All Montreal Hockey has no direct affiliation to the Montreal Canadiens, NHL or NHLPA
Florian Xhekaj Faces Key Challenge in His Development With Canadiens Organization
Florian Xhekaj joined the Laval Rocket this season with a clear goal: to continue his development and prove that he can contribute more offensively.
We know he's already played in more physical and defensive roles, but his time in the AHL showed that he's capable of producing points when given the opportunity.
Now, his head coach must decide where he can truly develop - and that's where the debate begins.
In a recent episode of the podcast Processus à BPM Sports, Anthony Marcotte explained that Xhekaj is no longer at a stage where you can simply place him on a fourth line without giving it any thought.
Florian Xhekaj and the Challenge of Earning an Offensive Role With the Laval Rocket
Last season, Florian Xhekaj had a very specific role.
He played on the fourth line with Tyler Thorpe and Vincent Arseneau.
At that time, that setup made perfect sense.
He had just arrived in the AHL, was learning the finer details of the game, adjusting to the pace, and the organization wanted him to solidify his foundation before aiming higher.
But a year later, expectations have changed.
He's gained maturity, experience, and he's shown that he can contribute on the scoresheet.
Just look at his 2024-2025 numbers: 69 games, 24 goals, 11 assists, and 35 points, along with 175 penalty minutes.
Those are the stats of a player who can do more than just hit and agitate.
Marcotte explained it by saying:
"Florian Xhekaj on the Rocket's fourth line: that's not normal...
He now needs to prove that he can play on an offensive line to earn more ice time."
- Anthony Marcotte
He now needs to prove that he can play on an offensive line to earn more ice time."
- Anthony Marcotte
Here's the full clip:
And he's not wrong.
For a young player like Xhekaj, progress comes through the trust he's given, through responsibility, and through meaningful minutes in key situations.
It's now up to him to show that he can do even more!
| POLL | ||
NOVEMBRE 6 | 822 ANSWERS Florian Xhekaj Faces Key Challenge in His Development With Canadiens Organization Do you think Florian Xhekaj should play on an offensive line with the Laval Rocket? | ||
| Yes | 758 | 92.2 % |
| No | 64 | 7.8 % |
| List of polls | ||