The Montreal Canadiens’ training camp is already brimming with intensity, and one player is making headlines for all the right reasons.

On just the second day at the Brossard facility, Arber Xhekaj has once again proven why he’s quickly becoming a fan favorite—his trademark physicality lighting up the ice and sparking a reaction from the coaching staff that nobody saw coming.

As the tough-as-nails defenseman continues to set the tone with his uncompromising style, whispers about his role this season are growing louder, leaving fans and analysts alike eager to see how his impact will shape the team’s future.

But Xhekaj isn’t the only young star drawing attention. Another standout moment during practice came courtesy of Joshua Roy, whose offensive skills are turning heads and adding even more intrigue to the Canadiens’ camp narrative.

With each passing day, the competition intensifies, and the stakes get higher, as the coaching staff evaluates which rising talents could make the final roster.

What exactly did Arber Xhekaj do to elicit such a strong reaction? And how are the Canadiens’ coaches planning to harness this energy moving forward? Dive deeper into the full story to discover all the behind-the-scenes details and the latest developments from camp.

Photo of Arber Xhekaj

Photo credit: Screenshot

True to his reputation, Arber Xhekaj once again showed his toughness during the Montreal Canadiens’ practice – a physical sequence that drew a reaction from his coach.

On the second day of training camp at the Brossard facility, fan-favorite Arber Xhekaj stole the show.

The Habs’ tough guy keeps displaying his toughness during practice sessions, and this time, his hard work was noticed by one of the Canadiens’ coaches.

Arber Xhekaj’s Physical Sequence at Canadiens Practice Gets a Reaction from His Coach

Here’s the sequence in question, shared by Anthony Martineau of TVA Sports:

It’s so great to see Arber getting involved like this.. and to see the coaches’ reaction. I have to admit, I’d love to see him play more than 80% of the games this year.

His physical play is clearly a factor the Habs need to consider.

In other news, Joshua Roy also stood out during practice. The Quebec forward impressed with a powerful one-timer that found the back of the net.

This sequence reminded everyone of his offensive touch and his potential to contribute quickly in a scoring role.

So far, his camp has been solid, and he continues to stand out day after day.

Here’s the clip:

Another storyline to watch for a player who has a strong chance of making the team this year..

I really like what I’m seeing from camp so far – the intensity and progress from the young players are truly encouraging.