The Canadiens cancelled a scheduled scrimmage Sunday morning at training camp in Brossard, with the players practising instead at the CN Sports Complex.
The Canadiens also adjusted the three teams at training camp, showing what the team could look like for the first two preseason games at the Bell Centre, Monday against the Philadelphia Flyers (7 p.m., RDS) and Tuesday against the New Jersey Devils (7 p.m., RDS).
It’s interesting to note that the two Xhekaj brothers, Arber and Florian, are now together on Team 1.
“I think it’s possible for sure,” Florian, 20, told reporters in Brossard Sunday morning when asked about the possibility of playing an exhibition game with his older brother as a teammate. “We’re on the same team right now and the roster for tomorrow’s game is coming out. So we’ll see.”
Arber, 23, said it would be awesome to play a preseason game at the Bell Centre on the same team as his brother.
“I was just saying it’s going to be cool to have the A. Xhekaj on the jersey and then he has the F,” Arber told reporters in Brossard. “So I’m excited for it.
“I was looking forward to it this year and now we’re on the same camp team,” Arber added. “I don’t know what’s going to happen. They always change up the teams, but if we get a game together it’s going to be awesome.”
Arber is heading into his third season with the Canadiens after never being selected at the NHL Draft. The 6-foot-4, 240-pound defenceman had 3-7-10 totals and 81 penalty minutes in 44 games with the Canadiens last season. Arber also played 17 games with the AHL’s Laval Rocket, posting 3-8-11 totals and 34 penalty minutes. The Canadiens signed Arber to a two-year, US$2.6-million contract at the end of July.
The Canadiens selected Florian in the fourth round (101st overall) of the 2023 NHL Draft. In 63 games last season with the Brantford Bulldogs of the OHL, the 6-foot-3, 195-pound forward had 34-31-65 totals and 81 penalty minutes. The Canadiens signed Florian to a three-year, US$2.6-million NHL entry-level contract after his OHL season finished. He played three games with the Rocket to finish the year, failing to register a point.
When Arber was a guest on the Spittin’ Chiclets podcast this summer, he was asked about his younger brother and described him as “a beast.”
“He’ll surprise a lot of people,” Arber said. “I mean, he had to fight me growing up his whole life. It will be interesting to see what he does.”
When Florian was asked Sunday if he’s worried about players on opposing NHL teams challenging him to a fight because of his brother’s reputation, Arber interrupted and said with a chuckle: “Nobody’s going to test him, because I’m going to be there.”
Arber then added: “I remember watching him play in the OHL and everyone’s always saying, ‘Oh, you think you’re your brother’ and all that. But he handles himself really well, so I’m proud of him.”
Florian said he will be ready if an opponent decides to challenge him in a preseason game.
“Even when (Arber) was out of the OHL and I just got in it, everyone was already testing me,” Florian said. “I’m always ready. I’m not going to back down.”
The Xhekaj brothers are living together now, and having a big brother to lean on has been good for Florian.
“If I have any questions, he’s always here,” Florian said. “I always ask him if I need anything or if I have questions about anything. It’s super helpful.”
When asked if his older brother would be the one paying for preseason tickets for family and friends, Florian said: “Oh, for sure.”
Florian and Arber’s parents, Jack and Simona, live in Hamilton. Jack is a welder at National Steel Car building freight train cars, while Simona works in a Costco garage changing tires on cars. When Arber signed his first pro contract, which included a US$80,000 signing bonus, he bought his parents new appliances for the family home. This summer, the two brothers got together to buy their father a new Mercedes-Benz car as a token of appreciation for the sacrifices made so that the two boys could play high-level hockey while growing up in Hamilton.
“Our parents spent every single dollar towards me and my brother to play hockey,” Arber said. “We both played triple-A. It’s so expensive every year. Hotels, the travelling. Mom was sleeping in the car in the parking lot while I was at practice late night and dragging me out of bed to get to school. Lots and lots of memories and lots of money towards us. So it’s finally paying off and it’s special.
“I’ve obviously been older my whole life than him, so I’ve been showing him the ropes — just the way of life and everything like that,” Arber added about being a mentor to his younger brother. “It’s been fun and I’m excited to have him here, and wearing the same jersey one day, it’s going to be a blessing.”
Laine back on the ice: Patrik Laine, who took a therapy day Saturday and didn’t skate, was back on the ice for Sunday’s practice.