WOW: the Canadiens were just one game away from having lost Arber Xhekaj

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Elias Edmonson
October 12, 2023 (5:00 PM)

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An absolutely incredible story involving the young Montreal Canadiens defenseman Arber Xhekaj has just surfaced.

The Habs indeed came just one small game away from losing the Sheriff.

«Arber Xhekaj explains how he finally got a contract in the NHL with the Tricolore in 2021 thanks in part to Luke Richardson's confidence in him.» - HabsOnReddit

Here's the astonishing account of what happened.

«When he arrived at the Canadiens' main camp, after the rookie camp in 2021, Xhekaj admitted he was far too impressed by some of the top players from the Toronto Maple Leafs (and he really played a bad game). So, the next day, he went to assistant coach Luke Richardson, after his tough game, and asked to play one more game.

"I asked the coaches because I knew they were going to send me home and I might be released afterward, because I really played a bad game," Xhekaj said.

He added this.

"I asked them to play one last game before they let me go. I told them I needed one more game to prove to them what I was really capable of. I had nothing to lose by asking them. If they said no, too bad, I would've tried elsewhere. But if they said yes, then I would have one last chance to convince them to sign me.

And they finally gave me one more game, it was my best game, and the rest is history. I ended up signing a contract with the Canadiens."

Arber Xhekaj

Wow! That's truly amazing! So that's how Xhekaj eventually landed a contract with the Montreal Canadiens.

Big thanks to Luke Richardson and the other leaders, what a steal.