Amateur While playing
minor ice hockey with the Hamilton Huskies of
Alliance Hockey, Xhekaj was known for having a comparatively slight frame, and, as a result, was not selected in the
Ontario Hockey League (OHL)
2017 Priority Selection draft. He was one of two eligible players on his team who were not drafted, which he called "pretty tough." Despite contemplating ending his hockey career, he was encouraged to continue by his parents.
Junior During his time with the
St. Catharines Falcons of the
Greater Ontario Junior Hockey League (GOJHL), Xhekaj drew the interest of the
Kitchener Rangers scouting staff. Although not drafted in his second year of
major junior eligibility, Xhekaj earned an invitation to the Rangers'
training camp in 2018. He made the roster and played two seasons in the OHL before the
COVID-19 pandemic cancelled the
2020–21 season. Following non-selection in both the
2020 and
2021 NHL drafts, Xhekaj received a training camp invitation from the
Montreal Canadiens before the
2021–22 NHL season. Xhekaj's performance impressed team management, Xhekaj remained with the Rangers at the beginning of the
2021–22 season, acquiring a reputation as a dangerous defenceman who was described by
The Hockey News as having "effectively blended the old-school
enforcer with the modern-day defensive blueliner." He was suspended twice in the fall, once for a
slew foot and once for a gesture made after a fight. Midway through the year, Xhekaj was traded to his hometown-based
Hamilton Bulldogs.
Professional Initially considered more likely to earn a regular place on
American Hockey League (AHL) affiliate, the
Laval Rocket at the onset of his professional career, Xhekaj continued to distinguish himself across rookie tournament and preseason play. In the ensuing preseason, his aggressive physical style attracted attention from opposing teams' fans, notably the
Ottawa Senators. Upon making his NHL debut on October 12, Xhekaj became the first player in NHL history to have a surname beginning with the letter X. Xhekaj earned the nickname "Wi-Fi" from his teammates due its underlying spelling being perceived as similar to a default password programmed onto an
internet router. He picked up his first NHL point, an assist, on October 15 versus the
Washington Capitals, and drew further headlines shortly thereafter for winning his first
fight in the NHL against
Arizona Coyotes forward
Zack Kassian, one of the league's more noted
enforcers. Xhekaj scored his first NHL goal in a 5–2 loss to the
Dallas Stars on October 22, also recording an assist in the same game. Xhekaj's debut season ended when he sustained a season-ending shoulder injury on February 12, 2023. In 51 games with the Canadiens, he recorded five goals and eight assists, and led the team in penalty minutes with 101. Resuming play to start the
2023–24 season, Xhekaj once again sustained an upper-body injury on November 17, 2023, missing seven games as a result. Upon reactivation from the injured reserve list at the beginning of December 2023, the Canadiens assigned him to the Rocket for part of the
2023–24 AHL season. He was initially tasked with working on his defensive game while in Laval, and was soon paired with rookie defenceman
Logan Mailloux, collectively playing a key role in the Rocket's surge up the league standings. After appearing in 17 AHL games, recording three goals and eight assists over that span, Xhekaj was recalled to Montreal on January 22, 2024. On April 9, it was announced that Xhekaj would undergo season-ending surgery due to injury sustained in a game against the
Tampa Bay Lightning days prior. In 44 games with the Canadiens, he recorded three goals and seven assists in his second NHL season. As a
restricted free agent following season's end, Xhekaj was tendered a
qualifying offer by the Canadiens on June 30, 2024. A month later, he signed a two-year, $2.6 million contract extension. Entering play for the
2024–25 season, Xhekaj was involved in an incident with
Toronto Maple Leafs forward Cédric Paré during a preseason game on September 29, 2024, where was
assessed a fine for
unsportsmanlike conduct by the NHL Department of Player Safety. Shortly thereafter, he skated in his 100th career NHL game on October 17. Xhekaj's performance earned praise for much of the season, however, after errors during the team's closing push to make the
2025 Stanley Cup playoffs, he was subsequently
scratched for their final five games. He remained out of the lineup for the start of the Canadiens' ensuing first round playoff matchup against the Washington Capitals, but eventually made his NHL playoff debut midway through the series on April 25, 2025. ==Personal life==