Breaking: AHL Ace in the hole as Canadiens looks forward to land scoring phenom

Merriam-Webster describes a unicorn as “a mythical, usually white animal generally depicted with the body and head of a horse with long flowing mane and tail and a single often spiralled horn in the middle of the forehead” or “something unusual, rare, or unique.” Last season, Xhekaj became a unicorn goal-scorer, contradicting the word. The season before the Canadiens drafted him, Xhekaj scored 13 goals, 12 assists, 76 penalty minutes, and a minus-17 differential in 68 games with the Hamilton Bulldogs of the OHL. Xhekaj has 34 goals, 31 assists, 81 penalty minutes, and a plus-17 differential in 63 games for the Bulldogs, who moved to Brantford, last season.

Xhekaj was 6-foot-2 and 175 pounds before last year’s draft. This month in Brossard, the Canadiens’ development camp measured him at 6-foot-3 and 196 pounds. Xhekaj scored two goals and added another in a shootout to conclude the development camp, showing his stature and strength. “He had a great season last year,” Canadiens director of player development Rob Ramage said of Xhekaj. Starting on the wing. He took off when put in the center. His sibling (Arber) is big-framed. He is 6-4 (really 6-3)… I suppose he weighs 195–197. He won’t be 240 like the big truck. Again, some of these guys will grow into the off-ice, which is crucial today. He has many appealing qualities.”

Xhekaj was visited frequently by Ramage and Canadiens player development coach Francis Bouillon last season in Brantford. The Canadiens didn’t choose Xhekaj as a goal-scorer, but Ramage said that’s a bonus to his hockey package. “I got to see him quite a bit this season,” Ramage added. “Very responsible. He’s still raw, but his hockey sense was better than expected. Very excited about him.”

The Canadiens signed Xhekaj to a three-year, NHL entry-level contract in April and had him play three games with Laval Rocket at the close of the season, when he scored no points. “It definitely had a lot of benefit for me,” Xhekaj said of playing for Rockets. “Playing with older men… I was an older OHLer, so playing three AHL games was unusual. Everyone is older, stronger, and bigger. The game has been played longer. I learned a lot from the game and am trying to apply it to my game to prepare for next year. Xhekaj turned 20 on June 27 and might play in the OHL next season as an overage player, likely in Laval. He stated getting picked by the Canadiens and signing his first NHL contract boosted his confidence.

Xhekaj will join the Canadiens’ main training camp in hopes of surprising people as his older brother did two years ago by making the NHL without being drafted.
“I’m confident,” Xhekaj remarked. I want to join the Canadiens this year. That’s my role. I work hard every day and hope that happens.” Canadiens GM Kent Hughes gave Arber a US$813,750 qualifying offer to keep him from becoming a restricted free agent on July 1. Arber is unlikely to accept that offer considering his NHL entry-level contract cap hit was US$828,333 last season. Arber and his brother left Victor Saljanin for Bartlett Hockey.

“I don’t know too much about him with his contract,” Xhekaj said of his older brother. “I just kind of do my own thing.”

Scoring goals is now his thing.

“I always knew I had skill and a good shot,” Xhekaj remarked. “Just opportunity. I capitalized on playing with my team’s top players and put pucks in. He said, “I think I just got bigger, stronger, more confident in the OHL.” Confident as a person… It helped off the ice. I believe confidence with the puck—handling, shooting, everything.”

Xhekaj looks unicorn-like.