Prospect Info: Florian Xhekaj

[Kimota]

Fighting in hockey is and always has been stupid in the sense that the penalties are far too lenient and the narratives coming from the hockey fight advocates are cavemen level dumb. I am not saying that I do not love to watch a good scrap but I am aware that it is something that needs to be removed from the game and much more harshly punished when it does happen just as it is in other sports that are not sanctioned combat sports that don't take place on a surface made of ice with combatants who often do not have the proper training to protect themselves as well as the fact that they are wearing finely sharpened 12" blades on their feet.

Bruh

 

[ChesterNimitz]

At least one more full season in the A for FX.

As I have said, unless Florian adds that missing element of quickness to his game he will never be more than a fringe player at the NHL level. He already has NHL level straight forward speed, vision, play making and shooting ability. But the gap between the pace of the game in the NHL and the AHL is as wide as the Grand Canyon for most players. It will be interesting to see if this young player can successfully navigate that gap. In any event I think Florian’s skating style (improved quickness or otherwise) projects him more as a winger than a center at the next level.

 

[Scriptor]

As I have said, unless Florian adds that missing element of quickness to his game he will never be more than a fringe player at the NHL level. He already has NHL level straight forward speed, vision, play making and shooting ability. But the gap between the pace of the game between the NHL and the AHL is as wide as the Grand Canyon for most players. It will be interesting to see if this young player can successfully navigate that gap. In any event I think Florian’s skating style (improved quickness or otherwise) projects him more as a winger than a center at the next level.

I also think projects more as a winger than a C. It's hard enough to be a C in the NHL because of the pace at that level nowadays.

Florian has potential to play as a role player in the NHL.

If he succeeds, all the way to a 3rd line role, and not just a 4th line role, it will be a HUGE feather in the scouting staff's Caps!

 

[Heffyhoof]

Bruh

Some people are hardwired to virtue signal 24/7.

 

[HabsAddict]

A few weeks ago he looked like our version of Tom Wilson. It turns out he can't manhandle...man.

He needs to get stronger which I think he's very capable of doing and quicker. He's also shown that he not a penalty machine in the last 3 games.

I still have very high hopes, but it will take longer then a few mors months. Maybe he's going to crack the lineup by Xmas.

The other thing is he has shown great improvement over a relatively short period. If he can keep that pace, he's going to suprise us.

 

[ChesterNimitz]

A few weeks ago he looked like our version of Tom Wilson. It turns out he can't manhandle...man.

He needs to get stronger which I think he's very capable of doing and quicker. He's also shown that he not a penalty machine in the last 3 games.

I still have very high hopes, but it will take longer then a few mors months. Maybe he's going to crack the lineup by Xmas.

The other thing is he has shown great improvement over a relatively short period. If he can keep that pace, he's going to suprise us.

Reality is sometimes a bitch. It’s funny, but so predictable, as to how many fans readily assume, parrot and adopt prevailing false assumptions about the team’s prospects whether it’s Roy as being a sure fire top six forward, Florian being the next Wilson like presence for the team or Mailloux being ready to step in and contribute as a top 4 or even top 2 defenceman.

After these past 3 games you can almost hear those lofty expectations crashing hard. As I said, sometimes reality is truly a bitch.

 

[HabsAddict]

Reality is sometimes a bitch. It’s funny, but so predictable, as to how many fans readily assume, parrot and adopt prevailing false assumptions about the team’s prospects whether it’s Roy as being a sure fire top six forward, Florian being the next Wilson like presence for the team or Mailloux being ready to step in and contribute as a top 4 or even top 2 defenceman.

After these past 3 games you can almost hear those lofty expectations crashing hard. As I said, sometimes reality is truly a bitch.

By definition perception of prospects abilities will rise and fall with their performance. By the time they reach the AHL, they are close to the NHL but there is no precise measuring metric to say...they made it. Or they failed.

One of the prospects i follow the most is Mailloux. By March, instead of improving, he's degrading and i thought that he's done and the sooner he's traded, the better. Then almost suddenly he's a beast. Also almost all of a sudden the forwards rediscovered their own zone, but that is another discussion. Through April and most of May he's playing man against boys. THAT version is beast and not only NHL ready, he's ready to make an impact. YOU also thought that he was the best player on the ice. The last 3 game...OUCH...but now it turns out he's hurt and game to game.

Unlike some, SOME, NOT ALL, i don't pull daisy petals daily on his or their future, but sometimes the prospects performance varies so much that one has to re-evaluate ones opinion.

Or one can stay on the sidelines and claim "i told you so".