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Fourth-round draft decide who caught Nick Bobrov’s consideration may change into a uncommon mixture of dimension, ability and scoring capability as a winger.
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Nick Bobrov, the Canadiens’ co-director of beginner scouting, described ahead Florian Xhekaj as a “unicorn” forward of final 12 months’s NHL Draft.
“To me, I’d personally prefer to stroll away with that man,” Bobrov stated in a behind-the-scenes video the Canadiens launched of a scouting assembly held forward of final 12 months’s draft in Nashville.
The Canadiens had been capable of choose Xhekaj within the fourth spherical (a hundred and first general).
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The Merriam-Webster dictionary defines a unicorn as “a legendary, often white animal typically depicted with the physique and head of a horse with lengthy flowing mane and tail and a single usually spiralled horn in the course of the brow” or “one thing uncommon, uncommon, or distinctive.”
The dictionary doesn’t describe a unicorn as a goal-scorer, however that’s what Xhekaj turned final season.
Xhekaj had 13 objectives and 12 assists in 68 video games with the OHL’s Hamilton Bulldogs the season earlier than the Canadiens drafted him, to associate with 76 penalty minutes and a minus-17 differential. Final season with the Bulldogs — who moved to Brantford — Xhekaj had 34 objectives and 31 assists in 63 video games to associate with 81 penalty minutes and a plus-17 differential.
Xhekaj was listed at 6-foot-2 and 175 kilos forward of final 12 months’s draft. On the Canadiens’ improvement camp this month in Brossard, he was measured at 6-foot-3 and 196 kilos. Xhekaj stood out along with his dimension and energy throughout a scrimmage that wrapped up the event camp, scoring two objectives and including one other in a shootout that adopted the scrimmage.
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Street to the Cup
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“He had an incredible season final 12 months,” Rob Ramage, the Canadiens’ director of participant improvement, stated when requested about Xhekaj. “Began off on the wing. They put him at centre and he simply took off. He’s bought the massive body like his brother (Arber). He’s 6-4 (really 6-3) … I feel he’s solely weighing in at round 195, 197. He’s not going to be 240 like the massive truck (Arber). However, as soon as once more, a few of these guys, the off-ice proper now’s going to be actually necessary and he’s going to develop into it. There’s so much to love about this man.”
Ramage and Francis Bouillon, a Canadiens’ participant improvement coach, stored in shut contact with Xhekaj all through final season, visiting him repeatedly in Brantford. Ramage famous that whereas the Canadiens didn’t draft Xhekaj as a goal-scorer, that’s an added bonus to the remainder of his hockey package deal.
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“I bought to see him fairly a bit this season,” Ramage stated. “Very accountable. His hockey sense was manner higher I feel than everyone anticipated and he’s nonetheless uncooked. Very enthusiastic about him.”
The Canadiens had been excited sufficient to signal Xhekaj to a three-year, NHL entry-level contract in April and have him play three video games with the AHL’s Laval Rocket on the finish of final season, throughout which he had no factors.
“It undoubtedly had quite a lot of profit for me,” Xhekaj stated about taking part in for the Rocket. “Enjoying with older guys … I used to be one of many older guys within the OHL after which going up for 3 video games within the AHL was undoubtedly completely different. Everybody’s larger, stronger — older generally. They’ve been taking part in the sport for longer. I took so much from the sport and I’m making an attempt to use with my sport and be prepared for wherever I play subsequent 12 months.”
Xhekaj turned 20 on June 27 and will return to the OHL subsequent season as an overage participant — however he’s probably to play in Laval. He stated signing his first NHL contract gave him a confidence increase — similar to getting drafted by the Canadiens did.
Xhekaj will attend the Canadiens’ major coaching camp and is hoping he can shock folks like his older brother did two years in the past — after not even getting drafted — and make the NHL.
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“I’m assured,” Xhekaj stated. “I wish to make the Montreal Canadiens this 12 months. That’s what I’m right here to do. … I’m simply making an attempt to work onerous every single day and hopefully that occurs.”
Arber was eligible to change into a restricted free agent on July 1, however Canadiens GM Kent Hughes stored the defenceman’s rights by giving him a qualifying provide reported to have a set worth of US$813,750. Arber is unlikely to signal that provide since his cap hit final season on his NHL entry-level contract was US$828,333. Arber and his brother not too long ago modified brokers, leaving Victor Saljanin and becoming a member of Bartlett Hockey.
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“I don’t know an excessive amount of about him along with his contract,” Xhekaj stated about his older brother. “I simply form of do my very own factor.”
And his personal factor now contains scoring objectives.
“I all the time knew I had ability and a very good shot,” Xhekaj stated. “It’s simply alternative. I bought a chance to play with some high gamers on my staff and I simply capitalized on it and pucks had been moving into.
“I feel I simply bought larger, stronger, extra assured within the OHL,” he added. “Assured as an individual … off the ice that helped so much. I feel simply confidence with the puck — dealing with the puck, taking pictures, the whole lot.”
Xhekaj actually is trying like a unicorn.
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