2026 Canadiens Top 25 Under 25: #14 Florian Xhekaj
Introduction
We’re entering the part of this exercise where the players are expected to become NHLers. Some guys do it through pure talent or high skill levels. Others like Florian Xhekaj do it by being the meanest piece of work on the ice every night, while adding in an unexpected offensive flair in their role.
Xhekaj experienced an incredible rise last year after he tallied 24 goals in his rookie campaign with the Laval Rocket. This year saw him pot 17 goals, with 12 assists, all while getting his first taste of the NHL in a five-game call-up. Through it all, in five fewer games for the Rocket, Xhekaj set a new career high in penalty minutes with 182.
After two strong years with the AHL club, the feeling around the fanbase is that the younger Xhekaj brother is prepared to become an NHL regular this year. While the competition for spots is fierce, his body of work and massive frame give him a bit of an edge.
Voting
The consensus was very clear among the panellists: Xhekaj is a top prospect. All but one had him in the top 15. He was always going to be a bit of a cult hero like his brother, but with two strong professional seasons it’s very clear that Florian has developed himself into a strong player for the organization.
While not the lowest vote, I hesitated to move him up beyond the 15th spot due to believing there are some more skilled forwards in the Canadiens organization, and because the penalty-minute issue hampers how effective he can be at even strength.
Top 25 Under 25 History
One of the lowest players in the list after he was drafted in 2023, Xhekaj’s strong overall game has taken him all the way up to 14th, with two years of eligibility remaining.
History of #14
| Year | #14 |
|---|---|
| 2026 | Florian Xhekaj |
| 2025 | Alexander Zharovsky |
| 2024 | Arber Xhekaj |
| 2023 | Jordan Harris |
| 2022 | Owen Beck |
| 2021 | Luke Tuch |
| 2020 | Josh Brook |
| 2019 | Jesse Ylönen |
| 2018 | Will Bitten |
| 2017 | Ryan Poehling |
| 2016 | Will Bitten |
| 2015 | Christian Thomas |
| 2014 | Martin Réway |
| 2013 | Michael McCarron |
| 2012 | Aaron Palushaj |
| 2011 | Brendan Gallagher |
| 2010 | Ben Maxwell |
Strengths
There are very few players in the world, let alone in the Montreal Canadiens organization, who choose violence quite like Florian Xhekaj has at the AHL level. Standing 6’4″ and weighing in at 205 pounds, he joined the Laval Rocket with a pro-ready frame and the mindset to battle his way into the NHL ranks by any means necessary.
The 182 penalties are the result of him almost never turning down a challenge or ignoring someone taking a run at his teammates. There aren’t many at the AHL level who can match his toughness, though plenty have tried, including former Canadien Michael Pezzetta.
Xhekaj’s willingness to drop the gloves and finish every single check made him an instant fan favourite in his rookie season. It also helped pave the way for his first NHL games last year, a stint in which he tallied one assist in five games. He also, in true Florian Xhekaj fashion, fought in his first game, bloodying Dakota Mermis of the Toronto Maple Leafs.
What makes him one of the top prospects in the system is the surprising offensive upside he’s shown for several years now, and that has come primarily in a bottom-six role in Laval. With his massive frame it is easy for him to battle his way toward the net for rebounds or to look for deflections. If his first attempt doesn’t go in, he works the puck back around the zone or behind the net to find secondary opportunities.
Perhaps most impressive is how he has honed his shooting talent to become a legitimate threat even from distance. In the past two years we’ve seen him dangle around opponents before lifting a backhand shot into a tiny wedge over the goalie’s shoulder and also pick the far corner off the rush with relative ease. That goal-scoring edge has opened the door for an NHL position. Even if it is as a fourth-liner, the offensive potential coupled with his relentless physical play make him an ideal candidate.
When not sitting in the penalty box, he has been one of Laval’s regular penalty-killers and a notable short-handed threat. His reach allows him to sweep away errant passes and turn them into counters, something that should make him a favourite of the Habs’ coaching staff as well.
Weaknesses
Fans and coaches have come to love him for his tenacity and devotion to the art of truculence. At the same time, it has become something that might be holding him back from achieving even more offensively. The last two years have seen him finish first and fourth in the AHL in terms of penalty minutes, which not ideal.
When we look at the other names surrounding him on the PIM list, there is no one playing the type of role Xhekaj does, or anyone even remotely approaching his offensive output. It remains fairly impressive that he scores as many goals as he does when spending at least a few minutes a game sitting in the penalty box. As a regular penalty-killer and someone expected to take a bigger offensive role this year, he will need him to cut down the penalty minutes in a big way.
Sometimes his penalties are well-deserved because you can’t just turn around and punch someone in the face after you’ve scored a goal. Yet, much like his older brother at the NHL level, Florian finds himself the victim of the reputation call often. Improving his penalty differential could go a long way toward changing that notion. If not, taking penalties at the NHL level and possibly surrendering power-play goals is a good way to find yourself in the doghouse, which is something he will need to avoid as he tries to break into the team.
Projection
A handful of the players I’ve personally profiled have fit into the ready-for-the-NHL category, but out of all of them Xhekaj is far and away the closest to making that move full-time this year. His physical build, intense forechecking ability, and knack for timely goals make him a perfect candidate to slot into Montreal’s bottom six.
Will he start the season in the NHL? It is rather hard to say because the competition for the few available NHL spots is going to be fierce among the veterans and upcoming prospects. There is every chance that Xhekaj will start the year at the AHL level as a key player for the Rocket, which is an acceptable path as he works on establishing himself as a true top-six player at the minor-league level. If he continues to contribute goals and reins in the penalty minutes, it wouldn’t be a long stay for him.
Given the breakdown of the Canadiens’ lineup depth and talent, it is hard to see Xhekaj rising above a third-line role, however I’ve been proven wrong by him repeatedly since his draft season. If he can add some maturation to his game while stepping up as a leader for the Rocket, there is a long-term place for him in Montreal, and he could form a partnership with Gleb Pugachyov for some real chaos on the wings.
