The Montreal Canadiens have signed forward Florian Xhekaj to his three-year entry-level contract, the team announced on Tuesday. The NHL contract will start next season.
He will report to the Laval Rocket immediately and finish the season with them as he signed an tryout contract.
The news comes the same day that the team announced his brother Arber will miss the remainder of the season. Xhekaj, 19, was drafted in the fourth round (101st overall) in the 2023 NHL Draft. He had a great season with the Brantford Bulldogs, scoring 34 goals and adding 31 assists in 63 OHL games. He also had three goals and two assists in six playoff games.
Xhekaj was in his second season in the Ontario Hockey League. He is listed at 6’4″, 190lbs. He will meet the Rocket in Cleveland, but head coach Jean-Francois Houle will likely make sure he has a few practices before entering in game action.
He would be eligible for the playoffs should the Rocket make it there.
