Prospect Info: Florian Xhekaj

[26Mats]

How is he eligible for the AHL next year? I thought D+2 draft year players either had to be in the NHL or OHL, unless their birthday was before a certain cutoff that's different from the draft cutoff.

Ah ok, then in that case I think they would try to see if he can make the AHL team and only send him back to the AHL if he can't.

 

[DAChampion]

It seems to me that letting a 6'4 forward in the OHL for too long is too risky. There's a strong possibility of internalizing bad habits. The AHL is a good intermediate option and Habs management have a responsibility to build a well rounded AHL team next year. No reason Xhekaj can't get 15 minutes a game.

 

[jaffy27]

It seems to me that letting a 6'4 forward in the OHL for too long is too risky. There's a strong possibility of internalizing bad habits. The AHL is a good intermediate option and Habs management have a responsibility to build a well rounded AHL team next year. No reason Xhekaj can't get 15 minutes a game.

He’s only played 1 full year in the OHL and currently playing in his 2nd….I don’t believe this constitutes as a player overstaying in a league.

I’m not gonna lose my mind if he graduates to the AHL next season but in my opinion, another year of development in juniors will do him wonders. He’s only 19

 

[CapSpace]

I miss Deslauriers. I hope FX will be better.

 

[domiwroze]

AHL if you want him to work his toughness, speed, hockey IQ( reading the play at a higher speed ) and defensive side of his game.

OHL if you want him to dominate and work on his skills ( puck handling, shots accuracy ) , slowing down plays and boosting his confidence before the next step.

 

[FrankMTL]

AHL if you want him to work his toughness, speed, hockey IQ( reading the play at a higher speed ) and defensive side of his game.

OHL if you want him to dominate and work on his skills ( puck handling, shots accuracy ) , slowing down plays and boosting his confidence before the next step.

I guess if the Habs management really likes what they see in Florian as a centre, then they very well may send him back to the OHL as an overager to get a full season in to learn and get better at this position.

 

[Sorinth]

It seems to me that letting a 6'4 forward in the OHL for too long is too risky. There's a strong possibility of internalizing bad habits. The AHL is a good intermediate option and Habs management have a responsibility to build a well rounded AHL team next year. No reason Xhekaj can't get 15 minutes a game.

There's certainly things he could learn/develop in the OHL, especially given he's been switched to C, but yeah there's a risk that he'll use his size in ways that work fine against teenagers but won't work in the AHL/NHL. Same for his "skill" development, when your expected to be a leader and point producer it's easy to fall into junior habits that work great in the CHL but will fail at the next level(s).

But the AHL also has risks/question marks, will he continue at C, even if his NHL upside is going back to winger playing center now is probably better for his growth/development. Will he get quality ice time? Will he end up spending his time fighting to make a name/get noticed or will he focus on learning the pro-habits he'll need?

I'm leaning AHL if for no other reason then it means more time spent with guys like Nicholas and Tucker. Feels like the time spent with them would do more for his skill development then having an extra 5 minutes of ice time per game against teenagers would.

 

[Mrb1p]

It seems to me that letting a 6'4 forward in the OHL for too long is too risky. There's a strong possibility of internalizing bad habits. The AHL is a good intermediate option and Habs management have a responsibility to build a well rounded AHL team next year. No reason Xhekaj can't get 15 minutes a game.

It would be true if it was a man we were talkint about, but looking at Florian, you can clearly see a teenager still. Hes very thin, and very green.

What is the harm going to be?

 

[Boss Man Hughes]

It would be true if it was a man we were talkint about, but looking at Florian, you can clearly see a teenager still. Hes very thin, and very green.

What is the harm going to be?

None unless he currently has bad habits or weaknesses that aren't improving. If he doesn't then it won't happen next season if he is in the OHL.

 

[Estimated_Prophet]

Due to him only having two seasons of Junior A hockey under his belt I could see management deciding to send him back but I think it is more likely that he ends up in Laval.

I have little doubt that he will struggle initially in the AHL but there is nothing wrong with that and there is nothing wrong with him playing in a bottom six role in the AHL for a year or two while he fills out and learns how to play center or how to use his body against men on the boards as a winger. I fully expect him to beef up this summer and he may just be too strong to learn much at the OHL level as he will be able to employ tactics that won't work at higher levels.

Too many posters equate development with point totals when in fact it is about improving pro habits while being challenged as much as possible without failing.

 

[Tyson]

14 goals in his last 15 games.
13 goals last season in 68 games

 

[Habs]

14 goals in his last 15 games.
13 goals last season in 68 games

but how's his drop pass??

 

[Sorinth]

Due to him only having two seasons of Junior A hockey under his belt I could see management deciding to send him back but I think it is more likely that he ends up in Laval.

I have little doubt that he will struggle initially in the AHL but there is nothing wrong with that and there is nothing wrong with him playing in a bottom six role in the AHL for a year or two while he fills out and learns how to play center or how to use his body against men on the boards as a winger. I fully expect him to beef up this summer and he may just be too strong to learn much at the OHL level as he will be able to employ tactics that won't work at higher levels.

Too many posters equate development with point totals when in fact it is about improving pro habits while being challenged as much as possible without failing.

Overall agree but the danger of having him play in the AHL on the 4th line is that it pushes him down the path of fighting to get noticed/called up and that's the last thing we want him focused on. But honestly it's too early to make any judgements one way or the other, let's see him in the playoffs, and then at training camp after another offseason of training. His growth so far has been so fast that it's just too hard to say what level he'll be at in 7 months time.

 

[LaP]

but how's his drop pass??

Needs a lot of work.

 

[ChesterNimitz]

Overall agree but the danger of having him play in the AHL on the 4th line is that it pushes him down the path of fighting to get noticed/called up and that's the last thing we want him focused on. But honestly it's too early to make any judgements one way or the other, let's see him in the playoffs, and then at training camp after another offseason of training. His growth so far has been so fast that it's just too hard to say what level he'll be at in 7 months time.

That accelerated development is what makes Florian such an intriguing prospect.

 

[Habssince89]

I think he can handle the AHL, and I think to grow his heavy game (outside of fighting) he's going to have to get used to playing opponents his own size or bigger.

It's nice to think the OHL would help his offensive game, but he also is going to produce points in a different way than he would in the pro game, so I think there may be more value in bringing him to Laval, grooming his game to fit the middle six, and having him focus on puck skills and shooting (which his brother needs to do as well) in the off-season.

 

[Guy Larose]

I remember a whack of people laughing at this pick and saying "it's because he's the brother"

 

[Redux91]

I remember a whack of people laughing at this pick and saying "it's because he's the brother"

I thought it was interesting too in the habs draft video , Bobrov and the team seemed Supremely confident the 3 guys they wanted in the 4th would be there no problem (as evidenced by 2 of them being over 18 yrs old)
But it felt more like a 'we know something others dont' thing which I kind of rolled my eyes to but lol..

Xhekaj and Bogdan have done nothing but impress this year, and to a certain degree Miller as well

Honestly so far, the drafting has been pretty good despite it being still so early, but these early returns feel much different from the berg/Timmins era tho

 

[Mikah]

I think he can handle the AHL, and I think to grow his heavy game (outside of fighting) he's going to have to get used to playing opponents his own size or bigger.

It's nice to think the OHL would help his offensive game, but he also is going to produce points in a different way than he would in the pro game, so I think there may be more value in bringing him to Laval, grooming his game to fit the middle six, and having him focus on puck skills and shooting (which his brother needs to do as well) in the off-season.

Exactly.

Oversize players often develop bad habits by staying too long in the junior leagues, because a lot of players are much smaller and they end up succeeding because of their size. They get used to play a game which involves running over teenagers.

The wake-up call is often brutal when moving with adults, and those skills do not translate well into the AHL and NHL.

 

[ChesterNimitz]

I think he can handle the AHL, and I think to grow his heavy game (outside of fighting) he's going to have to get used to playing opponents his own size or bigger.

It's nice to think the OHL would help his offensive game, but he also is going to produce points in a different way than he would in the pro game, so I think there may be more value in bringing him to Laval, grooming his game to fit the middle six, and having him focus on puck skills and shooting (which his brother needs to do as well) in the off-season.

The challenges that Florian faces in professional hockey are not strength related but his clear deficit in quickness. Unless he improves in that regard he will never be more than a fringe NHLer.

 

[montreal]

The only reason I would consider having him repeat on the OHL next year is because he was moved to center during the season. So the thought would be to get him as much work in at center although so far as someone that's seen a lot of his games, he's actually handled the change very well as I am shocked at often how good he does on draws.

 

[Tyson]

The only reason I would consider having him repeat on the OHL next year is because he was moved to center during the season. So the thought would be to get him as much work in at center although so far as someone that's seen a lot of his games, he's actually handled the change very well as I am shocked at often how good he does on draws.

You bring up a great point...another season learning the center position in the OHL is not a bad thing

 

[Habssince89]

The challenges that Florian faces in professional hockey are not strength related but his clear deficit in quickness. Unless he improves in that regard he will never be more than a fringe NHLer.

Then I suppose its better for him to improve by facing a faster paced league where he isn't a giant

 

[Andrei79]

You bring up a great point...another season learning the center position in the OHL is not a bad thing

He's also a late bloomers with a late growth spurt. In that context, there's nothing wrong with letting him play his overager season.

 

[Price is Wright]

I'm in favour of one more year in the OHL. There's no rush with him.