Getting to know Montreal Canadiens 101st overall pick Florian Xhekaj

With their first of three fourth-round selections, the Montreal Canadiens selected forward Florian Xhekaj, the brother of current player Arber.

Birthplace: Hamilton, Ontario
Date of birth: June 27, 2004
Shoots: Left
Position: Left Wing
Height: 6’2″
Weight: 174 lbs
Team: Hamilton Bulldogs (OHL)

Xhekaj was ranked 131st among North American skaters by NHL Central Scouting and 214th by Draft Prospects Hockey. It was his second year of draft eligibility.

This year was Xhekaj’s first in the Ontario Hockey League and he scored 13 goals and 12 assists in 68 games, adding 76 penalty minutes. He added a goal and two assists in six playoff games with the Hamilton Bulldogs. Like his brother, he was also undrafted into the OHL and had to play his way onto a roster after playing in the Pelham Panthers in the GOJHL, a Junior B league in Ontario.

This might surprise you, but Xhekaj is described as a physical, grinding winger which means that trait runs in the family, at least when they are on the ice. Like his brother, he’s more than just a guy who plays physical, and there might be some untapped all around potential.

He’s a solid skater with a powerful stride, but struggles in acceleration. His wrist shot has power on it, and he can get the puck on net, but he won’t confuse anyone for a sniper. He has good vision, and has the ability to find teammates with passes.

Florian isn’t a player who is physical to be physical, but he can and does fight. He’s a smart player who understands how to use his frame to his advantage. He is strong along the wall and can win puck battles. He doesn’t take a shift off and forechecks and backchecks hard. He’s aware and has good positioning in the defensive zone and played in all situations for Hamilton last year.

He projects as a bottom-six forward in the NHL, but will look to follow his brother and earn his spot in the NHL. The younger brother was actually in attendance when he made his NHL debut at last year’s Canadiens home opener at the Bell Centre and said the atmosphere was incredible.

You can imagine it was a special moment for the family to find out that not only he was drafted in the NHL but to the same organization as his brother. The Canadiens were the favourite of the Xhekaj family as well since their father took a liking to the franchise.

It’s definitely a long shot that Xhekaj becomes an NHLer, like it is for most players taken at this range in the draft but it will be interesting to see how he develops in his second OHL season and knowing the pressure of being drafted was lifted.

You would potentially like more higher-upside picks in this range, but the Canadiens likely know a lot about what they’re getting in Florian Xhekaj and were willing to provide him with this opportunity.