Latest news with #Xhekaj
Ottawa Citizen
3 days ago
- Sport
- Ottawa Citizen
Cowan: Canadiens prospect Florian Xhekaj really is a unicorn
Laval Rocket head coach Pascal Vincent described Florian Xhekaj's rookie season as 'remarkable.' Article content It really was — especially for a 20-year-old forward who was selected in the fourth round (101st overall) at the 2023 NHL Draft. The Xhekaj name on the back of his sweater — and the tough-guy reputation his older brother Arber has established in the NHL with the Canadiens — made things even tougher. Article content Article content Article content 'Especially with his last name — there were expectations,' Vincent said about the younger Xhekaj last Friday when members of the Rocket met with the media for the last time this season after getting swept by the Charlotte Checkers in the Eastern Conference final. 'He hasn't played a game yet and the referees are already telling him: 'Relax.'' Article content Article content It was sort of like being a Hanson brother in the classic Slap Shot movie from 1977. Article content Article content Vincent said he didn't have a lot of expectations for Xhekaj as an AHL rookie and added that nobody expected him to score 24 goals. Article content But that's what 6-foot-4, 195-pounder did, to go along with 11 assists, a league-leading 175 penalty minutes and a plus-10 differential. Xhekaj was also learning to play centre after being a left-winger in junior with the OHL's Brantford Bulldogs, posting 34-31-65 totals in 63 games during the 2023-24 season to go along with 81 penalty minutes and a plus-17. Article content Article content 'He scored a lot of goals,' Vincent said about Xhekaj's rookie season in the AHL. 'His shot is amazing. He's got a quick release, accurate, too. But I didn't know about his brain and, to me, that's the thing that intrigues me the most. How they (young players) manage expectations. How they manage and how can they apply info that we give them and to do it right away on the ice or how long does it take for you to gather the info and execute on the ice at a very high speed. For me to see Flo gathering those informations and teachings and to do it on the ice and to execute at the speed he did in his first year with his last name — because the other teams on the other side, they know — this kid has this confidence and he's walking the line. He's not cocky, but he's confident that he can be the man. He's still physically not there yet, but in his mind … so I was quite impressed with him.
Montreal Gazette
3 days ago
- Sport
- Montreal Gazette
Cowan: Canadiens prospect Florian Xhekaj really is a unicorn
By Laval Rocket head coach Pascal Vincent described Florian Xhekaj's rookie season as 'remarkable.' It really was — especially for a 20-year-old forward who was selected in the fourth round (101st overall) at the 2023 NHL Draft. The Xhekaj name on the back of his sweater — and the tough-guy reputation his older brother Arber has established in the NHL with the Canadiens — made things even tougher. 'Especially with his last name — there were expectations,' Vincent said about the younger Xhekaj last Friday when members of the Rocket met with the media for the last time this season after getting swept by the Charlotte Checkers in the Eastern Conference final. 'He hasn't played a game yet and the referees are already telling him: 'Relax.'' It was sort of like being a Hanson brother in the classic Slap Shot movie from 1977. Vincent said he didn't have a lot of expectations for Xhekaj as an AHL rookie and added that nobody expected him to score 24 goals. But that's what 6-foot-4, 195-pounder did, to go along with 11 assists, a league-leading 175 penalty minutes and a plus-10 differential. Xhekaj was also learning to play centre after being a left-winger in junior with the OHL's Brantford Bulldogs, posting 34-31-65 totals in 63 games during the 2023-24 season to go along with 81 penalty minutes and a plus-17. 'He scored a lot of goals,' Vincent said about Xhekaj's rookie season in the AHL. 'His shot is amazing. He's got a quick release, accurate, too. But I didn't know about his brain and, to me, that's the thing that intrigues me the most. How they (young players) manage expectations. How they manage and how can they apply info that we give them and to do it right away on the ice or how long does it take for you to gather the info and execute on the ice at a very high speed. For me to see Flo gathering those informations and teachings and to do it on the ice and to execute at the speed he did in his first year with his last name — because the other teams on the other side, they know — this kid has this confidence and he's walking the line. He's not cocky, but he's confident that he can be the man. He's still physically not there yet, but in his mind ... so I was quite impressed with him. 'We know about the toughness and all of that,' Vincent added. 'But for him to play the way he did in a position that's really hard to learn as a centre to improve. Early in the season he couldn't win a draw, or it was really hard, and then he got better. He's a thinker and he's a great teammate. Guys love him. We're very fortunate to have him. Very impressed with him. Not so much the goals and stuff, but how he executed the details that we talked about. And because of that I think he scored goals.' The Xhekaj brothers lived together this season in Montreal — but they probably weren't playing with toy cars like the Hansons in Slap Shot. Arber spoke this season about how he was hard on his brother, who is three years younger, while they were growing up in Hamilton along with sisters Sophia and Dominika. 'For me, I was the hardest guy on him because my dad was hard on me and then my dad was not hard on the youngest child,' Arber said. 'So that pissed me off. I'm like, OK, if you're not going to do it, I'll do it. 'It's all love at the end of the day,' Arber added. 'I'm the first guy there for him. I think I saw his potential and I knew what he had and I knew I just had to dig deep for it. So I was hard on him and he pulled it off. He's a good player.' Another person who saw the younger Xhekaj's potential was Nick Bobrov, the Canadiens' co-director of amateur scouting. Bobrov described Xhekaj as a 'unicorn' ahead of the 2023 NHL Draft. Xhekaj was ranked 131st among North American skaters by NHL Central Scouting heading into the draft. 'To me, I'd personally like to walk away with that guy,' Bobrov said about Florian in a behind-the-scenes video the Canadiens released of a scouting meeting held ahead of the 2023 draft in Nashville. Xhekaj showed his versatility and why he is a 'unicorn' by playing on all four lines this season with Laval while making the adjustment to playing centre. 'I can score goals, I can make plays,' he said. 'But I'm also a physical kind of in-your-face player. I think those are good tools to have to be put in any line, any role.' Xhekaj said his main goal this summer is to add more weight and muscle. When asked to assess his rookie AHL season, he said: 'I think it was pretty good. My first year pro and everyone was so great, so welcoming. I feel like I've grown a lot as a person and a player, so a lot of positives.'
Edmonton Journal
3 days ago
- Sport
- Edmonton Journal
Cowan: Canadiens prospect Florian Xhekaj really is a unicorn
Article content 'Especially with his last name — there were expectations,' Vincent said about the younger Xhekaj last Friday when members of the Rocket met with the media for the last time this season after getting swept by the Charlotte Checkers in the Eastern Conference final. 'He hasn't played a game yet and the referees are already telling him: 'Relax.'' It was sort of like being a Hanson brother in the classic Slap Shot movie from 1977. Vincent said he didn't have a lot of expectations for Xhekaj as an AHL rookie and added that nobody expected him to score 24 goals. But that's what 6-foot-4, 195-pounder did, to go along with 11 assists, a league-leading 175 penalty minutes and a plus-10 differential. Xhekaj was also learning to play centre after being a left-winger in junior with the OHL's Brantford Bulldogs, posting 34-31-65 totals in 63 games during the 2023-24 season to go along with 81 penalty minutes and a plus-17.
Vancouver Sun
3 days ago
- Sport
- Vancouver Sun
Cowan: Canadiens prospect Florian Xhekaj really is a unicorn
Laval Rocket head coach Pascal Vincent described Florian Xhekaj's rookie season as 'remarkable.' It really was — especially for a 20-year-old forward who was selected in the fourth round (101st overall) at the 2023 NHL Draft. The Xhekaj name on the back of his sweater — and the tough-guy reputation his older brother Arber has established in the NHL with the Canadiens — made things even tougher. 'Especially with his last name — there were expectations,' Vincent said about the younger Xhekaj last Friday when members of the Rocket met with the media for the last time this season after getting swept by the Charlotte Checkers in the Eastern Conference final. 'He hasn't played a game yet and the referees are already telling him: 'Relax.'' Start your day with a roundup of B.C.-focused news and opinion. By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. A welcome email is on its way. If you don't see it, please check your junk folder. The next issue of Sunrise will soon be in your inbox. Please try again Interested in more newsletters? Browse here. It was sort of like being a Hanson brother in the classic Slap Shot movie from 1977. Vincent said he didn't have a lot of expectations for Xhekaj as an AHL rookie and added that nobody expected him to score 24 goals. But that's what 6-foot-4, 195-pounder did, to go along with 11 assists, a league-leading 175 penalty minutes and a plus-10 differential. Xhekaj was also learning to play centre after being a left-winger in junior with the OHL's Brantford Bulldogs, posting 34-31-65 totals in 63 games during the 2023-24 season to go along with 81 penalty minutes and a plus-17. 'He scored a lot of goals,' Vincent said about Xhekaj's rookie season in the AHL. 'His shot is amazing. He's got a quick release, accurate, too. But I didn't know about his brain and, to me, that's the thing that intrigues me the most. How they (young players) manage expectations. How they manage and how can they apply info that we give them and to do it right away on the ice or how long does it take for you to gather the info and execute on the ice at a very high speed. For me to see Flo gathering those informations and teachings and to do it on the ice and to execute at the speed he did in his first year with his last name — because the other teams on the other side, they know — this kid has this confidence and he's walking the line. He's not cocky, but he's confident that he can be the man. He's still physically not there yet, but in his mind … so I was quite impressed with him. 'We know about the toughness and all of that,' Vincent added. 'But for him to play the way he did in a position that's really hard to learn as a centre to improve. Early in the season he couldn't win a draw, or it was really hard, and then he got better. He's a thinker and he's a great teammate. Guys love him. We're very fortunate to have him. Very impressed with him. Not so much the goals and stuff, but how he executed the details that we talked about. And because of that I think he scored goals.' The Xhekaj brothers lived together this season in Montreal — but they probably weren't playing with toy cars like the Hansons in Slap Shot. Arber spoke this season about how he was hard on his brother, who is three years younger, while they were growing up in Hamilton along with sisters Sophia and Dominika. 'For me, I was the hardest guy on him because my dad was hard on me and then my dad was not hard on the youngest child,' Arber said. 'So that pissed me off. I'm like, OK, if you're not going to do it, I'll do it. 'It's all love at the end of the day,' Arber added. 'I'm the first guy there for him. I think I saw his potential and I knew what he had and I knew I just had to dig deep for it. So I was hard on him and he pulled it off. He's a good player.' Another person who saw the younger Xhekaj's potential was Nick Bobrov, the Canadiens' co-director of amateur scouting. Bobrov described Xhekaj as a 'unicorn' ahead of the 2023 NHL Draft. Xhekaj was ranked 131st among North American skaters by NHL Central Scouting heading into the draft. 'To me, I'd personally like to walk away with that guy,' Bobrov said about Florian in a behind-the-scenes video the Canadiens released of a scouting meeting held ahead of the 2023 draft in Nashville. Xhekaj showed his versatility and why he is a 'unicorn' by playing on all four lines this season with Laval while making the adjustment to playing centre. 'I can score goals, I can make plays,' he said. 'But I'm also a physical kind of in-your-face player. I think those are good tools to have to be put in any line, any role.' Xhekaj said his main goal this summer is to add more weight and muscle. When asked to assess his rookie AHL season, he said: 'I think it was pretty good. My first year pro and everyone was so great, so welcoming. I feel like I've grown a lot as a person and a player, so a lot of positives.' Indeed.
Ottawa Citizen
22-05-2025
- Sport
- Ottawa Citizen
Laval Rocket flames out in third period as Rochester evens series
There's no doubt Florian Xhekaj plays a valuable role on the Laval Rocket. Article content The rookie centre was a pleasant surprise this season, scoring 24 goals and 35 points in 69 games. And at 6-foot-4 and 204 pounds, Xhekaj brings a much-needed physical presence to the team. Indeed, he accumulated a team-leading 175 penalty minutes — an almost absurd total. Article content But at 20 years old, there remains many lessons for Xhekaj to learn in what he hopes will be an ascendancy to the NHL Canadiens, where he would potentially join older brother Arber Xhekaj, a Montreal defenceman. Article content One of those lessons undoubtedly revolves around discipline — or the lack thereof. Article content Article content Whether it was justified or not, Xhekaj took a third-period goalie interference minor against Rochester's Devon Levi on Friday night. And while he was penalized, Jiri Kulich scored the winning goal, with less than eight minutes remaining in regulation time, as the Americans defeated the Rocket 5-3 at Blue Cross Arena before 9,126 spectators. Article content Xhekaj also was penalized for roughing in the first period, again for getting too close to Levi, the Dollard-des-Ormeaux native. Article content Rochester's victory evened the best-of-five North Division final 1-1. And while Laval accomplished its mission by earning a split in the opening two games on the road, it will be interesting to see what direction the series takes when it reverts to Place Bell next week. Article content While the Rocket retains home-ice advantage, there now is a five-day break before Wednesday night's third game. Any momentum the Americans might have gained with this win could prove moot during that respite. The fourth game will be played Friday night and, if a fifth match is necessary, that goes on May 25. Article content Article content It's a bizarre scenario to say the least, but that's life in the AHL. Article content Isak Rosén paced Rochester with two goals — the last coming into an empty net — along with an assist. Kale Clague and Lukas Rousek also scored. Article content Clague, a former Canadiens defenceman, has now scored five goals in five playoff games while adding four assists. Kulich, selected 28th overall in 2022, and Rosen, picked 14th overall in 2021, are among five former Buffalo Sabres first-round draft choices on the Americans' roster. Article content Laurent Dauphin, captain Lucas Condotta and Jared Davidson scored for Laval, which squandered a 3-2 second-period lead. But Rousek's goal, coming in the final minute of the middle frame, altered the game's momentum. The Americans scored the game's final three goals.
