The Montreal Canadiens have acquired 26th-overall in the 2026 NHL Draft from the Vegas Golden Knights in exchange for 28th-overall and Montreal’s third-round pick in 2027. Vegas acquired the pick in an earlier deal that sent winger Pavel Dorofeyev to the New York Rangers. The Canadiens used the pick to select Russian winger Gleb Pugachyov.
Pugachyov was one of many standouts at Dan Milstein’s Gold Star Hockey Camp, an annual showcase of Russian draft talent. The winger earned hardy KHL minutes this season thanks to his ability to fill a gritty forechecking role. He made up for slow skating with heavy and overwhelming physicality, while also flaunting the puck skills needed to convert on loose pucks and quick passes.
Those will be the attributes that Montreal moves up to grab. Pugachyov should find solid footing behind Montreal’s slew of high-octane offense. He brings a full-ice physicality that should project into a bottom-six role, at worst. Montreal could find shreds of even more upside as Pugachyov develops his game at the pro level. The club quickly hit on winger Alexander Zharovsky, a second-round pick in the 2025 NHL Draft who took home KHL Rookie of the Year honors after a breakout season this year. Like Zharovsky, Pugachyov should find his way into full-time, KHL minutes as soon as next season.
More to come…
