Florian Xhekaj was a big story for the Rocket this season. Arber’s little brother, in his first year with the pros, scored 24 goals and 35 points in 69 games… and above all, he stood out for his physical play.
And when you know the big brother, it’s not exactly surprising, hehe.
As a result, more and more people see him as part of the Canadiens’ future. Obviously, no one sees him becoming a Connor McDavid… but he’s got the profile of a good support player.
Except that not everyone shares this optimism. Byron Bader, for example, says that in his model, it’s “pretty unlikely” that he’ll reach the level of a Troy Brouwer or Jordan Martinook.
He therefore feels that Xhekaj’s development “doesn’t look good”.
Bader goes one step further: it’s been a very long time since a player in Xhekaj’s mold reached the NHL:
It’s been 30 years since a player with that profile made it to the NHL. – Byron Bader
Of course, it’s more than possible that Xhekaj will prove the numbers wrong and establish himself as a good NHL support player. He showed great things in Laval this year(and continues to do so in the current playoffs), and even if he still has some development to do, the club has something interesting on its hands.
Assuming he’ll be at the center of the Canadiens’ fourth line next year is a bit (too) bold. But if he’s well developed, it could happen.
One thing’s clear, though: right now, what he’s doing in Laval gives him a serious chance to make the numbers lie. There’s no guarantee he’ll make it, but the kid is making an impression in Montreal.
And that’s the most important thing: if he can get his chance and take it, he’ll give himself an opportunity to beat the odds.
