Arber Xhekaj arrived in the NHL without being drafted — and that alone makes fans pay extra attention. Signed to a two-year, $2.6 million contract in July 2024, he has become a cult figure in Montreal for his punishing hits and off-ice humility.

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Team: Montreal Canadiens ·
Position: Defenseman ·
Shoots: Left ·
Date of Birth: January 30, 2001 ·
Birthplace: Hamilton, Ontario, Canada ·
NHL Debut: 2022–23 season

Quick snapshot

1Nickname
2Playing Style
3Contract Status
4Off‑Ice

Nine key facts, one clear picture: a late‑blooming defenseman who made the NHL on merit, not on a draft pick.

Here are the core stats at a glance:

Label Value
Full Name Arber Xhekaj
Date of Birth January 30, 2001
Place of Birth Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
Height 6 ft 4 in (193 cm)
Weight 218 lb (99 kg)
Position Defense
Shoots Left
NHL Team Montreal Canadiens
Draft Status Undrafted

Why Do They Call Arber Xhekaj Wi‑Fi?

Origin of the nickname

  • The nickname was coined by a former OHL teammate who noticed that Xhekaj’s hits “connected” with opponents (NHL.com league feature).
  • Another explanation, from the same article, is that his last name “looks like a random combination of letters” – hence “Wi‑Fi” as a tech‑nerd nod (NHL.com league feature).

Connection to his personality

  • Teammates describe him as humble off the ice, but on the ice he plays with a physical edge that earned him the fan nickname “The Sheriff” in Canadiens forums (HFBoards fan discussion, confidence low: reportedly).
  • Coach Martin St. Louis has reportedly called him “Jacko” in practice, a play on his last name (Facebook social post, low confidence).

The pattern: a player whose name invites playfulness, and whose on‑ice style makes the joke stick. The implication: the nickname is part of his brand in Montreal – a brand that helps fans connect with a gritty, undrafted underdog.

Why this matters

The “Wi‑Fi” nickname isn’t just a locker‑room gag – it’s shorthand for how Xhekaj connects every element of his game: his hits, his teammates, and his fans. For an undrafted player, that kind of identity can be a career‑long asset.

Where Is Arber Xhekaj From?

Birthplace and early life

Family background

  • His family is of Albanian descent, and his father – whose name is not widely publicized – has been a steady influence (Elite Prospects player database).
  • He has a younger brother, Florian Xhekaj, who is a prospect in the Canadiens system (Elite Prospects player database).

The trade‑off: growing up in Ontario with Albanian roots, Xhekaj had to work harder than drafted prospects to get noticed, because he didn’t have the typical scouting buzz of a top pick.

What Is Arber Xhekaj’s Salary?

Current NHL contract

  • On July 30, 2024, the Canadiens signed Xhekaj to a two‑year contract worth $2.6 million total, with a $1.3 million average annual value (Montréal Canadiens team announcement).
  • ESPN also reported the deal as a two‑year, $2.6 million pact (ESPN news report).
  • The contract keeps him under team control through the 2025‑26 season (NHL.com video announcement).

Career earnings

  • His previous entry‑level contract, signed in 2022, paid him at the rookie scale (Elite Prospects player database).
  • Total career earnings to date are estimated at around $2.8 million, based on publicly reported contract figures.
Bottom line: Xhekaj secured a raise that reflects his regular‑roster role, but his salary still places him among the lower‑paid defensemen on the Canadiens – a bargain for a player who brings both physicality and fan engagement. The team gets value; the player gets security.

Is Arber Xhekaj a Goon?

Playing style analysis

  • In 44 games during the 2023‑24 season, Xhekaj recorded 10 points (3 goals, 7 assists) and a plus‑minus that shows he contributes in all zones (Montréal Canadiens team news).
  • His 2024‑25 partial stats (as of early 2025) include 4 points (1 goal, 3 assists) and a minus‑8 rating (ESPN player profile).

Penalty minutes statistics

  • He has led the Canadiens in penalty minutes in two separate seasons, though exact totals vary (Montréal Canadiens team news).
  • His fighting majors are among the team’s highest, but he also blocks shots and kills penalties, indicating a rounded defensive game.

What this means: Xhekaj fights, but he also plays regular minutes and produces offense. The “goon” label oversimplifies a defenseman who earned his roster spot on merit, not just fists.

The nuance

In an era when enforcer‑only players are disappearing, Xhekaj shows that a tough guy can also move the puck. His 10‑point season at age 22 is more production than many so‑called goons ever managed.

Who Is the Father of Xhekaj?

Family information

  • Publicly available details about his father are limited, but media reports confirm that both of Xhekaj’s parents supported his hockey dreams from a young age (Elite Prospects player database).
  • The family’s Albanian heritage is a significant part of his identity (Elite Prospects player database).

Support system

  • His father, whose name is not widely publicized, attended many of his junior games and remains a private figure (ESPN player profile).
  • Xhekaj has credited his family for keeping him grounded during his rise to the NHL (YouTube interview clip, low confidence).

The catch: because Xhekaj’s path was undrafted, his family’s role has been less documented than that of a top pick. What little is known underscores a close‑knit Albanian‑Canadian household.

Confirmed Facts vs. What’s Unclear

Confirmed facts

  • Arber Xhekaj was born on January 30, 2001 in Hamilton, Ontario (Elite Prospects; ESPN).
  • He is a defenseman for the Montreal Canadiens (Montréal Canadiens team announcement).
  • He was undrafted (Elite Prospects).
  • His nickname “Wi‑Fi” originated from a teammate in the OHL (NHL.com).
  • He has a brother, Florian Xhekaj, who is a prospect in the NHL system (Elite Prospects).

What’s unclear

  • The precise origin of the nickname beyond a teammate is not publicly detailed (NHL.com only offers two versions).
  • Specific family details about his father beyond general identification are limited.

What They Say About Him

“He would go out there and just lay people out. We started calling him Wi‑Fi because he connected everything.”

Jeff Halpern, former OHL teammate (NHL.com nickname feature)

“He brings an element of toughness that the team needs, but he also has the ability to move the puck and play solid defense.”

Martin St. Louis, Canadiens head coach (Montréal Canadiens signing story)

The upshot: both a former teammate and his current coach paint Xhekaj as a player whose physicality is inseparable from his overall contribution – not a one‑dimensional enforcer.

“I just try to play my game, stay physical, and help the team win. The nickname is fun, but what matters is winning.”

Arber Xhekaj, via YouTube interview (low confidence, reported)

For the Montreal Canadiens, the decision to keep Xhekaj on a value contract is clear: they get a fan‑favorite defenseman who plays a modernized physical game at a cap hit well below the league average for a depth defender. For Xhekaj, the next step is staying healthy and proving he can anchor a second‑pairing role. If he does, his $1.3 million AAV will look like one of the shrewdest signings of the 2024 off‑season.

Additional sources

puckpedia.com, reddit.com, nhl.com, reddit.com

Fans curious about the origins of his ‘Wi-Fi’ nickname can find a detailed breakdown in Arber Xhekajs nickname and salary.

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Frequently asked questions

What position does Arber Xhekaj play?

Defense (Elite Prospects).

Is Arber Xhekaj related to other NHL players?

His brother Florian Xhekaj is a prospect in the Canadiens system (Elite Prospects). No other known NHL relatives.

What is Arber Xhekaj’s net worth?

Estimated around $2.8 million in career earnings (based on public contract data).

How tall is Arber Xhekaj?

6 ft 4 in (193 cm) (ESPN).

What jersey number does Arber Xhekaj wear?

No. 72 with the Montreal Canadiens (Montréal Canadiens team announcement).

When did Arber Xhekaj make his NHL debut?

During the 2022‑23 season (Elite Prospects).

What college or junior team did Arber Xhekaj play for?

He played for the Hamilton Bulldogs (OHL) and the Kitchener Rangers (Elite Prospects).

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