Things are going extremely well for the Montreal Canadiens right now, and before we know it, Kent Hughes and Jeff Gorton will have to start thinking about a potential playoff lineup.



Can the Habs afford to enter the playoffs (hypothetically, of course) with Michael Pezzetta as the 13th forward?

And what if Florian Xhekaj replaced Pezzetta as the 13th forward for the playoffs?

These are questions that are making the rounds, and it’s a topic that the excellent Marco Normandin recently discussed.

Could the Canadiens Soon Have Both Xhekaj Brothers in the Lineup?

“Arber Xhekaj’s brother also brings a strong physical element to his game, but this season, he has also developed his offensive skills.

So much so that he is forcing management to consider him for a potential call-up.” HABSolumentFan

Anthony Marcotte made an interesting statement on this topic.

A Statement from Anthony Marcotte That Brings Hope for Florian Xhekaj

As the analyst points out, what Arber’s younger brother is accomplishing right now in his rookie AHL season is truly remarkable.

When we say Florian Xhekaj is having a special season, here’s another stat to back it up.

He’s on pace for a season with over 20 goals and more than 175 penalty minutes, something we haven’t seen in the AHL in ages.

The last player to do it was Andre Deveaux in 2010-11 with the Chicago Wolves, during a time when dropping the gloves was far more common across the league than it is today.

Right now, Xhekaj leads the league in penalty minutes with 141 and ranks 8th among rookies in goals with 17.

Anthony Marcotte

 

If the Canadiens do qualify for the playoffs, do you think he could be brought in as reinforcements, possibly replacing someone like Pezzetta?

It’s an idea that’s gaining more traction today.

Florian Xhekaj, 20 years old, 6-foot-4, and 195 pounds, has recorded 17 goals and 10 assists (27 points) in 55 games with the Laval Rocket, along with 141 penalty minutes.

Imagine having both him and Arber in the Canadiens’ lineup!

I have a feeling this could really happen-sooner rather than later.