Florian Xhekaj’s first taste of life in the NHL has made him hungry for more.
“It was a good first call-up. And it was good to get some games under my belt,” Xhekaj said Tuesday after the Laval Rocket’s practice at Place Bell. “I think I showed everything that first game. I thought I was pretty good offensively, did pretty well in my fight.”
The 6-foot-4, 204-pound forward has returned to the AHL after a recent five-game stint with the Canadiens. Xhekaj, 21, drew an assist in his first NHL game, Nov. 22 against Toronto, and also fought the Maple Leafs’ Dakota Mermis in the third period of Montreal’s 5-2 victory.
He played on a line with Jake Evans and Josh Anderson that night and drew the only assist on Anderson’s first of two goals. Xhekaj had two shots and three hits while playing a modest 9:48.
That proved to be his only NHL point. The following week, when the Canadiens returned home from a three-game road trip, Xhekaj was limited to nine shifts and 7:43 of ice time against Ottawa while playing on a line with Joe Veleno and Brendan Gallagher. He was a healthy scratch the next night against Winnipeg and was loaned back to the Rocket after the game.
But there was also a day off spent in Las Vegas, chartered flights and fancy hotels, including having no roommate, which is a rarity for a rookie. And Xhekaj also discovered that no player goes hungry in the NHL.
“The food is really good,” he said. “Vegas was cool. We walked down the strip a little bit. Everything was nice. It’s like a whole (different) world there. There’s tons of stuff going on. There’s people dancing, music, casinos everywhere, roller-coasters. It looks like Disneyland.”
The stark reality of life in the AHL will be Xhekaj’s to rediscover next week, when the Rocket takes a bus to Cleveland — a 939-km trip that will take approximately 10 hours — for a pair of pre-Christmas games.
Xhekaj made a smooth transition in his return to Laval while showing no signs of discontent. He scored two goals and added an assist in last Friday’s 5-2 win at Belleville. He also delivered a crushing open-ice hit on the Senators’ Carter Yakemchuk during the first period.
Xhekaj failed to register a point the following night in the teams’ rematch, but still had eight shots over the two games. In 18 games this season, he has four goals, seven points and 46 penalty minutes.
Canadiens winger Florian Xhekaj fights Maple Leafs’ Dakota Mermis during the third period in Montreal on Nov. 22.
Laval head coach Pascal Vincent is providing Xhekaj with every opportunity to succeed, playing him on the Rocket’s second line, between Samuel Blais and Joshua Roy. The trio can’t help but produce offensively, although Xhekaj, a fourth-round (101st overall) 2023 draft choice, can’t lose his physical and often intimidating side.
“We talked about it. I told him at some point he was going to get called up,” Vincent revealed. “Then at some point you’re going to be sent (back) down. It’s going to be a test to your character. What’s your mindset when you come back? He responded really well.
“I think he can be a 200-foot player. Obviously, kill penalties. Be a physical presence, good on the forecheck. He can also finish. He’s got so many tools. What I want to see in his game is pace on the forecheck, pace with the puck and without the puck.”
Xhekaj will be counted on heavily after an impressive AHL rookie season. His 24 goals in 69 games were the most in a season by a Laval rookie. Four of his goals came on the power play, while four more came with the Rocket shorthanded. And six were game-winners. He also had a league-high 175 penalty minutes, proving to be a catalyst for his team and Place Bell spectators.
“They (Canadiens management) had a lot of positives to say,” Xhekaj said. “Obviously, they want me to keep developing, get some minutes and have a bigger role. Experience and consistency. I’m playing with two very skilled players. I’m going to get offensive chances. I think I’m good enough offensively to capitalize on that and make plays with those guys.
“But, obviously, I’m not going to lose that physical edge. Being heavy on the forecheck. Fighting when I have to. That’s what got me here and got me to play five games in the NHL. I have to stick to that; it’s my bread and butter. I think I’ve grown as a player and as a person. I bring a lot of energy. There’s a lot of attributes that I’m good at.”
Laval entertains Toronto Wednesday and Friday before hosting Bridgeport Saturday afternoon. Vincent said Jacob Fowler will be his starting goalie in the first game.
hzurkowsky@postmedia.com
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