From Costco employee to Montreal Canadien? Arber Xhekaj lays it on the line for roster spot
This might come as a shock to you, but you don’t get rich playing junior hockey.
You CAN become rich because of it. But if your parents didn’t buy it for you, you’re likely not showing up to the rink in a brand-new Corvette C8 Stingray. Try a 2008 Honda Civic with a scuffed-up AC.
So, when you hear how Montreal Canadiens prospect Arber Xhekaj was working at Costco just before inking an NHL entry-level contract, that’s close to the norm.
But it’s remarkable when you take the circumstances into account.
Xhekaj wasn’t an overly impressive prospect growing up. He was passed over at the 2017 OHL Draft and went to Jr. B with the St. Catharines Falcons the following year. Xhekaj became a physical force people hated to play against, but nothing screamed “NHL prospect.” He was passed over in his first two years of NHL Draft eligibility and didn’t even play in 2020-21.
By all accounts, Xhekaj’s NHL dreams were over before they had a chance to take flight.
But a tremendous development camp on a tryout deal with the Habs changed everything. He showed up looking more mature, played a more innovative game, and showcased some offensive flair. Four days before the OHL regular season began, the Canadiens made it official, signing him to his first contract.
That’s quite the whirlwind.
Xhekaj hasn’t been afraid of anyone during training camp. He dropped the gloves with Mark Kastelic a few nights back and then Austin Watson on Thursday. He has made it his mission to terrorize Ottawa every time the teams have met, which is essentially a nightly occurrence. Even Sens coach DJ Smith indirectly called out Xhekaj for some physical play, saying, “We don’t like that the other team is targeting our guys. We’ll be ready the next game.”
Good news: they meet again Saturday night. And Xhekaj is still with the big club.
Arber Xhekaj comes to the defense of Kirby Dach, feeds Austin Watson a few haymakers for his troubles. pic.twitter.com/ttA5FYhF2D
— Scott Matla (@scottmatla) October 7, 2022So, think about it for a second. He went from being undrafted to getting in the head of an opposing team’s NHL coach before ever playing a meaningful hockey game. That’s one heck of an opening statement.
“It’s like his NHL comparable is Carnage from Spider-Man. He’s a menace out there,” a junior scout said. “Absolutely terrorizes his opponents. When he’s on the ice, whether he touches the puck or not, everyone notices. And you love having a guy like that out there.”
The Canadiens are in for an ugly season. Ideally, the Habs would be significantly stronger and not needing the young guns to step up right now.
But with the way Xhekaj is playing, though, it’s hard to deny him a spot.
Xhekaj has a whopping zero professional games to his credit. His run to the Memorial Cup with Hamilton meant missing out on a late-season opportunity to represent the AHL’s Laval Rocket as they headed on their own playoff run. Xhekaj, though, was a leader on a Hamilton Bulldogs team with no shortage of them, and his teammates loved having someone that battle-tested around. He’s the definition of someone willing to give his all for his teammates, and that’s how he got to this point in his career.
Xhekaj is quickly becoming a fan favorite, and it’s easy to see why. The 6-foot-4, 238-pound defender is a pain-in-the-you-know-what to play against. If, at his worst, he’s messing with other team’s stars, so be it.
With big Joel Edmundson out indefinitely with a back injury, Xhekaj could be that mean-streak defender on the third pairing. He plays a heavy game, and nobody is doing it like Xhekaj. Kaiden Guhle isn’t afraid to lay guys down, but Xhekaj can do a bit more in the physical department, and the Habs don’t need Guhle throwing haymakers. And, again, Xhekaj is more than just a big man: he’s a great skater for his size, can jump in on the rush and doesn’t lose many board battles, either.
If Xhekaj is going to stick in the NHL, he needs to prove nightly that he’s more than a bruiser. His rise has been so quick – what truly is his ceiling?
It definitely feels like the pre-season when there’s so much emphasis on a guy fighting to become the sixth defenseman on a lottery team. But if you boil it down, it’s just great to see a young player go from relative obscurity to a solid NHL prospect in such a short time – and Xhekaj might be rewarded for it soon, too.
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