The Montreal Canadiens’ front office rarely lets anything slip, but a recent interview with Jeff Gorton, vice president of hockey operations, has sparked a wave of speculation that fans simply can’t ignore.

Speaking candidly to TVA Sports’ Renaud Lavoie, Gorton dropped several hints about a rising star who may be closer than ever to cracking the Canadiens’ opening night roster.

While he stopped short of naming favorites, his comments about Florian Xhekaj, the younger brother of Arber Xhekaj, have set the hockey world abuzz.

After a standout rookie camp, Xhekaj’s name is suddenly everywhere—his progress, physical transformation, and relentless drive have clearly impressed the team’s decision-makers.

But what does this mean for Montreal’s plans this season? Is there a surprise in store for fans who thought the lineup was already set? And could the Canadiens be preparing for a dramatic shakeup that nobody saw coming?

With the regular season just weeks away, every word from Gorton adds fuel to the fire of speculation.

What’s really happening behind the scenes, and how close is Florian Xhekaj to making his NHL dream a reality? Read on to uncover the full story and find out what might happen next.

Photo of Florian Xhekaj

Photo credit: NHL

In an interview with TVA Sports journalist Renaud Lavoie, the Montreal Canadiens’ vice president of hockey operations, Jeff Gorton, spoke about Florian Xhekaj.

He confirmed what we’ve all seen!

Florian Xhekaj had an excellent rookie camp and really caught the attention of the team’s management.. They love him!

Gorton confirmed that Florian Xhekaj could realistically start the season with the Montreal Canadiens – the door is open if he has another strong camp.

Jeff Gorton Reveals Florian Xhekaj Caught His Eye

A really interesting interview.

Florian Xhekaj caught Gorton’s eye!

I really can’t wait to see what happens, but honestly, I wouldn’t be surprised to see Arber Xhekaj’s younger brother make the Canadiens lineup, especially after these comments from Jeff Gorton.

“Montreal Canadiens vice president of hockey operations Jeff Gorton didn’t want to name just one player when Renaud Lavoie asked him who his favorite was from the rookie tournament.”

– TVA Sports

“It’s definitely encouraging to see Flo come in and take another step. He’s added muscle. He’s done everything to make a leap forward. We’re excited about his progress,” said Gorton.

We highly recommend listening to the full interview.

And if Florian Xhekaj doesn’t crack the Canadiens lineup to start the season, don’t be surprised if he’s called up in case of an injury or later in the season.

That really seems to be the plan from Montreal’s management.