Leafs prospect Chas Sharpe and Florian Xhekaj, Arber Xhekaj's brother, drop the gloves just two minutes into the game. The incident occurred following a brief scrum near the net of Leafs' goalie Dennis Hildeby.
As tensions flared, Florian Xhekaj and Chas Sharpe decided to settle their differences the old-fashioned way-by throwing punches. Xhekaj, standing at 6'4", faced off against the 6'3" Sharpe, and a few well-placed hits by Xhekaj sent Sharpe to the ice.
Rookie games like this offer players a chance to showcase their talents and physicality, and Xhekaj seized the moment. Similar to his older brother Arber, Florian showed that he has both the skills and the toughness to compete at higher levels. You can check out the fight here:
Both players are expected to spend next season in the AHL, with Xhekaj likely playing for the Laval Rocket and Sharpe under contract with the Toronto Marlies.
However, there's potential for Xhekaj to earn an NHL call-up if his performance in the AHL impresses. With Arber Xhekaj already established on the Canadiens' blue line, the thought of the two brothers playing together one day is an intimidating prospect for opponents.
For Sharpe, the next two seasons under his AHL contract with the Marlies will be crucial to prove that he's NHL material. He will need to show Toronto's management that he can contribute and secure a spot on the roster before his contract expires.
Source: Hockey Patrol
Leafs prospect Chas Sharpe drops the mitts with Arber Xhekaj's brother, Florian, on his first shift
POLL | ||
SEPTEMBRE 14 | 101 ANSWERS Arber Xhekaj's brother Florian gets into a fight with Leafs prospect Chas Sharpe Do you think Chas Sharpe and Florian Xhekaj will fight again in the NHL at some point? | ||
Yes | 76 | 75.2 % |
No | 25 | 24.8 % |
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