Acquisition by the CH: «The most dangerous player on ice at any given time»
The Canadiens made some very good picks in the 2023 draft, even though there was skepticism about David Reinbacher and Florian Xhekaj.
If the Austrian shows promise, it will be necessary to see what Matvei Michkov becomes before making a final judgment. It will always be difficult to compare the two players, who are very different and play different positions, but their impact on their respective teams will be measured.
Florian Xhekaj was selected in the 4th round, and to be honest, I didn't understand it at all. Arber's younger brother came off a very ordinary season with 25 points in 68 games in the OHL, which is not very impressive.
The following year, he grew significantly and added mass, becoming the protector of his team and accumulating 65 points in 63 games. Nick Bobrov likes to call him his "unicorn," and it appears he was not mistaken.
In 2024, another 4th-round pick could also surprise, as he is a very robust defenseman, the most dangerous on the ice, according to Elite Prospects.
He was a teammate of Florian Xhekaj in Brantford.
Elite Prospects called him 'the most violent player on the ice at any given time.'"
Elite Prospects
This is quite a statement, and it's very encouraging. It shows well what the Canadiens are trying to achieve for the future. A nice mix of skill and size, providing both fast and robust play. Everything needed to succeed in today's NHL.
With the Xhekaj brothers, Protz, and several others with imposing size, impact players like Ivan Demidov, Nick Suzuki, and Cole Caufield will be well surrounded on the ice for many years to come.
| POLL | ||
Do you think the Canadiens are building a strong enough team to be contenders in a few years? | ||
| Yes | 285 | 96.6 % |
| No | 10 | 3.4 % |
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