LW Florian Xhekaj - Hamilton Bulldogs, OHL (2023, 101st, MTL)
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CowbellConray
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- Sep 8, 2010
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Does he have NHL potential? 3 points in 15 games in the A, but only 20 years old. Maybe a 4th line body, but anything more?
SlafySZN
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- May 21, 2022
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MXD
Partying Hard
- Oct 27, 2005
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Probably not anything more, but he's been playing on the 4th line of what's actually the best AHL team by PTs% with no PP duty unless a few players are not playing.
Anyways, being a 4th line body at NHL level would be above legitimate expectations for a 4th rounder.
He's being used on a crashbang 4th line (usually with tough guy Arseneau and physical rookie Luke Tuch) with no PP time. Him getting any points is a bonus.
I think we'll have a better idea of his actual potential when he grows into his body and especially in the playoffs.
Won't be a superstar, but might become the type of guy teams pay handsomely for every deadline.
Intangir
Registered User
Florian Xhekaj definitely has some NHL potential if he develops well in the coming years.
He's played well with not a lot of minutes and mostly defensive assignments in the AHL to start the season and, although still undevelopped as of now, has some tools to his game (off-puck play, defense, grit) that could lead him to be a successful bottom-6er in the NHL if he improves in a number of key areas.
Until an injury forced Luke Tuch to miss some games of late, Florian was part of a very good fourth-line for the Rocket alongside Tuch and another rotating cast member but mostly Arseneau.
Last game the fourth-line got a bit hemmed-in, but overall Florian Xhekaj has acquitted himself of center-ice duties fairly well so far as a rookie in the AHL.
But that's the thing though, very early on in Florian Xhekaj he played center but, up until last year where he made the switch back to center for Brantford, his coaches in Midget and the OHL had used him exclusively as a winger.
That means that Florian Xhekaj's experience at the center ice position against tough competition is basically only from late October 2023 to now, basically only a year.
Then you add-in the fact that Florian Xhekaj still is "gangly" out there (he's listed at 6'3 and 195 pounds on the AHL website) which means that with another, say 15-20 pounds of muscle over several years, he could become a much more physically-dominant player than he already is.
And that untapped physical potential, coupled with possible upside as a checking-line player, is why Florian Xhekaj is generally well-considered by Habs fans despite no eye-popping stats in the AHL.
But he's no "sure thing" at all though as Xhekaj currently needs to learn to make better and mostly quicker decisions with the puck on his stick, and also polish his all-around game as a center quite a bit if he wants to even sniff the NHL.
Just, with the spirit and gusto Florian Xhekaj shows on a nightly basis, the level of grit he plays with, the energy he displays, he's been a very fun prospect to watch and root for in the last two years.
Absolutely agree with you, and you've said it better (and much more succinctly) than I could've.
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montreal
Go Habs Go
I think he could end up better then his brother, he's got a good shot and is nasty to play against, though he hasn't been that physical in the AHL yet, he needs to work on his lower body strength first.
I would be shocked if he's not an NHLer at some point as he looks like a moose on skates (but with pencils for legs), loves to hit, good PKer, works hard, of course can drop the gloves as well. Habs just need to let him cook in the AHL for as long as it takes (they love to rush their prospects though)
