Prospect Info: Florian Xhekaj

[LaP]

True but there were a number of us very high on this player going back to camp.
We may be able to find faults in his game but the truth is he's done everything asked of him and more.
I can't believe he became such a good Pro so early in his career. He is showing far more desire than some highly touted prospects and will soon surpass them if he hasn't already.

I think he's playing on the PK in the AHL too which would be a good sign.

 

[Gaylord Q Tinkledink]

Isn't Thorpe more of a Top 6 or nothing guy? Too early I guess to say

Top 6 guys or nothing are usually player well below Thorpe's size.

When you draft big, if you get a top 6 forward out of it you've done really well.

That's for later picks.

Thorpe definitely has the characteristics to be a bottom 6 player and thars what he'll likely be if he makes it.

 

[Katatoniakk]

Gotta like the sound of a Tuch, Thorpe and Xhekaj line

 

[Rapala]

I think he's playing on the PK in the AHL too which would be a good sign.

He is and has been since game 1!

 

[dackelljuneaubulis02]

For the people watching him last year, we noticed almost immediately when he became a C, his offensive game completely turned around. I was shocked how much poise he had with the puck. He carried the puck and distributed the puck so efficiently and seemed to rarely make bad decisions or turn the puck over. He sustained this level of play throughout.

Though his production was hardly world beating you could see that his offensive potential was possibly higher than his numbers would indicate. Flashes of nifty hands and a good shot. He quickly became one of my favourite prospects.

 

[Tyson]

For the people watching him last year, we noticed almost immediately when he became a C, his offensive game completely turned around. I was shocked how much poise he had with the puck. He carried the puck and distributed the puck so efficiently and seemed to rarely make bad decisions or turn the puck over. He sustained this level of play throughout.

Though his production was hardly world beating you could see that his offensive potential was possibly higher than his numbers would indicate. Flashes of nifty hands and a good shot. He quickly became one of my favourite prospects.

I am a huge fan of this player. I am not a scout but as a fan I believe he has NHL upside. At the AHL level he has great speed but it's not NHL level yet. I am convinced he will work and improve what he needs to improve.

 

[Paddy17]

I'd like Florian to center Demidov during rookie tournament next fall, if they're there. Need to protect Demidov from the idiots while giving him a decent player to play with.

 

[Leon Lucius Black]

Pretty crazy he's only 2 goals back of the team lead considering he's spent a lot of time on the 4th line. He's a guy who it is hard to put a ceiling on given how much he's improved over the last 2 years, one thing is for sure though is he'll be a welcomed addition to this team wherever he plays.

 

[Rapala]

I am a huge fan of this player. I am not a scout but as a fan I believe he has NHL upside. At the AHL level he has great speed but it's not NHL level yet. I am convinced he will work and improve what he needs to improve.

He seems not only faster since camp but stronger. One of the first things I remarked on early in the season was how well our 3rd Beck and 4th Xhekaj lines were playing. They were the difference in many wins at the start of the season. More importantly I remarked on how much trust Vincent was giving Florian using him in a shutdown role to close out games.

 

[Tyson]

He seems not only faster since camp but stronger. One of the first things I remarked on early in the season was how well our 3rd Beck and 4th Xhekaj lines were playing. They were the difference in many wins at the start of the season. More importantly I remarked on how much trust Vincent was giving Florian using him in a shutdown role to close out games.

He has become an excellent penalty killer.

 

[red devil]

 

[Habs13]

Who here thought Florian would be tied for 7th in rookie goal scoring at this stage of the season?

I sure did.

I was vocal about us drafting him before we actually did

 

[LesCactus]

This popped up on my recommended. What’s his ceiling?

 

[WeThreeKings]

This popped up on my recommended. What’s his ceiling?

Ceiling would be Andrew Copp.

 

[Rapala]

He has become an excellent penalty killer.

Indeed one you don't want to block by giving term contracts to middling players.
If the assets we drafted aren't good enough soon our rebuild is in deep shit. Meanwhile teams who are better than us are graduating assets who are ready now. An injection of youth is the only thing that will move the needle on the big club. I'm so fed up of hearing we will crash and burn if we graduate our youth.
We have plenty of veteran leadership to support it starting with our Captain who has taken another step.

 

[Tyson]

This popped up on my recommended. What’s his ceiling?

Marcus Foligno or a poor man's Adam Lowry.
With 18 points in his last 24 AHL games he is obviously showing good upside. He kills penalties, plays an annoying, gritty style. If you watch Laval games you notice him alot.

 

[badfish]

Ceiling would be Andrew Copp.

Wouldn't you think Lowry is a better comparison? Similar height, Lowry was a lightweight too when drafted (185 lbs). Both playing center at pro. Both can fight. Physical game. Both play the penalty kill.

 

[417]

I'd like Florian to center Demidov during rookie tournament next fall, if they're there. Need to protect Demidov from the idiots while giving him a decent player to play with.

Demidov has no business going to that rookie tournament and I suspect Habs management thinks the same.\

Or at least, I hope.

 

[schwang26]

Flojak has to be the biggest surprise for me. Second might be how Farrel has salvaged his season. That was a very lengthy stretch where he produced next to nothing.

 

[Rapala]

Wouldn't you think Lowry is a better comparison? Similar height, Lowry was a lightweight too when drafted (185 lbs). Both playing center at pro. Both can fight. Physical game. Both play the penalty kill.

I think so for the longest time Lowry was know simply for being a hard SOB to play against.
The importance of his game can't be stressed enough.
If Winnipeg go far this post season Adam Lowry will likely be involved in game deciding moments.
How often is the secondary/tertiary scoring the silver bullet in a series. Plenty.

 

[WeThreeKings]

Wouldn't you think Lowry is a better comparison? Similar height, Lowry was a lightweight too when drafted (185 lbs). Both playing center at pro. Both can fight. Physical game. Both play the penalty kill.

I think they are both valid comparisons. Wouldn't mind having either of them.

Demidov has no business going to that rookie tournament and I suspect Habs management thinks the same.\

Or at least, I hope.

Michkov played in it, so it wouldn't be unprecendented.

 

[Paddy17]

Demidov has no business going to that rookie tournament and I suspect Habs management thinks the same.\

Or at least, I hope.

I hope so too. No use to see him destroy the competition and risk injury.

 

[417]

I hope so too. No use to see him destroy the competition and risk injury.

too many guys in that tournament trying to make a name for themselves in games that don't matter.

I'd be fine if the Habs stopped participating in those all together.

Cool for fans, but not very beneficial for prospects and the organization to be honest.

 

[Tyson]

I think so for the longest time Lowry was know simply for being a hard SOB to play against.
The importance of his game can't be stressed enough.
If Winnipeg go far this post season Adam Lowry will likely be involved in game deciding moments.
How often is the secondary/tertiary scoring the silver bullet in a series. Plenty.

Surprised he wasn't on Team Canada at 4 Nations. He is arguably the most complete 3rd line center in the league.

 

[Rapala]

Surprised he wasn't on Team Canada at 4 Nations. He is arguably the most complete 3rd line center in the league.

I'm not given who was behind selecting the players. I hope Canada are smart enough to tear up the entire process and start from scratch for the Olympics. There is no way they get the emotional stimulant politics injected into the 4 nations. IIHF rules/officiating always becomes a challenge so Canada will have to seriously rethink their roster. The US team is in the same boat.