Arber Xhekaj hilariously addresses being one of the oldest Habs D-men at 23 years old. (Image Source: Imagn)
Montreal Canadiens defenseman Arber Xhekaj recently commented about being one of the oldest defensemen on the team at just 23 years old.
The Canadiens boast one of the youngest rosters in the NHL, with an average age of 26.4. This young group features players like Lane Hutson and other promising prospects who could play a significant role in the upcoming season.
Ahead of a 2-1 loss to the Toronto Maple Leafs in a preseason game on Thursday, Arber Xhekaj humorously reflected on his unexpected position as one of the oldest defensemen, noting that he’s yet to reach 100 games in his career.
He expressed excitement about being part of a young core and is eager to see what the team can achieve moving forward. Xhekaj said to a reporter’s question on being one of the oldest defenseman in the team:
“I was telling (Mike) Matheson that I’m the third oldest defenseman on the team right now. I’m 23 & I don’t even have a 100 games so it’s pretty crazy. But it’s fun to have a young (Habs) core & we’ll see what we can do.”
Reporter: “Did you picture that so early in your career you’d end up in a game where you’re the oldest defenseman?”
Arber Xhekaj: “I was telling (Mike) Matheson that I’m the third oldest defenseman on the team right now. I’m 23 & I don’t even have a 100 games so it’s pretty… pic.twitter.com/RZwj9NSapg
— /r/Habs (@HabsOnReddit) September 26, 2024
Xhekaj also reflected on his evolution since joining the Montreal Canadiens. He noted that while he feels somewhat similar to his earlier days, he has gained valuable experience that has changed his perspective.
Arber Xhekaj aims to bounce back
Xhekaj emphasized he now understands the effort required to remain in the league. The 23-year-old is driven to continue improving and feels he has not yet achieved his full potential.
“Same of the mindset, keep going until I feel like ‘I’ve arrived but I don’t feel it so I want to keep grinding,” he added.
The determination is significant as Xhekaj aims to bounce back from a challenging season where a shoulder injury kept him from playing a full season.
Last term, he was limited to just 44 games with the Habs, but Xhekaj now feels confident and ready to tackle the upcoming challenges. He is eager to complete his first full season with the team and contribute to their success.
Arber Xhekaj joined the Canadiens in 2022 as an undrafted player. So far, the 23-year-old has accumulated 23 points through eight goals and 15 assists in 95 games over two seasons with the Habs.
