The Montreal Canadiens have turned to their AHL affiliate for reinforcements, recalling centre Florian Xhekaj from the Laval Rocket. In a corresponding move, forward Joshua Roy has been sent down to Laval.
The decision comes as somewhat of a surprise, given Xhekaj’s slow start to the season. Through 16 games, he has tallied just two goals and two assists, including only one goal and one assist over his last 10 outings.
Nevertheless, the Canadiens’ centre depth is thin, particularly if Jake Evans faces an extended absence. Evans was forced to leave Thursday’s game after a heavy hit from Washington Capitals forward Tom Wilson. No penalty was called on the play, and the Capitals scored shortly afterward.
With Evans sidelined, Montreal’s centre options are limited. Coach Martin St-Louis can rely on Nick Suzuki, who is already carrying a heavy load, rookie Oliver Kapanen, and Joe Veleno, who offers limited offensive upside.
Looking at the farm system, Laurent Dauphin leads the Rocket in scoring with nine goals and eight assists, but he is on an AHL-only contract, making a call-up unlikely. Jared Davidson, previously serving as a winger, is already in the NHL, leaving Owen Beck as the only other NHL-contracted centre in Laval.
While Beck may be closer to NHL readiness than Xhekaj statistically, the Canadiens also need to maintain some stability in Laval. The Rocket sit atop the Atlantic Division despite already losing top players like Davidson and Roy to the NHL. Balancing the NHL team’s needs with keeping the farm team competitive is always a delicate task.
Xhekaj brings reliable effort every shift and adds a needed physical presence to the lineup. Looking ahead, Montreal could explore a move for St. Louis Blues forward Alex Texier, should a mutual contract termination occur. For now, however, the Canadiens have little choice but to rely on the AHL for reinforcements.