A stat shows that Arber Xhekaj is currently the most popular player in the world

In a short period of time, young defenseman Arber Xhekaj has become a fan favorite. Whether it's his history of never being drafted in the NHL and recently working at Costco, or his rugged style of play, few people don't have him in their hearts.

Such is his popularity that the rookie defenseman has managed to become the most sought-after prospect on the excellent Elite Prospects site. Xhekaj surpasses none other than the man who is tipped to be the next top draft pick, Connor Bedard.

What's impressive is that over 14,000 clicks separated Xhekaj from Bedard last week. These clicks were largely generated by the young man's recent accomplishments such as his battle with Zach Kassian and his first ever NHL goal.

Special mention to the other CH player in this list, Juraj Slafkovsky, who is ranked 3rd behind Bedard. It's nice, after all these years of misery, to finally see that the club's prospects have some popularity!

Thanks to HF for this find!

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