Arber Xhekaj Explained

Birth Date:30 January 2001
Birth Place:Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
Height Ft:6
Height In:4
Weight Lb:240
Position:Defence
Shoots:Left
League:NHL
Team:Montreal Canadiens
Prospect League:AHL
Draft:Undrafted
Career Start:2022

Arber Xhekaj (Arbër Xhekaj, pronounced,, born January 30, 2001) is a Canadian professional ice hockey defenceman for the Montreal Canadiens of the National Hockey League (NHL). Originally undrafted by teams in the NHL, he signed as an unrestricted free agent with Montreal in October 2021.

Playing career

Amateur

While playing minor hockey with the Hamilton Huskies of Alliance Hockey, Xhekaj was known for having a comparatively slight frame, and, as a result, was not selected in the Ontario Hockey League (OHL) 2017 Priority Selection draft. He was one of only two eligible players on his team who were not drafted, which he called "pretty tough." Despite contemplating ending his hockey career, he was encouraged to continue by his parents.[1]

Junior

During his time with the St. Catharines Falcons of the Greater Ontario Junior Hockey League (GOJHL), Xhekaj drew the interest of the Kitchener Rangers scouting staff. Although not drafted in his second year of eligibility, Xhekaj earned an invitation to the Rangers' training camp in 2018.[2] He made the roster and played two seasons in the OHL before the COVID-19 pandemic cancelled the 2020–21 season.

Following non-selection in both the 2020 and 2021 NHL drafts, Xhekaj received a training camp invitation from the Montreal Canadiens before the 2021–22 NHL season. Xhekaj's performance impressed team management, and he signed a three-year, entry-level contract with the Canadiens on October 4, 2021, as an undrafted free agent.[3]

Xhekaj remained with the Rangers at the beginning of the 2021–22 season, acquiring a reputation as a dangerous defenceman who was described by The Hockey News as having "effectively blended the old-school enforcer with the modern-day defensive blueliner."[4] He was suspended twice in the fall, once for a slew foot and once for a gesture made after a fight. Amongst his teammates, he was known as "the Sheriff."[5] Midway through the year, Xhekaj was traded to his hometown-based Hamilton Bulldogs. Joining a highly touted Bulldogs team, Xhekaj participated in their J. Ross Robertson Cup victory in the 2022 OHL playoffs and played in that year's Memorial Cup. The Bulldogs advanced to the Memorial Cup final, losing to host Saint John Sea Dogs. Xhekaj was named to the Memorial Cup All-Star Team for the tournament.[6]

Professional

Upon entering the Canadiens' summer training, Xhekaj was initially considered more likely to earn a regular place on American Hockey League (AHL) affiliate, the Laval Rocket, but continued to distinguish himself in rookie tournament and preseason play.[7] [8] In the preseason, his aggressive physical style attracted attention from opposing teams' fans, notably the Ottawa Senators.[7] In response, he stated, "when their whole Sens Nation is talking about me, it's pretty good. I like being the bad guy."[4]

With injuries to veteran Canadiens left defencemen Mike Matheson and Joel Edmundson, additional openings were created for rookies to make the lineup. On October 10, 2022, it was confirmed that Xhekaj had made the Canadiens' opening night roster for the 2022–23 regular season.[9] Upon making his NHL debut on October 12, Xhekaj became the first player in NHL history to have a surname beginning with the letter X.[10] He picked up his first NHL point, an assist, in an October 15 game versus the Washington Capitals.[11] Xhekaj drew further headlines for winning his first fight in the NHL against Arizona Coyotes forward Zack Kassian, one of the league's more noted pugilists.[12] Xhekaj scored his first NHL goal in a 5–2 loss to the Dallas Stars on October 22, also recording an assist in the same game.[13] Xhekaj earned the nickname "Wi-Fi" from his teammates due to his complex surname being similar to an internet router's default password.[14] Xhekaj's debut season came to an end when he sustained a season-ending shoulder injury on February 12, 2023. In 51 games with the Canadiens, he recorded five goals and eight assists, and led the team in penalty minutes with 101.[15]

Resuming play to start the 2023–24 season, Xhekaj once again sustained an upper-body injury on November 17, 2023, and missed seven games. Upon his reactivation from the injured reserve list at the beginning of December 2023, the Canadiens assigned him to the Rocket for part of the 2023–24 AHL season.[16] He was initially tasked with working on his defensive play while with the Rocket.[17] He was soon paired with rookie defenceman Logan Mailloux, and played a key role in the Rocket's surge up the league standings.[18] After playing 17 games in the AHL, recording three goals and eight assists in the process, Xhekaj was recalled to the Canadiens on January 22, 2024.[19] On April 9, it was announced that Xhekaj would undergo season-ending surgery due to injury sustained in a game against the Tampa Bay Lightning on April 4.[20] In 44 games with the Canadiens, he recorded three goals and seven assists, and likewise appeared in 17 AHL games with the Rocket, recording three goals and eight assists.[21]

As a restricted free agent following season's end, Xhekaj was tenured a qualifying offer by the Canadiens on June 30, 2024.[22] On July 30, he signed a two-year, $2.6 million contract extension.[23]

Personal life

Xhekaj is of Albanian and Czech descent. His father, Jack, is from Kosovo, and his mother, Simona, is from Hradec Králové, Czech Republic.[24] [25] Both left their native countries in the 1990s amongst political conflict, and first met at a hotel in Hamilton.[26] [27] [1] Xhekaj has a younger brother, Florian, who plays for the Laval Rocket,[28] and was selected 101st overall by the Montreal Canadiens in the 2023 NHL Entry Draft.

Following the cancellation of the 2020–21 OHL season due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Xhekaj worked at a Costco in the Hamilton area.[2]

Career statistics

Regular seasonPlayoffs
SeasonTeamLeagueGP PIMGP G A Pts PIM
2017–18St. Catharines FalconsGOJHL46 4 18 22 11011 0 1 1 24
2018–19Kitchener RangersOHL59 2 1 3 394 0 0 0 2
2019–20Kitchener RangersOHL51 6 11 17 88
2021–22Kitchener RangersOHL18 6 11 17 54
2021–22Hamilton BulldogsOHL33 6 11 17 8418 6 10 16 50
2022–23Montreal CanadiensNHL51 5 8 13 101
2023–24Montreal CanadiensNHL44 3 7 10 81
2023–24Laval RocketAHL17 3 8 11 34
NHL totals95 8 15 23 182

Notes and References

  1. News: You may not know how to pronounce Xhekaj now. But you will.. Radley. Scott. January 21, 2022. The Hamilton Spectator.
  2. Web site: Wheeler . Scott . June 27, 2022 . 'He's a monster out there': Meet Arber Xhekaj, the Canadiens' scariest prospect . The Athletic.
  3. Web site: Three-year contract for defenseman Arber Xhekaj . Montreal Canadiens. NHL.com . October 13, 2022 . October 4, 2021.
  4. News: Canadiens' Arber Xhekaj brings his 'bad guy' attitude to the pros. Tony. Ferrari. The Hockey News. October 7, 2022.
  5. Web site: There's a new Sheriff in town for the Canadiens. Stu. Cowan. Montreal Gazette. October 12, 2022.
  6. Web site: Saint John Sea Dogs crowned Champions of 2022 Memorial Cup. Ontario Hockey League. CHL.ca. June 29, 2022. Sweetland. Josh.
  7. Web site: Canadiens prospect Arber Xhekaj's physical play gets under skin of young Senators. Pat. Hickey. Montreal Gazette. September 19, 2022.
  8. Web site: Canadiens' Arber Xhekaj jumping ahead in race to earn a job on blue line. Eric. Engels. Sportsnet.ca. September 28, 2022.
  9. Web site: Slafkovsky, Guhle, Xhekaj make Canadiens roster to open season. Sportsnet.ca. October 11, 2022. October 10, 2022.
  10. NHL. . 1580338859023339520 . 12 October 2022 . X-MAN ❌ Arber Xhekaj is the first player whose surname begins with the letter “X” to appear in an NHL game!.
  11. Web site: Oshie, Capitals beat Canadiens for first win of the season. Sportsnet.ca. October 16, 2022. October 15, 2022.
  12. Web site: Canadiens' Arber Xhekaj delivers message after beating up Zack Kassian. Stu. Cowan. Montreal Gazette. October 21, 2022. October 22, 2022.
  13. Web site: Pavelski nets hat trick as visiting Stars sink Canadiens. Sportsnet.ca. October 22, 2022. October 22, 2022.
  14. Web site: O'Leary . Dan . Canadiens' Xhekaj has outstanding nickname, hardly alone in NHL . NHL.com . February 6, 2023 . October 23, 2022.
  15. Web site: Habs D Xhekaj (shoulder) to have season-ending surgery; F Dach (LBI) out indefinitely . TSN.ca . February 26, 2023 . February 25, 2023.
  16. Web site: Canadiens activate defenceman Arber Xhekaj off IR, loan him to AHL Laval. Sportsnet.ca. December 4, 2023. January 22, 2024.
  17. Web site: Arber Xhekaj shows improvement in first week with Laval Rocket. Michel. Lamarche. Montreal Gazette. December 10, 2023. January 22, 2024.
  18. News: Canadiens Arber Xhekaj is Making a Difference in Laval. Chris. Galanopoulos. The Hockey News. December 24, 2023. January 22, 2024.
  19. Web site: Canadiens recall defenceman Arber Xhekaj from AHL. Sportsnet.ca. January 22, 2024. January 22, 2024.
  20. Web site: Canadiens’ Arber Xhekaj to undergo season-ending shoulder surgery, Guhle returns to practice . Sportsnet.ca . April 9, 2024 . April 9, 2024.
  21. Web site: Xhekaj to have surgery, out for season . Montreal Canadiens. NHL.com . April 9, 2024 . April 9, 2024.
  22. Web site: Canadiens submit qualifying offers to two players. Montreal Canadiens . NHL.com . July 30, 2024 . June 30, 2024.
  23. Web site: Two-year contract for Arber Xhekaj . Montreal Canadiens . NHL.com . July 30, 2024 . July 30, 2024.
  24. Web site: Arbër Xhekaj, ylli i ri shqiptar i hokeit në Kanada . Shani . Pnishi . Albanian Montreal Press . Albanian . January 14, 2022 . October 22, 2022.
  25. Web site: Hamilton native Xhekaj makes Montreal Canadiens' opening night NHL roster. Sager. Nathan. October 11, 2022. INsauga.com. April 9, 2024.
  26. Web site: Canadiens' Arber Xhekaj makes his father proud . . February 18, 2024. Cowan. Stu. April 9, 2024.
  27. Web site: The evolution of Arber Xhekaj. December 27, 2021. Brown. Josh. Waterloo Region Record. April 9, 2024.
  28. Web site: Three-year, entry-level contract for Florian Xhekaj. Montreal Canadiens . April 9, 2024 . NHL.com . April 9, 2024.