Highlights of coaching camp embrace attending to play towards his huge brother Arber after which scoring a aim in Crimson vs. White scrimmage.
“It’s super-special,” Xhekaj stated concerning the expertise after the scrimmage. “Even going on the market for warmups I used to be simply wanting round. I used to be like: Wow! That is insane. I’ve by no means performed in entrance of 21,000 (followers). It’s superior.”
It’s not a shock that Xhekaj was returned to the Bulldogs due to his age, the place he was drafted and the truth that at 6-foot-2 and 175 kilos he might want to acquire some power and weight to play the rugged position the Canadiens hope he can carry to the NHL someday. In 68 video games final season with the Bulldogs — who’ve moved from Hamilton to Brantford — Xhekaj had 13-12-25 totals and 76 penalty minutes.
Nick Bobrov, the Canadiens’ co-director of novice scouting, calls Xhekaj “a unicorn.”
Earlier than studying he was being despatched again to the Bulldogs, Xhekaj stated collaborating in coaching camp and taking part in within the Crimson vs. White scrimmage was an amazing expertise for him.
“The tempo was super-fast,” he stated. “Simply studying off the older guys, speaking with them so much and simply gaining expertise. The small issues, the eye to element and simply how centered they’re on the ice and the little performs they make.”
A spotlight of coaching camp was Xhekaj attending to play towards his older brother, Arber, in a current scrimmage on the CN Sports activities Complicated in Brossard. Final season, the 6-foot-4, 238-pound Arber had 5-8-13 totals and 101 penalty minutes as a rookie NHL defenceman with the Canadiens.
“It was cool,” Florian stated about taking part in towards his brother. “We have been battling a bit on the market. Not too many shifts towards one another, however it was cool.”
Arber, 22, additionally loved that have taking part in towards his little brother.
“It was nice,” stated Arber, who didn’t participate in Sunday’s Crimson vs. White scrimmage. “He blocked one in every of my pictures, so I wasn’t too joyful about that.
“It’s our dream come true for 2 brothers to even be attending to this stage is superb,” Arber added. “However to be in the identical group, it’s a blessing for us.”
Arber watched his brother play in Sunday’s Crimson vs. White scrimmage and their mother and father have been additionally on the Bell Centre. The household dream is that they are going to someday play collectively within the NHL with the Canadiens.
“I’m my very own participant,” Florian stated when requested about being in his brother’s shadow. “I’m my very own persona. I feel folks will see that as they watch me play extra. I simply assume I’ve my very own recreation. We’ve got a bit of little bit of the identical taking part in fashion, however I’m a ahead, he’s defence.”
Did his huge brother give him any recommendation earlier than the Crimson vs. White scrimmage?
“He simply stated play your recreation on the market,” Florian stated. “He stated keep calm. The nerves have been a bit of up going on the market in entrance of 21,000 (followers), however he simply stated keep calm, play your recreation, in order that’s what I attempted to do.”
The Canadiens will play their first of six preseason video games Monday when the New Jersey Devils go to the Bell Centre (7 p.m., RDS, TSN 690 Radio, 98.5 FM).
