his best when he stays calm on the ice, sits back a bit with a good stick and good gap control while focusing on his defensive game instead of looking for a big hit. 'I think as I learn that defensive side and I get really comfortable with it, I can start adding the big hits and I can line guys up better and know when the time is,' Xhekaj said. 'I think that just comes with experience.' There's a lot to like about Xhekaj in a Canadiens uniform moving forward.
Ottawa Citizen
19-06-2025
- Sport
- Ottawa Citizen
Cowan: Sheriff deserves a spot on Canadiens' blue-line patrol
One of the most interesting things to watch as this Canadiens rebuild takes another step next season will be the continuing development of defenceman Arber Xhekaj. Article content That's if the Canadiens have a spot for him — which they should. Article content Xhekaj has already beaten the odds, making it to the NHL as an undrafted player thanks in part to Michael Andlauer, who now owns the Ottawa Senators. Andlauer was part-owner of the Canadiens and also owned the junior Hamilton Bulldogs when they won the OHL championship in 2022, with Xhekaj playing a key role, posting 6-10-16 totals in 18 playoff games along with 50 penalty minutes. Andlauer helped Xhekaj get an invitation to the Canadiens' rookie camp and the 6-foot-4, 240-pound defenceman was able to make the jump directly from junior to the NHL. Article content Article content The Canadiens are loaded with young defencemen — including first-round draft picks David Reinbacher (the fifth overall pick in 2023) and Logan Mailloux (the 31st pick in 2021), who will be looking to make the jump to the NHL next season. Xhekaj is 24, Kaiden Guhle and Jayden Struble are 23, Lane Hutson is 21, while Mailloux is 22 and Reinbacher is 20. Article content Article content David Savard decided to retire, so there will be an opening on the blue line next season. But it wouldn't be a surprise if GM Kent Hughes acquires another veteran right-shot defenceman this summer to replace Savard, while also looking for a second-line centre. You have to give up something to get something and there's no doubt other teams will be interested in Xhekaj. You'd have to think the Senators are one of them. Article content Xhekaj brings a unique blend of size, toughness and skill — although he's still raw at times — that is hard to find in today's NHL. He also has 165 games of NHL experience at a young age — along with nine goals, 20 assists and 300 penalty minutes. He still struggles defensively sometimes and was minus-13 last season. Article content Article content The last two seasons have been tough at times for the Hamilton, Ont., native. Xhekaj was sent down to the AHL's Laval Rocket for 17 games two seasons ago and was a healthy scratch for nine of the Canadiens' last 10 games this year, losing his spot to Struble. Xhekaj was also a healthy scratch for the first two games of the playoffs against the Washington Capitals. Article content Article content Canadiens head coach Martin St. Louis was asked about Xhekaj last week, when he was a guest on the Missin Curfew podcast with his former Tampa Bay Lightning teammate Shane O'Brien. Article content 'He's come a long way and he can do way more than just fight,' St. Louis said. 'They call him the Sheriff in Montreal and he's very good at that. But there's a lot of other stuff that he's very good at as well. I think as a defenceman — especially a young defenceman — the hardest part of the league is defending. Defending in short space, reading the rush and all that. You forget that he's still very young and that he's going to keep improving. But he's got a nice package.
Ottawa Citizen
10-06-2025
- Sport
- Ottawa Citizen
Cowan: Canadiens prospect Florian Xhekaj really is a unicorn
Laval Rocket head coach Pascal Vincent described Florian Xhekaj's rookie season as 'remarkable.' Article content It really was — especially for a 20-year-old forward who was selected in the fourth round (101st overall) at the 2023 NHL Draft. The Xhekaj name on the back of his sweater — and the tough-guy reputation his older brother Arber has established in the NHL with the Canadiens — made things even tougher. Article content Article content Article content 'Especially with his last name — there were expectations,' Vincent said about the younger Xhekaj last Friday when members of the Rocket met with the media for the last time this season after getting swept by the Charlotte Checkers in the Eastern Conference final. 'He hasn't played a game yet and the referees are already telling him: 'Relax.'' Article content Article content It was sort of like being a Hanson brother in the classic Slap Shot movie from 1977. Article content Article content Vincent said he didn't have a lot of expectations for Xhekaj as an AHL rookie and added that nobody expected him to score 24 goals. Article content But that's what 6-foot-4, 195-pounder did, to go along with 11 assists, a league-leading 175 penalty minutes and a plus-10 differential. Xhekaj was also learning to play centre after being a left-winger in junior with the OHL's Brantford Bulldogs, posting 34-31-65 totals in 63 games during the 2023-24 season to go along with 81 penalty minutes and a plus-17. Article content Article content 'He scored a lot of goals,' Vincent said about Xhekaj's rookie season in the AHL. 'His shot is amazing. He's got a quick release, accurate, too. But I didn't know about his brain and, to me, that's the thing that intrigues me the most. How they (young players) manage expectations. How they manage and how can they apply info that we give them and to do it right away on the ice or how long does it take for you to gather the info and execute on the ice at a very high speed. For me to see Flo gathering those informations and teachings and to do it on the ice and to execute at the speed he did in his first year with his last name — because the other teams on the other side, they know — this kid has this confidence and he's walking the line. He's not cocky, but he's confident that he can be the man. He's still physically not there yet, but in his mind … so I was quite impressed with him.
Montreal Gazette
10-06-2025
- Sport
- Montreal Gazette
Cowan: Canadiens prospect Florian Xhekaj really is a unicorn
By Laval Rocket head coach Pascal Vincent described Florian Xhekaj's rookie season as 'remarkable.' It really was — especially for a 20-year-old forward who was selected in the fourth round (101st overall) at the 2023 NHL Draft. The Xhekaj name on the back of his sweater — and the tough-guy reputation his older brother Arber has established in the NHL with the Canadiens — made things even tougher. 'Especially with his last name — there were expectations,' Vincent said about the younger Xhekaj last Friday when members of the Rocket met with the media for the last time this season after getting swept by the Charlotte Checkers in the Eastern Conference final. 'He hasn't played a game yet and the referees are already telling him: 'Relax.'' It was sort of like being a Hanson brother in the classic Slap Shot movie from 1977. Vincent said he didn't have a lot of expectations for Xhekaj as an AHL rookie and added that nobody expected him to score 24 goals. But that's what 6-foot-4, 195-pounder did, to go along with 11 assists, a league-leading 175 penalty minutes and a plus-10 differential. Xhekaj was also learning to play centre after being a left-winger in junior with the OHL's Brantford Bulldogs, posting 34-31-65 totals in 63 games during the 2023-24 season to go along with 81 penalty minutes and a plus-17. 'He scored a lot of goals,' Vincent said about Xhekaj's rookie season in the AHL. 'His shot is amazing. He's got a quick release, accurate, too. But I didn't know about his brain and, to me, that's the thing that intrigues me the most. How they (young players) manage expectations. How they manage and how can they apply info that we give them and to do it right away on the ice or how long does it take for you to gather the info and execute on the ice at a very high speed. For me to see Flo gathering those informations and teachings and to do it on the ice and to execute at the speed he did in his first year with his last name — because the other teams on the other side, they know — this kid has this confidence and he's walking the line. He's not cocky, but he's confident that he can be the man. He's still physically not there yet, but in his mind ... so I was quite impressed with him. 'We know about the toughness and all of that,' Vincent added. 'But for him to play the way he did in a position that's really hard to learn as a centre to improve. Early in the season he couldn't win a draw, or it was really hard, and then he got better. He's a thinker and he's a great teammate. Guys love him. We're very fortunate to have him. Very impressed with him. Not so much the goals and stuff, but how he executed the details that we talked about. And because of that I think he scored goals.' The Xhekaj brothers lived together this season in Montreal — but they probably weren't playing with toy cars like the Hansons in Slap Shot. Arber spoke this season about how he was hard on his brother, who is three years younger, while they were growing up in Hamilton along with sisters Sophia and Dominika. 'For me, I was the hardest guy on him because my dad was hard on me and then my dad was not hard on the youngest child,' Arber said. 'So that pissed me off. I'm like, OK, if you're not going to do it, I'll do it. 'It's all love at the end of the day,' Arber added. 'I'm the first guy there for him. I think I saw his potential and I knew what he had and I knew I just had to dig deep for it. So I was hard on him and he pulled it off. He's a good player.' Another person who saw the younger Xhekaj's potential was Nick Bobrov, the Canadiens' co-director of amateur scouting. Bobrov described Xhekaj as a 'unicorn' ahead of the 2023 NHL Draft. Xhekaj was ranked 131st among North American skaters by NHL Central Scouting heading into the draft. 'To me, I'd personally like to walk away with that guy,' Bobrov said about Florian in a behind-the-scenes video the Canadiens released of a scouting meeting held ahead of the 2023 draft in Nashville. Xhekaj showed his versatility and why he is a 'unicorn' by playing on all four lines this season with Laval while making the adjustment to playing centre. 'I can score goals, I can make plays,' he said. 'But I'm also a physical kind of in-your-face player. I think those are good tools to have to be put in any line, any role.' Xhekaj said his main goal this summer is to add more weight and muscle. When asked to assess his rookie AHL season, he said: 'I think it was pretty good. My first year pro and everyone was so great, so welcoming. I feel like I've grown a lot as a person and a player, so a lot of positives.'
