Florian Xhekaj

Initially being passed over in the annual Ontario Hockey League (OHL) Priority Selection draft, Xhekaj began his junior hockey career with the Pelham Panthers of the Greater Ontario Junior Hockey League (GOJHL).^[2] Collectively, Xhekaj appeared in 48 games with the Panthers, registering 17 goals and 23 assists and earned league All-Rookie team honours.^[3] Thereafter, he agreed to terms with the OHL's Hamilton Bulldogs as a free agent in July 2022.^[4]

Over the course of his rookie OHL campaign, Xhekaj provided both physical and scoring prowess, collecting 25 points and 76 penalty minutes in 68 games for the Bulldogs.^[5] Although eligible for NHL entry draft consideration in 2022, he would go overlooked until prior to his overage season in 2023,^[6] where he was selected in the fourth round (101st overall) by the Montreal Canadiens.^[7] In the ensuing 2023–24 season, Xhekaj experienced a breakout campaign, producing at over a point per game average and ultimately earned an entry-level contract with the Canadiens for his efforts.^[8]

After joining the team's American Hockey League (AHL) affiliate Laval Rocket under an amateur tryout (ATO) for the remainder of the 2023–24 season,^[9] Xhekaj returned to the AHL ranks the following season, where he finished first amongst Rocket rookies in scoring, including a franchise record for goals with 17.^[10]

With the Canadiens experiencing multiple personnel injuries in the early stages of the 2025–26 season,^[11] Xhekaj was recalled by Montreal on November 21, 2025.^[12] The following day, he made his NHL debut in a matchup against the Toronto Maple Leafs, recording his first career NHL point in a 5–2 win.^[13]

Xhekaj's father, Jack, is an Albanian from Drenas, Kosovo, and his mother, Simona, is from Hradec Králové, Czech Republic.^[14][15][16] Both left their native countries in the 1990s amongst political conflict, and first met at a hotel in Hamilton.^[17][18]

He is the younger brother of fellow Canadiens player Arber Xhekaj.^[19]