By JD Lagrange – Here we are, witnessing the Montreal Canadiens endure yet another disappointing season, marking their third consecutive year inching closer to the NHL basement rather than thrilling their fans with a deep… More
Florian Xhekaj Comparable
By JD Lagrange – Ah, the intriguing game of player comparisons. Some take offense to it, while others acknowledge its inevitability in the quest to understand and evaluate a young prospect. In the realm of hockey, it’s commonplace to draw parallels between emerging talents and established players, not to suggest the former will replicate the latter, but to identify shared characteristics in style, role, or demeanor.
Recently, my esteemed colleague, Bob Trask, offered a comparison that caught my attention. He likened Florian Xhekaj to Josh Anderson. Given Anderson’s challenging season, it’s a bold analogy, especially considering the fervent opinions among fans of the Montreal Canadiens.
However, I had previously made a similar connection between the two players. When I noticed resemblances between Anderson and Arber’s “little” brother, I delved deeper into the comparison. Here’s what I found: to make a fair assessment, I’ve turned back the clock to Anderson’s final year as a 19-year-old in junior hockey.
| J. ANDERSON | F. XHEKAJ | |
|---|---|---|
| Place of birth: | Burlington, ON | Hamilton, ON |
| Height: | 6’3″ | 6’4″ |
| Drafted: | 2012 round 4 #95 overall by CBJ | 2023 round 4 #101 overall by MTL |
| Team: | London Knights | Brantford Bulldogs |
| GP: | 59 | 63 |
| Goals: | 27 | 34 |
| Assists: | 24 | 31 |
| Pts: | 51 | 65 |
| PIM: | 81 | 81 |
It’s worth noting, for those unfamiliar with Ontario geography, that Burlington lies just a short 20-minute drive from Hamilton.
Near future
Florian Xhekaj will turn 20 on June 27th and, while he’s yet to ink a deal with the Canadiens, the robust power-forward could potentially join the Laval Rocket for their playoff push following his junior season, depending on how far Brantford makes it in the OHL playoffs. .
Currently, the Canadiens have 45 contracts on the books, leaving them room to sign up to 50 contracts. They may also opt to offer Amateur Try-Outs (ATO) to some prospects until the end of the season.
Among the players, besides Florian Xhekaj, who could receive offers from the Canadiens are:
- Oliver Kapanen
- Luke Tuch
- Lane Hutson
- Adam Engström
- Bogdan Konyushkov
Additionally, David Reinbacher, now with the Laval Rocket, has already been signed. Owen Beck and Filip Mesar are already under contract, and all three are accounted for in the above-mentioned 45 contracts currently in place.
The process of comparing young prospects to established players is both a fascinating and necessary aspect of evaluating talent in hockey. While comparisons serve as valuable tools for understanding a player’s potential and attributes, they should be approached with caution, recognizing that each player is unique and will carve out their own path in the sport.
As Florian Xhekaj and others continue their journeys in the hockey world, their development and contributions will ultimately define their legacy, separate from any comparisons drawn along the way. With promising prospects on the horizon and opportunities for growth within the Montreal Canadiens organization, the future looks bright for both the team and the emerging talents waiting to make their mark on the ice. If the younger Xhekaj turns into a player similar to Josh Anderson, few will be upset to see this from a fourth round pick.
NHL Draft: Fans Should Learn From The Past
By JD Lagrange – In the aftermath of recent NHL drafts, a compelling narrative emerges: the need to learn from the past and embrace a more nuanced approach to addressing team needs. As fervent fans clamoured for specific draft picks, history unveiled a different truth: there’s more than one path to bolstering a team’s roster.
While the draft certainly holds promise, it’s not the sole solution. Trades, with their potential for immediate impact, shouldn’t be overlooked. Let’s reflect on the lessons of the past drafts and recognize the multifaceted strategies available to address our team’s needs, ensuring a comprehensive approach that embraces both drafting and trading as viable avenues for success.
Some individuals heavily rely on watching numerous prospect videos, while others simply absorb the opinions of these watchers without considering the inherent flaws in such analyses. These flaws encompass, but are not restricted to:
- Subjectivity heavily influences their viewpoints.
- Videos often solely focus on the puck carrier, neglecting the actions of players without possession.
- Time constraints, familial obligations, sleep, social commitments, and time zone discrepancies limit the number of games they can realistically watch.
- They lack the context to accurately assess the varying levels of competition across different leagues such as European professional leagues, CHL teams, NCAA colleges, and USHL, among others.
- Limited access to interviews with players, coaches, and other knowledgeable individuals hinders their understanding of a prospect’s character, as well as their ability to observe them firsthand in action.
Yes, I’ve heard that even professional scouts sometimes get it wrong. Drafting an 18-year-old isn’t just about comparing them to others their age. Scouts are trying to figure out when these young players will reach their full potential. But there are lots of factors involved, some controlled by the team picking them, but mostly it’s up to the players themselves.
Learning from the past
Two drafts ago, fans clamoured vocally for months leading up to the event, largely advocating for the Canadiens to select Shane Wright. “We need a center,” they asserted. And indeed, they were correct about the positional need. However, they overlooked the multitude of avenues available to address that need. Kent Hughes ultimately drafted the player he and the organization deemed the best player available in Juraj Slafkovsky with the team’s first overall selection, and orchestrated a trade involving Alexander Romanov and picks to secure Kirby Dach, the elusive center.
A year later, fans were adamant about drafting another offensive player, Matvei Michkov, believing the defensive lineup was already solid. Some nearly panicked when Carey Price stumbled over pronouncing the name “David Reinbacher.” Yet again, Hughes made moves, trading a late first-round pick and an early second to acquire Alex Newhook.
So why is it that fans seem to have not gleaned any lessons from these experiences? How can it be that we still encounter numerous social media posts and blog articles that leave no room for alternative solutions beyond drafting Player “X” or “Y”? Are we, as a fan base, so obstinate or lacking in discernment? Personally, I don’t believe so. However, it’s perplexing why some insist on viewing things in such black-and-white terms… when in reality, there are so many shades or grey.
Many ways to get there
Honestly, I’m indifferent to whom they draft, as long as they effectively address the team’s needs through the draft, trades, or a combination of both. None of us are draft experts, not even those who claim to be, as we lack access to all pertinent information.
Instead of loudly declaring our preferred draft picks on social media, what if we shifted our mindset? Instead, we could acknowledge our team’s needs and trust the General Manager to address them, whether through the draft or trades.
Recently, both Jeff Gorton and Kent Hughes expressed a desire to speed up the rebuilding process for their team. They believe they have the necessary assets to do so. Personally, I wouldn’t be surprised if the Canadiens decided to trade their first-round pick, possibly even the one acquired from the Winnipeg Jets in the Sean Monahan trade. This move could be made to acquire a young, NHL-ready top-six offensive-minded forward, in my opinion.
Those solely focused on the NHL Draft and the names the Canadiens should select on June 28th in Las Vegas might be overlooking the bigger picture, as they have in the past two drafts. So why not learn from those experiences and avoid unnecessary frustration and aggravation on social media? Unless, of course, that’s the goal…