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The Xhekaj family story is one of the best feel-good, "got it out of the mud" stories across the NHL.
Arber, the elder Xhekaj brother, made the Canadiens roster as an undrafted player and then enamored the Bell Centre faithful in short order.
Florian, the younger of the brothers, was looked at as a reach when he was drafted 101st overall in the 2022 NHL draft.
ELITE SNIPER FLORIAN XHEKAJ
— /r/Habs (@HabsOnReddit) May 22, 2025
pic.twitter.com/zYvQaPh6RG
But that didn’t deter Montreal Canadiens Director of European scouting Nikolai Bobrov, who went to bat and called Xhekaj a unicorn. Xhekaj has responded in a way that has made Bobrov look brilliant.
Surprise surprise, Florian Xhekaj mixing it up in game three of the AHL playoffs. pic.twitter.com/rLaZWFU6V7
— Matt Drake (@DrakeMT) May 4, 2025
His debut professional season is over, but Xhekaj developed a knack for scoring clutch goals. It sometimes makes you wonder if he’s aware that he’s still an AHL rookie.
Florian is the exact power forward that the Canadiens need, and as he gets bigger and stronger, his confidence will continue to skyrocket.
Hughes knew that Xhekaj hadn’t scratched his offensive potential yet, but Xhekaj's rookie season with the Rocket was a stunning masterpiece.
Through 69 games en route to a Calder Cup playoff berth, Florian recorded 24 goals and 11 assists for 35 points.
The Canadiens' training camp in September is going to be interesting for an array of reasons, and one of the most noteworthy reasons is monitoring what Florian Xhekaj is doing.
A playoff hopeful in 2025-26, the Canadiens will benefit from the services that Florian is capable of executing.
The burning question is whether the Canadians 2022 draft unicorn is ready for the NHL or not.
Certainly, his experience from the AHL playoffs and another big offseason will put the younger Xhekaj in a position to shake the Bell Centre come September, but how influential will that be on Marty and the Canadiens?
The Canadiens' forward core has only Josh Anderson and Michael Pezzetta, and one very likely won't be in the mix next season. Xhekaj would fill a role, quite successfully, but bring some grit to an otherwise rather physically unintimidating forward corps.
Xhekaj brings a nice element of smashmouth, in-your-face hockey, and has no problem mixing it up in the corners and around the net. His game is mature, and in front of the net, he resembles a veteran.
Those sound like the exact elements that the Canadiens bottom six would benefit from. He can do what Pezzetta does, but much better, and he has a nice scoring touch. Perhaps he can reach Anderson-prime totals.
First, just getting his shot is the No. 1 priority for Xhekaj.
More must-reads:
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- The 'NBA Summer League MVPs' quiz
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TODAY'S BEST
Two Teams Linked to a Trade with Bruins for Pavel Zacha
The Boston Bruins are gauging trade interest in forward Pavel Zacha, according to The Fourth Period. Following a down season and a trade deadline where Zacha’s name was thrown around but was ultimately not moved, Bruins GM Don Sweeney is trying to move the 27-year-old Czech center. Zacha is playing in the final season of a contract that has a $4.75 million cap hit. Zacha, acquired from the New Jersey Devils in 2022 for Erik Haula, has been a solid pickup for Boston. He posted 21 goals and 57 points in 78 games in 2023-24, though his production dipped slightly to 47 points over a full 82-game slate last season. He can play up and down the lineup and has a strong two-way game. Who Has Shown Interest in a Zacha Trade? Two teams reportedly monitoring Zacha are the Vancouver Canucks and the Utah Hockey Club. Both teams are seeking top-six forward depth and would value Zacha’s steady offensive contributions. The Canucks have been busy all summer, signing and trading players. They have also been linked to Jack Roslovic talks in free agency, meaning they wouldn’t be adding both. Utah has been looking to make a splash this season and work their way up the standings in an attempt to compete for the playoffs. The Bruins would likely demand a notable return, but neither team is looking to send players back. The trade would likely involve a high pick or a mid-tier prospect. Zacha controls part of the process with an eight-team no-trade list. He’s owed just $3.75 million in actual salary each of the next two seasons, further boosting his trade appeal.
All signs point to Yankees moving on from Anthony Volpe
With the trade for Ryan McMahon now complete, it would seem New York Yankees’ general manager Brian Cashman has fulfilled one of his three priorities. He can now cross third base off the list, which leaves the rotation and bullpen as his remaining priorities. However, according to one Yankees writer, Cashman might not be done with the infield. Chris Kirschner of The Athletic reported this after the McMahon trade: “The Yankees may not be done adding to their infield. A team source said the Yankees are interested in adding a right-handed hitter who could play the infield.” Kirschner adds that the Yankees have had interest in Willi Castro and Amed Rosario. But the question now is, how would another player fit in the Yankees’ infield? Needless to say, Paul Goldschmidt and Jazz Chisholm Jr. aren’t going anywhere, and McMahon is just getting there. That leaves the low-hanging fruit. Anthony Volpe has been at the center of controversy all this season. His 13 errors, many of which had come at make-or-break moments, amount to the second-highest total in the game. In addition, his bat has not been able to compensate, hitting .214/.286/.407 with 14 home runs. There was always a lot to like about Volpe. He won a Gold Glove in his rookie year, his power has always been promising and his speed is nothing to scoff at. Unfortunately, his glove has become a liability and his speed has also produced very few results. Volpe has swiped just 10 bags in 17 attempts. His power is the one thing that still has some upside, but it hasn’t been enough to justify a spot in the lineup. Both Castro and Rosario have been far more productive at the plate this season than Volpe. Kirschner doesn’t clarify how serious the Yankees are in their pursuit of another infielder, but that most likely isn’t available information. Having just turned 24, Volpe could still become the type of player that was expected from him as a top prospect. However, his recent performance has weighed heavily on his team’s efforts and it may be buying him a ticket out of the Bronx — or at least a spot on the bench.
Athletics' Nick Kurtz makes MLB history vs. Astros
Athletics rookie first baseman Nick Kurtz already had an impressive start to his career. Kurtz entered Friday having posted a .288/.360/.622 batting line in 265 plate appearances, hitting 19 homers and 17 doubles. Despite making his major league debut on April 23, Kurtz has been the A's most valuable player, leading the team with 2.6 bWAR. He appeared to be on the cusp of becoming the superstar the A's needed to sell the team to the residents of Las Vegas. That performance set the stage for what may have been the most impressive game for any rookie in major league history. Kurtz became the 20th player in MLB history to have a four-home run game and the first rookie to achieve that feat. Kurtz's performance also put the 2025 season into baseball history. Diamondbacks third baseman Eugenio Suarez had a four-home run game on April 26, making this the third time that there have been two four-homer games in a season. That had happened in 2002 (outfielders Mike Cameron and Shawn Green) and 2017 (utility man Scooter Gennett and left fielder J.D. Martinez). Kurtz did not stop with those four homers. He was 6-6 in the A's 15-3 victory over the Astros, with a double and eight runs batted in. The favorite to win the AL Rookie of the Year award, Kurtz put an emphatic stamp on an already impressive season with his barrage on Friday.
Bengals finally reach agreement with first-rounder Shemar Stewart
The Cincinnati Bengals have finally reached an agreement with first-round pick Shemar Stewart, putting an end to what became the story of the offseason for the team. Stewart, drafted 17th overall in this year's draft, has finally agreed to a four-year, fully guaranteed $18.97 million deal that includes a $10.4 million signing bonus, according to his agent Zac Hiller of LAA. Now with this deal done, every first-round pick is signed. The road to this deal was a bumpy ride. For months, negotiations between Stewart’s camp and the Bengals front office stalled due to disagreements over contract language, particularly around guarantees. The team pushed to include contract language that could void the deal under certain off-field circumstances, but since other Bengals first-round picks did not face similar terms, Stewart stood firm and refused to sign. Both sides remained firm throughout the offseason, leading to a long standoff and a lot of reports of frustration from both sides. Despite the frustration and disagreement, the Bengals and Stewart’s group continued to engage in conversations, trying to find a resolution to the issue. And finally, after weeks of back and forth and weeks of controversy surrounding what Stewart may be forced to do, both parties appear to have met in the middle and found common ground. For the Bengals, getting Stewart signed and ready for training camp is a major win. Stewart was viewed as a developmental prospect who needed plenty of on-field reps to reach his full potential. Stewart's absence from earlier camps had slowed a lot of his progress. With the contract dispute resolved, he can now focus entirely on gaining important reps and continuing his development over the coming weeks. Now with this contract done and over with, the team can put their full focus on Trey Hendrickson, who is also seeking a long term deal. If the Bengals can get a deal done with Trey before the season kicks off, they would secure their edge-rushing room for not only 2025, but for years beyond. For a team looking to go all in on making the playoffs, signing Stewart was long overdue. Now it will be vital for the team to get Stewart up to speed with the rest of the roster, and allow him to get as many reps as possible before the 2025 season begins.
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