A fourth-round draft selection who caught Nick Bobrov’s interest has the potential to embody a unique blend of size, skill, and scoring prowess as a winger.
Nick Bobrov, the Canadiens’ co-director of amateur scouting, referred to forward Florian Xhekaj as a “unicorn” in anticipation of last year’s NHL Draft. In a behind-the-scenes video released by the Canadiens, Bobrov expressed his personal desire to secure Xhekaj, whom the Canadiens eventually drafted in the fourth round (101st overall).
Despite the dictionary definition not including a hockey player as a unicorn, that’s exactly what Xhekaj proved to be last season.
Florian Xhekaj scores his second goal of the scrimmage(s). Nice shot! pic.twitter.com/l6F14Duvw7
— Marc Dumont (@MarcPDumont) July 5, 2024
Before being drafted, Xhekaj had 13 goals and 12 assists in 68 games with the OHL’s Hamilton Bulldogs. The following season, now with the Bulldogs relocated to Brantford, Xhekaj’s performance soared with 34 goals and 31 assists in 63 games, showcasing his offensive prowess along with improved physical attributes—growing from 6-foot-2 and 175 pounds to 6-foot-3 and 196 pounds by the Canadiens’ development camp.
Here's the Florian Xhekaj goal in the shootout. Smooth hands from the forward. #GoHabsGo pic.twitter.com/4N6pT7J7Lt
— Marc Dumont (@MarcPDumont) July 5, 2024
Rob Ramage, the Canadiens’ director of player development, highlighted Xhekaj’s significant growth and versatility on the ice, noting his transition from wing to center and his standout performance at the development camp scrimmage.
Massive additions today to the #BHfamily as welcome both Arber and Florian Xhekaj! The #WifiBros are both signed with @CanadiensMTL and have massive futures ahead of them. pic.twitter.com/s4bPnA72Ai
— Bartlett Hockey (@BartlettHockey) June 30, 2024
Having signed a three-year NHL entry-level contract with the Canadiens in April, Xhekaj also gained valuable experience playing three games with the AHL’s Laval Rocket, further enhancing his readiness for higher levels of competition. Looking ahead, Xhekaj, now 20, aims to make an impact at the Canadiens’ main training camp and ultimately achieve his goal of playing in the NHL.
With his trajectory and development, Xhekaj is indeed resembling a rare find—a unicorn in the world of hockey.
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