Prospect Info: Florian Xhekaj

[ChesterNimitz]

Nothing that he and Adam cannot tweak.


As a late bloomer myself, I am pulling for him.

That’s the spirit. As I race towards 80 I still don’t think I’ve peaked yet.

 

[JianYang]

Getting a 4th liner who can actually fight/intimidate and chip in offensively.. I'm fine with that.

Pezzetta is just a middle-weight so he isn't a deterrent at all.

I think there is room regardless of whether a player is midweight or heavyweight.

However, for a guy like pezz who doesn't bring much else to the table, he's got to crash and bang consistently, or else there really isn't room for him.

I find pezz goes through some stretches where he's buzzing all over the ice, and other stretches where he forgets the energy that got him to stick here in the first place. He's not good enough to be in this league if he isn't consistently playing on the edge.

 

[Habs]

That’s the spirit. As I race towards 80 I still don’t think I’ve peaked yet.

Yeah thought I saw you out there

 

[VirginiaMtlExpat]

That’s the spirit. As I race towards 80 I still don’t think I’ve peaked yet.

I will still be working and playing tennis at 80... as long as my right knee rehabs properly, on the latter front. I just sent in my first NIH STTR application for my startup at 60. It's actually very relevant to geriatrics. Smart Homes with embedded deep learning computer-vision system and embedded airbags in furniture and flooring (for geriatric fall injury mitigation). Trillion-dollar market!

One of the perks of being a prof is that IP is rather a gray area. I don't sign away to a company the ideas that I incubate.

View attachment 796919

Yeah thought I saw you out there

I will be like that gent in the green suit (though his style is more swing). Several years of salsa lessons Michel Audette's rhythmic side . Met wifey at a Tokyo salsa party.

 

[ChesterNimitz]

View attachment 796919

Yeah thought I saw you out there

He’s got a lot more rhythm than this writer. Much more.

 

[Rapala]

Florian work with Big Bro developing that heavy wrist shot. It's quite the weapon.

 

[overlords]

That’s the spirit. As I race towards 80 I still don’t think I’ve peaked yet.

 

[Junohockeyfan]

Florian Jackeye is exactly the type of player you take with a 4th round pick. Likely a 4th liner with size, strength and fighting capability. Has decent speed and untapped potential as well. But regardless, if he ends up a 4th liner that's a success given his intangibles.

 

[montreal]

wtf, rumors saying the bulldogs might trade Xhekaj. They are in 1st place last time I looked, unless they think he won't be back as an overager next year (to which I would say that's a tougher call to make imo)

 

[jrom]

wtf, rumors saying the bulldogs might trade Xhekaj. They are in 1st place last time I looked, unless they think he won't be back as an overager next year (to which I would say that's a tougher call to make imo)

They traded one of their D (Jorian Donovan) to Saginaw for a bunch of picks so yeah it’s kinda odd. Maybe management isn’t fooled by their current record and doesn’t think they can win vs the top teams in the playoffs.

 

[LaP]

wtf, rumors saying the bulldogs might trade Xhekaj. They are in 1st place last time I looked, unless they think he won't be back as an overager next year (to which I would say that's a tougher call to make imo)

They are playing in the weakest division though. On paper it's not a very good team.

 

[JT3]

wtf, rumors saying the bulldogs might trade Xhekaj. They are in 1st place last time I looked, unless they think he won't be back as an overager next year (to which I would say that's a tougher call to make imo)

As another poster above me said, they moved Donovan to Saginaw (who are going to be fun to watch, they are loaded after adding Beck, Donovan and Dionicio to the already good lineup), and now have picked up our own Daniil Sobolev, so not really sure what's going on in Brantford.

As for Florian, I'd send him back for an overage year. He's still figuring out what he can do, and I think the extra year to allow his offense to continue to blossom will do him good. It certainly didn't hurt Arber to go back, can't see how it would hurt Florian.

 

[schwang26]

I think there is room regardless of whether a player is midweight or heavyweight.

However, for a guy like pezz who doesn't bring much else to the table, he's got to crash and bang consistently, or else there really isn't room for him.

I find pezz goes through some stretches where he's buzzing all over the ice, and other stretches where he forgets the energy that got him to stick here in the first place. He's not good enough to be in this league if he isn't consistently playing on the edge.

He hits like 8 times a game. That’s pretty good for a guy playing only 8 or 9 minutes. And he’s a pretty fast skater. For now, he’s fine. When we’re ready to compete, that 4th line needs a big upgrade.

 

[Miller Time]

Love his game.

I still think he should play another year in the O.

Born two weeks earlier or so he would be anyways.There's gonna be quite the logjam next year in Laval anyways. He'd be playing more meaningful minutes. his stats are hardly gaudy.

how good is the Bulldogs coaching staff? That's a consideration (for him & the habs) re. where he plays next year I would imagine.

 

[montreal]

how good is the Bulldogs coaching staff?

one of the best in the OHL I would assume, have heard it said there has been NHL interest in Jay McKee.

 

[ChesterNimitz]

They are playing in the weakest division though. On paper it's not a very good team.

I watched the Brantford Bulldogs play the Niagara Ice Dogs last night and can say that the Bulldogs are strong team and once they get Lardis and Thomas back they will challenge any team in the OHL. They're a big team that plays heavy and fast.

Florian Xhekaj played a strong game, scoring one goal, had another called back because of a high stick and was an offensive threat all game long. This kid, who has greatly underrated hockey skills, made numerous smart passes that created multiple scoring chances for his team. Florian played on Brantford’s first power play unit and used his size, reach and offensive vision to key the Bulldogs' power play. He handles the puck well and once he gets going, has good straightforward speed. But like most young players: he has to get quicker. His ultimate success at the next level will largely depend on his being able to gain that extra, needed step. If he can accomplish that, he will join in his older brother on the Canadiens. It was interesting to listen to the excellent Ice Dogs' announcers who remarked on Florian's upside and their opinion that when he joins his older brother on the Canadiens, Montreal will no longer have a problem with their team's toughness. That being said, in the third period, Florian was hit hard with a clean open ice check entering the Ice Dogs' zone that would have killed most other players. Florian got back on his skates right away like nothing had happened. This kid is a dreadnaught.

Other comments: I thought Sobolev played a strong game showing more mobility and offensive flare to go along with his physical prowess. I don't know if he will ever make the NHL but he certainly will play professional hockey here (AHL) or back in Europe.

The best player on the ice by a large margin was Brantford’s Marek Vanacker. This kid was impressive, showing elite skating and a range of hockey skills. I see that he is projected to go in the middle of the second round at the upcoming NHL draft. If we secure additional first or second round draft choices this is a player that I would target. With his skills set, he has NHL written all over him. Like Easton Cowan last year ( who was similarly viewed as a second round draft choice. but was ultimately taken in the first round by the Leafs) I can't see Vanacker falling out of the first round in the upcoming draft. In my opinion, Vanacker is a better prospect than Cowan.

Finally, Ryan Roobroeck, who scored two goals for Niagara and who is projected to go high in the 2026 draft, showed why he is considered as an elite prospect. His combination of size, mobility, scoring touch and vision rightly allows him to be projected as a top six forward in the NHL.

 

[BaseballCoach]

Love his game.

I still think he should play another year in the O.

Born two weeks earlier or so he would be anyways.There's gonna be quite the logjam next year in Laval anyways. He'd be playing more meaningful minutes. his stats are hardly gaudy.

Florian is smack in the middle of his 20 yo year. He's born in June, not December.

 

[windycity]

I watched the Brantford Bulldogs play the Niagara Ice Dogs last night and can say that the Bulldogs are strong team and once they get Lardis and Thomas back they will challenge any team in the OHL. They're a big team that plays heavy and fast.

Florian Xhekaj played a strong game, scoring one goal, had another called back because of a high stick and was an offensive threat all game long. This kid, who has greatly underrated hockey skills, made numerous smart passes that created multiple scoring chances for his team. Florian played on Brantford’s first power play unit and used his size, reach and offensive vision to key the Bulldogs' power play. He handles the puck well and once he gets going, has good straightforward speed. But like most young players: he has to get quicker. His ultimate success at the next level will largely depend on his being able to gain that extra, needed step. If he can accomplish that, he will join in his older brother on the Canadiens. It was interesting to listen to the excellent Ice Dogs' announcers who remarked on Florian's upside and their opinion that when he joins his older brother on the Canadiens, Montreal will no longer have a problem with their team's toughness. That being said, in the third period, Florian was hit hard with a clean open ice check entering the Ice Dogs' zone that would have killed most other players. Florian got back on his skates right away like nothing had happened. This kid is a dreadnaught.

Other comments: I thought Sobolev played a strong game showing more mobility and offensive flare to go along with his physical prowess. I don't know if he will ever make the NHL but he certainly will play professional hockey here (AHL) or back in Europe.

The best player on the ice by a large margin was Brantford’s Marek Vanacker. This kid was impressive, showing elite skating and a range of hockey skills. I see that he is projected to go in the middle of the second round at the upcoming NHL draft. If we secure additional first or second round draft choices this is a player that I would target. With his skills set, he has NHL written all over him. Like Easton Cowan last year ( who was similarly viewed as a second round draft choice. but was ultimately taken in the first round by the Leafs) I can't see Vanacker falling out of the first round in the upcoming draft. In my opinion, Vanacker is a better prospect than Cowan.

Finally, Ryan Roobroeck, who scored two goals for Niagara and who is projected to go high in the 2026 draft, showed why he is considered as an elite prospect. His combination of size, mobility, scoring touch and vision rightly allows him to be projected as a top six forward in the NHL.

I feel like we should pay you for this report thanks for posting it, he's an intriguing prospect

 

[Pompeius Magnus]

one of the best in the OHL I would assume, have heard it said there has been NHL interest in Jay McKee.

I could definitely see Buffalo looking at him at some point very soon, he played there a long time, so there's familiarity there. I liked him a lot as a player incidentally, one of the better defense first Dmen of his day. Very rugged. Heck of a shot blocker too.

 

[dackelljuneaubulis02]

Florian is smack in the middle of his 20 yo year. He's born in June, not December.

He's 19 right now. If he was born a couple weeks or so later he'd have another year of junior eligibility anyways, no?

 

[Adam Michaels]

Florian is smack in the middle of his 20 yo year. He's born in June, not December.

He's 19. So it's his 19-year old season.

They can sign him to turn pro next year. But he is also eligible to go back to junior.

 

[Habs]

That’s the spirit. As I race towards 80 I still don’t think I’ve peaked yet.

i put my dad on TRT at 75 and he's gained 10 years of life I swear.

 

[Habs13]

Pezzetta - Condotta - Xhekaj


I want this as the 4th line

 

[Boss Man Hughes]

I watched the Brantford Bulldogs play the Niagara Ice Dogs last night and can say that the Bulldogs are strong team and once they get Lardis and Thomas back they will challenge any team in the OHL. They're a big team that plays heavy and fast.

Florian Xhekaj played a strong game, scoring one goal, had another called back because of a high stick and was an offensive threat all game long. This kid, who has greatly underrated hockey skills, made numerous smart passes that created multiple scoring chances for his team. Florian played on Brantford’s first power play unit and used his size, reach and offensive vision to key the Bulldogs' power play. He handles the puck well and once he gets going, has good straightforward speed. But like most young players: he has to get quicker. His ultimate success at the next level will largely depend on his being able to gain that extra, needed step. If he can accomplish that, he will join in his older brother on the Canadiens. It was interesting to listen to the excellent Ice Dogs' announcers who remarked on Florian's upside and their opinion that when he joins his older brother on the Canadiens, Montreal will no longer have a problem with their team's toughness. That being said, in the third period, Florian was hit hard with a clean open ice check entering the Ice Dogs' zone that would have killed most other players. Florian got back on his skates right away like nothing had happened. This kid is a dreadnaught.

Other comments: I thought Sobolev played a strong game showing more mobility and offensive flare to go along with his physical prowess. I don't know if he will ever make the NHL but he certainly will play professional hockey here (AHL) or back in Europe.

The best player on the ice by a large margin was Brantford’s Marek Vanacker. This kid was impressive, showing elite skating and a range of hockey skills. I see that he is projected to go in the middle of the second round at the upcoming NHL draft. If we secure additional first or second round draft choices this is a player that I would target. With his skills set, he has NHL written all over him. Like Easton Cowan last year ( who was similarly viewed as a second round draft choice. but was ultimately taken in the first round by the Leafs) I can't see Vanacker falling out of the first round in the upcoming draft. In my opinion, Vanacker is a better prospect than Cowan.

Finally, Ryan Roobroeck, who scored two goals for Niagara and who is projected to go high in the 2026 draft, showed why he is considered as an elite prospect. His combination of size, mobility, scoring touch and vision rightly allows him to be projected as a top six forward in the NHL.

I think that's 2 games in a row Xhekaj had a goal called back due to a high stick. The other night he deflected a Sobolev shot in and it was erroneously called a high stick.
Were you at the game? I had it on CHL TV but I had the Owen Sound and Saginaw games on too and I was paying more attention to the Saginaw game.

 

[dcyhabs]

I think there is room regardless of whether a player is midweight or heavyweight.

However, for a guy like pezz who doesn't bring much else to the table, he's got to crash and bang consistently, or else there really isn't room for him.

I find pezz goes through some stretches where he's buzzing all over the ice, and other stretches where he forgets the energy that got him to stick here in the first place. He's not good enough to be in this league if he isn't consistently playing on the edge.

It probably depends on how bruised he is. He gets hit a lot, both checking and fists, so there are probably days or weeks when he just doesn't have the same jump.