Confirmed with Link: Canadiens Sign Florian Xhekaj to 3 Year ELC ('24-'25/'26-'27) Signs PTO w/Laval

[Gaylord Q Tinkledink]

Yeah he's way worst then Mysak!

At least Durandeau is working hard...

Maybe last game, but all the ones I've watched I'd rank the players as

Mysak
Legare



the garbage players the Rocket got for them

Imagine their dad, both his sons on his favourite team!

To be fair, Toronto was his dad's first team to cheer for because of Domi and his heritage.

 

[vokiel]

May be the wrong thread, but is there any free AHL games we can hope to see with Florian in a Rocket jersey?

 

[YukonCornelius 5thOA]

To be fair, Toronto was his dad's first team to cheer for because of Domi and his heritage.

Shut up!

Seriously though, I only recently heard that that Habs are his fav team. I don’t know their history.

 

[skidcells]

Happy we signed him but if I am being a realist there’s still an uphill battle for him to make it to the nhl. I’m not saying it’s impossible but will need to work on his game. If we get him to be a 4th liner that would be great.

 

[Gaylord Q Tinkledink]

Shut up!

Seriously though, I only recently heard that that Habs are his fav team. I don’t know their history.

Did you see/listen to this ?

 

[Tyson]

Happy we signed him but if I am being a realist there’s still an uphill battle for him to make it to the nhl. I’m not saying it’s impossible but will need to work on his game. If we get him to be a 4th liner that would be great.

To win in this era you have to have a properly built 4th line that can play.

 

[YukonCornelius 5thOA]

Did you see/listen to this ?

Nope. Thank you.

 

[themilosh]

2/3 of a checking/ energy line is taking form with FloJack and Tuch. Who will be the third cog?

I think Arber becomes that elusive true F/D.. i can see Hugo getting ahead of the curve as i believe there is a need for one on each team.

Depending on the opposition and gameplan, Arber will slot in on D or F.. he's the perfect swiss army knife.

 

[Rapala]

He was the great Ebony Mackenzie. Although he might have become that much greater with "FloJack".

"FloJack" is definitely a step up IMO.

Next time I visit my Barber he'll ask me "how do you want it" like he always does.
My response will be "I want it to FloJack."

Being an avid Habs fan he'll split his gut for sure.

 

[SannywithoutCompy]

Needs a new name.
Ethernet?
Hot-spot?
Airplane mode?

Signal booster

 

[Adam Michaels]

Bobrov calling you a unicorn in the scout meetings is like receiving a benediction from the Pope.

 

[themilosh]

To win in this era you have to have a properly built 4th line that can play.

Add to that, from our own development. By the time we are ready to compete we are building our identity from the bottom up.
A true 4th line is NOT former unproductive forwards who drop down... you need a 4th line made up of specific guys all gunning and ready to bleed for the BBR. They know they aren't gonna ever be top 6.. so they bring a uniqueness to stabilize the team. Same with top 6 prospects, the ones who don't make it dont simply become "4th liners", it is a very unique makeup and can totally break a team down (see Leafs most recently).

Edit: Pezetta is the exact type of player personality suited for a true 4th liner, but he isn't skilled enough and Hugo knows this.. think of the 4th line as the "1st line" for a different school breed and we're building a stable of them now.

EditII: Beck is the PERFECT 3C on a contending team. A true Danault style that can play 200' and defend or score. When depth charts are created, the smart GMs draft for position and create an internal ranking system.. what Hugo did in the first draft was genius.
Takes Slaf (1st line expectation)
Takes Mesar (2nd line expectation)
Takes Beck (3rd line expectation)
Reinbacher (1st pairing RD)
Newhook (3rd line expectation)

So hugo goes homerun, strikeout, double, triple, double.. thats a pretty good at bat.

Notice what all these players have in common? Personality, class, smarts. This is why I think hugo might go all in on Parekh (if we dont win lottery)

 

[Tyson]

Add to that, from our own development. By the time we are ready to compete we are building our identity from the bottom up.
A true 4th line is NOT former unproductive forwards who drop down... you need a 4th line made up of specific guys all gunning and ready to bleed for the BBR. They know they aren't gonna ever be top 6.. so they bring a uniqueness to stabilize the team. Same with top 6 prospects, the ones who don't make it dont simply become "4th liners", it is a very unique makeup and can totally break a team down (see Leafs most recently).

%

 

[Naslundforever]

Add to that, from our own development. By the time we are ready to compete we are building our identity from the bottom up.
A true 4th line is NOT former unproductive forwards who drop down... you need a 4th line made up of specific guys all gunning and ready to bleed for the BBR. They know they aren't gonna ever be top 6.. so they bring a uniqueness to stabilize the team. Same with top 6 prospects, the ones who don't make it dont simply become "4th liners", it is a very unique makeup and can totally break a team down (see Leafs most recently).

Totally. I think it’s where specialists live at worse like the face-off guy, a pk guy and (gulp) the goon. Swap the goon for the puck possession guy to close out tight games. Give the coach options and avoid grunt work to key players.

And play offensive prospects with high iq / skill vets as much as possible.

 

[Rapala]

To win in this era you have to have a properly built 4th line that can play.

People don't seem to get what having a proper bottom 6 does for a club.
Meanwhile it gets demonstrated on most nights against us when we are pinned in our own end for two minutes or more.
The end result is usually a goal against or a penalty against.
It's plagued us all season long particularly our second periods when they can take advantage of the short change.
This club will need to start playing some heavy possession hockey at some point to compete.
For me that happens over more than one shift and the talented players always benefit.

 

[Ezpz]

The nickname should be Flex.

 

[Habs13]

Amazing! Some good news to with the bad. Xhekaj done for the year and needs surgery on the other shoulder. Guhle back but in a non-contact jersey, Dvorak is back... jeeez what a rough day! So, makes the Flo signing that much sweater

 

[Bottle Rocket]

Curious to observe his development as he takes this next step. Obviously happy with the signing.

 

[Michoulicious]

Can't be worst than some of the forwards on that Laval squad.

 

[Tyson]

Can't be worst than some of the forwards on that Laval squad.

A huge jump from junior to the AHL. That's a friggin tough league.

 

[Michoulicious]

A huge jump from junior to the AHL. That's a friggin tough league.

At least he will forecheck and hit defenders.

Have you watched Perreault, Kidney and co. play recently? It is a disaster of softness.

 

[Tyson]

At least he will forecheck and hit defenders.

Have you watched Perreault, Kidney and co. play recently? It is a disaster of softness.

Yep wrong type of guys on the 4th line, seems contagious in this organization

 

[Rapala]

Yep wrong type of guys on the 4th line, seems contagious in this organization

The idea that you can simply drop 2nd and 3rd line tweeners into specific roles is killing us.
It's a waste of contract space IMO. It's rare to see one work out; if it does it's because the rest of the line makes up for it.
A lot of people think that dropping players indicates depth.
I'm in the opposite camp I think that real depth is having players who can perform their own roles and slot in elsewhere when required.

 

[Rapala]

He can probably center Bourque and Cedarqvist.
Using Stephens there was a complete waste of Stephen's O side yet the line was effective in a checking role.

 

[Adam Michaels]

He can probably center Bourque and Cedarqvist.
Using Stephens there was a complete waste of Stephen's O side yet the line was effective in a checking role.

It will depend if they decide to use him at center because they already have Gignac, Maillet, Stephens, and Condotta as centers. Maybe they'll start him on the wing.

I wouldn't mind him starting on the wing. And I can just picture him on a line with Condotta.