St-Louis outlines expectations for Florian Xhekaj and confirms his linemates for his NHL debut
Photo credit: NHL/Canadiens
It is now confirmed that Florian Xhekaj is set to play his first NHL game with the Montreal Canadiens tonight against the Toronto Maple Leafs.
It will certainly be a special evening for the Xhekaj family, as Florian and Arber will both be in the Habs' lineup.
In a press conference over the last few minutes, the head coach of the Montreal Canadiens, Martin St-Louis, was asked about the younger of the Xhekaj brothers.
Martin St-Louis sends his message to Florian Xhekaj
See an excerpt of what he had to say on the subject.
"I want him to play his game, within our game!
I know he's a player who often walks the line, and these are not the types of players you want to stop from walking that line.
But he has to control it, for example.
So, I want him close to the line, he needs to bring his physicality, his energy and all that, while trying not to cost the team.
I don't want to take that away from him, and you know, he will get that experience on a Saturday night against Toronto."
- Martin St-Louis
I know he's a player who often walks the line, and these are not the types of players you want to stop from walking that line.
But he has to control it, for example.
So, I want him close to the line, he needs to bring his physicality, his energy and all that, while trying not to cost the team.
I don't want to take that away from him, and you know, he will get that experience on a Saturday night against Toronto."
- Martin St-Louis
To listen, right here:
The warning is very simple and very clear.
Florian can walk the line, he will have to be physical, but he must also not hurt the team, notably by taking a bad penalty at the wrong moment.
The young player now knows exactly what is expected of him. It promises to be quite the game tonight, we really can't wait to see it.
Arber's brother Florian will play on the Habs' third line, alongside Josh Anderson and Jake Evans who fortunately escaped the worst after the high hit by Tom Wilson.
Canadiens projected lineup:
Caufield-Suzuki-Bolduc
Slaf-Kapanen-Demidov
Florian Xhekaj-Evans-Anderson
Davidson-Veleno-Gallagher
Matheson-Dobson
Struble-Hutson
ArberXhekaj-Carrier
Dobes
Caufield-Suzuki-Bolduc
Slaf-Kapanen-Demidov
Florian Xhekaj-Evans-Anderson
Davidson-Veleno-Gallagher
Matheson-Dobson
Struble-Hutson
ArberXhekaj-Carrier
Dobes
Do you believe that Florian Xhekaj will stay more than two weeks with the Montreal Canadiens?
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