While the Montreal Canadiens had a day off yesterday, their farm team, the Laval Rocket was taking on the Bridgeport Islanders in an away game. The visitors destroyed the locals by a score of 6-2 and one Canadiens hopeful had the game of his young career.
Florian Xhekaj, who was drafted in the fourth-round of the 2023 draft at 101th overall after being ignored in his first year of eligibility, scored three goals and added two assists to be named first start of the game. It was the first hat trick of his young professional career.
In 26 games with the Rocket this season, he has 10 points. In other words, he doubled his offensive output in a single game yesterday. When the Canadiens drafted Arber’s brother, they called him a unicorn, they saw a physical player who had all the tools to become a power forward. They also added it didn’t hurt they knew the older brother and the family, meaning the new draftee would have a good work ethic.
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In his last junior year, the younger Xhekaj exploded offensively scoring 65 points in 63 games, showing he might just make the Canadiens’ bet worth it. Unsurprisingly, it’s been harder for him to put up points in the AHL, the jump from the OHL to the development league is a big one and it takes some getting used to.
It’s too early to get excited about Xhekaj’s offensive production, as mentioned above he doubled his totals yesterday, but showing that he can have this kind of game in the AHL is a step in the right direction.
Not everyone who makes the farm team will get to play for the Canadiens, but if he turns into the unicorn co-director of scouting Nick Bobrov alluded to at the draft, he could become a good bottom-six forward for the Habs.
Related: Canadiens: The Xhekaj Brothers Kept Their Word
Should teammate Luke Tuch also keep the same development path, they could both graduate to the NHL and provide a physical identity the Canadiens have been lacking up front for quite some time.
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