Canadiens’ Florian Xhekaj set for debut vs. Leafs

MONTREAL – Florian Xhekaj’s phone kept ringing as he attempted to get some sleep.

The feisty Laval Rocket forward was trying to rest up ahead of Friday’s American Hockey League matchup against the Belleville Senators.

Instead, he learned he’ll make his NHL debut for the Montreal Canadiens, playing alongside older brother Arber Xhekaj, on Saturday night against the Toronto Maple Leafs.

“I got a few calls, but I was tired. I was trying to sleep, so I was just ignoring them,” he said. “Then I looked and it was my coach (Pascal Vincent) and he just called me and said, ‘You’re going up and you’re going to play your first game against the Leafs at the Bell Centre,’ so it was a pretty cool moment.”

Xhekaj said he immediately called his mother, Simona, who flew to Montreal on Saturday morning with their father, Jack, and their sisters.

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Arber, meanwhile, sent him a text message with the words “let’s go!”

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The six-foot-four, 204-pound Florian Xhekaj, much like his brother, adds grit to the Canadiens’ lineup.

The 21-year-old from Hamilton impressed with 24 goals and 11 assists in 69 games for the Rocket in 2024-25. This season, he has two goals, two assists and 44 penalty minutes in 16 AHL games.

Xhekaj skated on a line with Josh Anderson and Jake Evans during the team’s morning skate, while Joshua Roy practised as an extra.

Evans, who has a history of concussions, returned after exiting Thursday’s 8-4 loss to the Washington Capitals following a hard hit from Tom Wilson and missing Friday’s practice. He said his absence was precautionary.

“Any time it’s with your head, you just want to make sure it’s nothing more severe,” Evans said. “I don’t want to put anything at risk. So I feel great, doctors and the medical staff here have helped me out a lot and made sure I feel good, and I’m ready to go.”

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Wilson skated from near the blue line to hit Evans in the corner and caught the Canadiens centre high with his elbow.

“Pretty high,” Evans said of the hit. “My mouth was bleeding afterwards, so I think that’s pretty self-explanatory.”

The slumping Canadiens will try to snap a five-game losing skid. Montreal goalies Sam Montembeault and Jakub Dobes have a league-low .838 combined save percentage since Nov. 1.

Dobes, who began the season as a backup, will start on Saturday. The Maple Leafs, who’ve lost six of their last seven, counter with Joseph Woll, who’s set for his fourth straight appearance with Anthony Stolarz (upper body) still injured.

Toronto captain Auston Matthews and winger Matthew Knies, both nursing lower-body injuries, remain out. Both players took part in the Leafs’ optional morning skate.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 22, 2025.

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