For the third year in a row, the Montreal Canadiens selected a player from Russia with their first pick in the draft. They must know something other teams do not, because they have consistently identified talent overseas. Two years ago, the Canadiens drafted Ivan Demidov with the 5th overall pick, and while highly touted, there were questions around when he would be able to come over to the NHL. Last year, Montreal selected Alexander Zharovsky in the second round, and his first year in the KHL set the record for most points by an under-19 skater (42). With their first pick in this year's NHL Entry Draft, the Canadiens traded up to select Gleb Pugachyov 26th overall. If history should tell you anything, it is that Canadiens fans should trust Kent Hughes with this selection.
Demidov and Zharovsky laid the foundation for the Pugachyov selection
The Canadiens have found success drafting out of Russia. We saw it this season first-hand with Demidov recording 62 points as a rookie, finishing second for the Calder Memorial Trophy. His situation is a little different because he was the 5th overall pick and was touted to go even earlier based on talent alone. Four other teams still passed on him, and every one besides San Jose likely regrets not drafting him. The next year, after trading both their first-round picks, the Canadiens selected Zharovsky in the second round. Following the draft, Hughes told the media that they believed Zharovsky was a first-round talent and would have selected him if they still had their picks. That is how much they trust their ability to identify talent in Russia.
This draft was no different, as they traded up to select Pugachyov. There is not a ton of tape on Pugachyov. To start the season, he had to bow out of training camp because he had to undergo an emergency appendectomy. He had to wait a month before he could get back on the ice, and started out the year in the MHL before being called up to the KHL in January. His numbers do not tell the whole story, just two goals and one assist in 13 games for Torpedo Nizhny Novgorod. However, the Canadiens have identified a position of need, and his playstyle is exactly what is missing in their lineup.
Pugachyov brings physicality to Montreal’s lineup
If there is one thing Pugachyov excels at, it is skating full speed into other players. Pugachyov is aggressive and has been described as a violent hitter. He has got speed to go with the size, 6’3”, 200 pounds, but if there is something he specifically needs to work on, it is his stickhandling ability. He has the tools that you cannot teach, all the physical elements, and the team believes in their ability to develop their prospects to round out the rest of his game. In the post-draft press conference, Hughes said the scouting staff believes Pugachyov's stylistic comparison is to Tom Wilson. Now, which version of Tom Wilson is something we will have to wait and find out.
Early on in Wilson's career, he was a one-man wrecking crew, but as he continued to develop in the NHL, he became a legitimate goalscorer, recording back-to-back 30-goal seasons. The Canadiens believe, at worst, they found a player who can disrupt the game with his physicality, something they already lack in their lineup. Now this is where the belief in their development staff comes in. He is already fast and aggressive, with the willingness to hit anything that moves, but they believe they can turn him into a 30-goal scorer in the NHL. They clearly trust their ability to find talent in Russia, but even at Pugachyov’s floor, he would bring an element the Canadiens desperately need on their roster.
Add us as a preferred source on Google