Every year, a new face emerges from the shadows at Montreal Canadiens training camp, capturing the imagination of fans and coaches alike.

This season, whispers around the rink suggest that the next breakout star could be none other than Florian Xhekaj—the younger brother of the already beloved “Sheriff,” Arber Xhekaj. With a combination of surprising goal-scoring prowess and a gritty, versatile style of play, Florian has been quietly making a name for himself in the AHL, turning heads and earning praise from coaches who see something special in his game.

But as the Canadiens prepare for one of their most competitive training camps in recent memory, the question on everyone’s mind is: will Florian Xhekaj be able to carve out a spot for himself on the NHL roster, or will he have to bide his time as the team’s top call-up option?

With speculation swirling and unexpected praise coming from inside the organization, the stage is set for a potential Cinderella story that could see not one, but two Xhekaj brothers making waves in Montreal. What will happen next? The answer might surprise even the most die-hard fans.

Photo of Arber Xhekaj and Florian Xhekaj

Photo credit: NHL

At every training camp, one player surprises and sneaks into the hearts of Montreal Canadiens fans.

From what we understand, the next Cinderella-type story could very well be that of Florian Xhekaj.

The younger brother of the “Sheriff” had already started turning heads last season.

His 25 goals in 65 games with the Laval Rocket surprised many. Not to mention the “Swiss army knife” element that the younger Xhekaj brings to his game.

All of this makes Florian Xhekaj a perfect player for a fourth line in the NHL.

Chances are, he’ll be battling in September for a spot on that unit.

Florian Xhekaj Will Be the First Player Called Up by the Canadiens if He Doesn’t Make the Team

If Florian doesn’t manage to convince Canadiens management to start with the big club, it wouldn’t be surprising if he finishes camp at the top of the call-up list.

As mentioned by Vincent Demuy, who follows the Laval Rocket closely, on BPM Sports radio, the 101st overall pick in the 2023 draft could be one of the first players recalled.

“If Florian Xhekaj doesn’t make the lineup in October, he’ll be one of the first names called up.” – Vincent Demuy

We recall that the 6-foot-4 forward often received praise from his head coach last season.

Pascal Vincent, in fact, on numerous occasions praised young Xhekaj’s play in his press conferences.

“He’s just missing some time. I think he’ll get there eventually. How long will it take? I don’t know. It’s not a sprint. When the opportunity comes, he just needs to be ready mentally and physically. But his progress is faster than I expected. In the last game, he was the forward I used the most, almost 20 minutes of ice time. We know the family name and we know what he can do on the ice-his physical play and willingness to drop the gloves. That’s one thing. But he’s a hockey player.”

“We could play him on the power play. Right now, I’m not using him there because I want to protect his energy and focus on his development at five-on-five and on the penalty kill. But I know that eventually, he could be someone I use in that role. His skating, his stride mechanics are very good, so his speed will improve over time as he gets stronger physically. But what impresses me the most is his attention to detail-how he uses his positioning on the ice, his ability to read plays, and how he positions himself well defensively to create offense.”

– Pascal Vincent

The upcoming camp will therefore be very interesting to follow, and sooner rather than later, we could see two Xhekajs in the Canadiens’ lineup.. possibly even both on the fourth line in the offense.