Surprise revelation: we finally know who insisted that the Canadiens sign Arber Xhekaj and we can thank Ben Chiarot

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Jeff Drouin
October 10, 2022 (6:29 PM)

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A true revelation of the last training camp for the Habs, defenseman Arber Xhekaj has turned many heads with his rather rugged style, but also with the quality of his play.

And now, the 21 year old has succeeded and will start the season with the big club without having played a single game in the AHL. Not bad for an undrafted player.

You could even say that he kind of forced the team's management to keep him in Montreal to start the season, but did you know that without the contribution of a former team defenseman, Xhekaj might have never played with the Habs?

As Charles-Alexis Brisebois of Danslescoulisses.com reports, it was none other than Ben Chiarot who convinced former Habs general manager Marc Bergevin to sign Xhekaj at the end of training camp last year.

At least that's what Sportsnet reporter Eric Engels revealed in an article published about a week ago.

He mentions that after receiving an invitation to the Habs' 2021 training camp, Xhekaj strongly impressed the team's management, but the decision to offer him a contract was facilitated by Chiarot during a meeting he had with Bergevin in his office.

Also, note that Chiarot and Xhekaj went to the same school in the Hamilton area and since both backs have a similar hard-nosed game, the former CH number 8 took a liking to the young man and spoke his mind about him to his boss.

Now we know what happened, Xhekaj signed a deal with the Habs and is now ready to play against the best hockey players in the world. And on top of that, he will get his baptism of fire against the Toronto Maple Leafs. A wicked good story.

To read Eric Engels' article, click below.