Hockey

Pascal Vincent: “We are in the process of recalibrating Florian Xhekaj”
Félix Forget
Pascal Vincent: “We are in the process of recalibrating Florian Xhekaj”
Credit: Screenshot/Twitter

Last year was Florian Xhekaj's first year in the pros. Arber's little brother spent the year in the AHL… where he found a way to score 24 goals in 69 games.

And only four of those goals came on the powerplay. It was truly impressive.

And after breaking all records at camp in September, Xhekaj seemed destined to be one of the first to be recalled… except that it's not so easy for him this year, with just one goal and three points in 10 games in Laval.

Speaking to Tony Marinaro's Sick Podcast, Xhekaj's coach Pascal Vincent was reassuring about his protégé:

We're in the process of recalibrating Florian Xhekaj. – Pascal Vincent

Basically, what Vincent is explaining is that Xhekaj came to Rocket camp assuming that it would be easier for him this year. This is often a reality for a second-year player (especially after showing great things at the big club's camp)… and it made the forward want to focus on scoring goals.

But Vincent doesn't see it that way. In his eyes, Xhekaj won't be called back to the NHL for his scoring skills. And he's right: it's more likely to be for his physical game and intensity, even if being able to score won't be a bad thing up his sleeve.

At the moment, Vincent is trying to get Xhekaj to refocus on the basics, with a view to making him an NHL player one day. The fact that he's always at the center of the Rocket's fourth line (rather than on an offensive trio) is no mere coincidence.

And that leads me to believe that he won't be recalled any time soon: recalibration like this doesn't happen overnight, you know.


Overtime

– Speaking of the Rocket.

– That's right.

– Yes, I agree.

– Ryan O'Reilly: if he's traded, it will be to a contender.

– A name to keep an eye on.

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