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Canadiens rivals tried to draft Florian Xhekaj in 2023 before Montreal snatched him away
Photo credit: David Kirouac-Imagn Images
Florian Xhekaj wasted no time making an impact in his first game with the Montreal Canadiens.
In his first career NHL game, Arber's younger brother recorded an assist and even dropped the gloves with Dakota Mermis, which fired up the Bell Centre crowd.
But did you know we came very close to never seeing the Xhekaj brothers reunited in Montreal?
During an appearance on Le Retour with Martin Lemay, Pierre Dorion revealed that the Ottawa Senators had him in their sights during the 2023 draft.
The Ottawa Senators absolutely wanted to draft Florian Xhekaj
When he was still the general manager of the team in Canada's capital, Dorion said he was ready to do whatever it took to draft Florian Xhekaj, even though the player had certain weaknesses in his game.
"I said: I don't care, we're drafting him!
I was reading the reports on Florian Xhekaj and they weren't good.
I kept saying I didn't care.
I went to see him with Hamilton one night in Oshawa.
I remember coming back and telling my head scout: We're drafting that kid!
His skating is good, his stride is good, he's going to improve. He just needs to strengthen his legs. He knows how to play hockey."
- Pierre Dorion
I was reading the reports on Florian Xhekaj and they weren't good.
I kept saying I didn't care.
I went to see him with Hamilton one night in Oshawa.
I remember coming back and telling my head scout: We're drafting that kid!
His skating is good, his stride is good, he's going to improve. He just needs to strengthen his legs. He knows how to play hockey."
- Pierre Dorion
Unfortunately for the Senators that year, they didn't have a pick in the first three rounds, and the Canadiens selected him in the fourth round with the 101st overall pick.
Seven spots later, the Senators used their selection on defenseman Hoyt Stanley.
Imagine how the already-intense rivalry between the Canadiens and Senators would reach another level if Florian Xhekaj were in Ottawa while Arber Xhekaj is in Montreal.
Well, I guess we'll never know.
Previously on Montreal Hockey Fanatics
| POLL | ||
NOVEMBRE 28 | 641 ANSWERS Canadiens rivals tried to draft Florian Xhekaj in 2023 before Montreal snatched him away How many Xhekajs do you think there will be on the Montreal Canadiens in two years? | ||
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