When the Montreal Canadiens traded up two spots to select Russian winger Gleb Pugachyov at No. 26 in the 2026 NHL Draft. Kent Hughes and the front office made it pretty clear what they were trying to add to the system.
Pugachyov is 6-foot-3 and around 225 pounds, and he plays like it. He spent this past season bouncing between junior hockey and the KHL with Torpedo Nizhny Novgorod, and even against pro competition, he didn’t really change his approach much.
Pugachyov is a true power forward
His game is a true power forward; he finishes checks, he goes hard after pucks, and he leans on defenders and makes shifts uncomfortable. He would be a more modern-day version of Josh Anderson.
In fact, Montreal's scouting reports have labelled him as a "human wrecking ball,” and while that might sound a bit dramatic, it’s not completely off base when you watch how he plays along the boards.
The @CanadiensMTL have traded up for the 26th overall pick and selected Gleb Pugachyov 🤩 Pugachyov was the 42nd-ranked prospect on our final 2026 NHL Draft rankings 🔥
— Elite Prospects (@eliteprospects) June 27, 2026
Read more about his game here: https://t.co/fqNCB8j0zM pic.twitter.com/hUuC3IPJUj
His game isn't just physical; he can protect the puck when he gets it on the cycle, and he has a sneaky good shot. The skating still needs work, and that’s probably his biggest weakness right now. If he can work on that, he will be a very good top-six forward for the Canadiens for years to come.
For Montreal, after seeing how physical the playoffs can get and how important it is to be able to match that level. This is the type of swing you have to be willing to take. A player who can change the feel of a shift just by how hard he plays it.
However, for now, he's set to stay in Russia while he develops. So, his impact on the roster isn't going to be an immediate thing. Which works well because the Canadiens look like playoff contenders for the next 10 years.
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