Prospect Info: Florian Xhekaj

[JianYang]

Byfuglien was the contrary though, from forward to D

Byfuglien started his nhl career on defense. I think it was not until quenneville came in that he moved to forward. He used him infront of the net on the PP.

That did work for chicago, but he also had a great slapshot which can't be utilized in that particular pp setup.

Then after the trade out of Chicago, I think he went back to defense pretty much exclusively.

Streit went through a similar path as well.

 

[montreal]

That would be nice, but he has a long way to go. He will need several years in the AHL. Not sure he will have an NHL career.

it's impossible to know how quickly or slowly any prospect will progress or not, but to me it's easy to see how he will be an NHLer since he has NHL size, his skating/speed/mobility look improved. The question is can he be more then a 4th liner, which if they look to develop him properly, perhaps he can as I think his hands are underrated, he can shoot the puck but how well will that skill translate?

I just hope they don't rush him, let him simmer in Laval for as long as it takes if they want to develop his offense, if not then as soon as he matures more physically as he needs a good bit of work on his lower body strength. He looks like a moose on skates with his upper body but his lower looks like he's skating with pencils for legs and that needs to be improved before moving him up to the NHL imo.

 

[Pure Laine]

Probably has already been mentioned but it's great that the AHL team is in Laval. Florian has his brother nearby and vice versa.

 

[Tyson]

That would be nice, but he has a long way to go. He will need several years in the AHL. Not sure he will have an NHL career.

Hard to tell but one thing is for sure...don't underestimate the will of these Xhekaj boys.

 

[CheldishGamibno]

Byfuglien started his nhl career on defense. I think it was not until quenneville came in that he moved to forward. He used him infront of the net on the PP.

That did work for chicago, but he also had a great slapshot which can't be utilized in that particular pp setup.

Then after the trade out of Chicago, I think he went back to defense pretty much exclusively.

Streit went through a similar path as well.

Very true, I remember now. Buff had quite a special career

 

[Heffyhoof]

Good on the young lad for doubling his goal/assist/points in a single game!

 

[the valiant effort]

Very true, I remember now. Buff had quite a special career

He could skate like the wind AND easily dump Chris Pronger into the boards from a near standstill. :/

 

[Estimated_Prophet]

it's impossible to know how quickly or slowly any prospect will progress or not, but to me it's easy to see how he will be an NHLer since he has NHL size, his skating/speed/mobility look improved. The question is can he be more then a 4th liner, which if they look to develop him properly, perhaps he can as I think his hands are underrated, he can shoot the puck but how well will that skill translate?

I just hope they don't rush him, let him simmer in Laval for as long as it takes if they want to develop his offense, if not then as soon as he matures more physically as he needs a good bit of work on his lower body strength. He looks like a moose on skates with his upper body but his lower looks like he's skating with pencils for legs and that needs to be improved before moving him up to the NHL imo.

He needs to fill out for sure although I don't think he has pencil legs but needs to gain muscle mass all around. Much like his brother, hockey IQ and discipline are the two things that are easily his biggest question marks as I am not concerned about his ability to fill out his frame at all.

He is a project for sure and there is little point in anyone making grand declarations about his future one way or the other because he still has a lot of development ahead of him.

 

[Team_Spirit]

Skinner!

 

[BJCOLLINS]

FX looked like a young Josh Anderson yesterday, lol.

 

[WinterLion]

Skinner!

Ouch... he was a punching bag

 

[EXTRAS]

Skinner!

That's actually quality fight. Never see fights like this in the nhl anymore.

 

[HuGort]

FX looked like a young Josh Anderson yesterday, lol.

Good comparison

 

[Team_Spirit]

That's actually quality fight. Never see fights like this in the nhl anymore.

0 defense and they go all out

 

[ahmedou]

Florian and Arber

 

[Eegs]

Florian and Arber



View attachment 969662

That's great. Remarkable how little Arber has changed too.

 

[Team_Spirit]

 

[montreal]

 

[HuGo Sham]

some have mentioned Anderson, but he reminds me a lot of Adam Lowry

 

[badfish]

some have mentioned Anderson, but he reminds me a lot of Adam Lowry

This would be a dream. I think I posted in the draft thread that the Habs should look for someone in the draft who's in the Lowry mold. It's the type of player I want to see in the Habs bottom 6.

 

[HuGo Sham]

This would be a dream. I think I posted in the draft thread that the Habs should look for someone in the draft who's in the Lowry mold. It's the type of player I want to see in the Habs bottom 6.

agreed - and he just kind of reminds me of him...the skating, tall and lanky..can fight...has some hands

 

[HuGort]

Make good physical 4th line center for Habs someday. His brother needs to school on fighting

 

[ChesterNimitz]

Good comparison

FX looked like a young Josh Anderson yesterday, lol.

Florian lacks Anderson’s top speed but has much better offensive vision. People have to remember that Florian played on and largely ran Brandford’s power play last season. His game resembles Nick Paul’s game: with a bit better top speed and with more edge. Interestingly, both Florian and Paul, were drafted 101 OA in their respective draft years. But unless he get’s quicker and his skating more fluid, Florian will never be more than a fringe NHLer. Also, with Beck, Hage and Kapanen coming, his future in Montreal will be as a power winger and not as a center.

 

[Pompeius Magnus]

Nick Paul is actually a very apt comparison style wise, I'm almost mad I never thought of it I really hope he'll be just as good, with the added bonus of being able to fight when he has to.