Blackhawks 2026 Draft Targets: Gleb Pugachyov

The Chicago Blackhawks have eight draft picks in the 2026 NHL Draft, which is set for June 26 in Buffalo, New York.

With another year of plenty of draft picks comes plenty of options. Of course, the Blackhawks may not use all eight picks by the time all is said and done. But this ‘Draft Target’ series will focus on the potential options for where the Blackhawks currently sit.

Today’s draft target highlights right wing Gleb Pugachyov.

Pugachyov’s Background

Pugachyov spent the majority of last season with the Chaika Nizhny Novgorod of the MHL in Russia. There, he put up 24 points in 33 games and nine points in 16 games in the playoffs. He also played 13 games in the KHL with Torpedo Nizhny Novgorod, recording 3 points.

Pugachyov saw a spike in his point production, following his prior season with Chaika, in which he had 17 points in 42 games. So, that is worth noting.

When looking at his projection, the 18-year-old is projected more as a bottom-six forward in the NHL, according to our Alessandro Seren Rosso’s draft profile on Pugachyov.

But that bottom-six potential can be heightened with his size. He is listed as 6-foot-3 and 198 pounds.

As far as what to expect out of his game, Rosso wrote, “Pugachyov lacks the high-end offensive skills to be considered a surefire top pick, as he’s more of a project right now. His main tools are his size, motor, and energy, as a player who keeps on moving and forechecks and backchecks very hard. He’s not going to make things happen with fancy moves, but he can become very dangerous at the right moment, and is a player who never backs down. He’s gifted with a good shot, but should improve his release.”

Dylan Griffing of Elite Prospects stated, “Amongst the entirety of the 2026 NHL Draft class, there may be no player as violent as Pugachyov. At 6-foot-3 with a beefy frame, he has proven to be a weapon of mass destruction in every league he has played in. He brings an unmatched energy to the table, capable of shifting the momentum with huge body checks, building up full momentum and bashing opponents with anger.”

The term “power forward” has been used to describe Pugachyov, including by Griffing.

Why Blackhawks May Consider Pugachyov

My first thought when researching Pugachyov is that he reminds me a bit of Colton Dach, and Blackhawks’ head coach Jeff Blashill was complimentary of Dach’s power-forward game, mentioning it was different from other players on the roster.

Dach was traded to the Edmonton Oilers at the trade deadline in March, which makes a possible selection like Pugachyov intriguing. When looking at the Blackhawks’ pipeline, they have some prospects with “power forward” traits, including A.J. Spellacy, Václav Nestrašil, and Mason West, who can play similar games to Pugachyov, with the size, physicality, and motor. Chicago may consider adding to that group.

If the Blackhawks wanted to add more physicality to their prospect pool, given that it was a noted weakness on their team last season, Pugachyov could be one to consider. The Blackhawks have also liked those workhorse players in past drafts, making him an easy target.

The Blackhawks do need more high-end skill, as they have a lot of projected bottom-six talent. But since he was noted for having a good shot, that could lead to more offense.

Adam Kimelman of NHL.com has Pugachyov listed as a top-10 right wing in the draft, which makes me think he could be a first-round pick, even though there are also projections of him being a second-round pick.

If he falls to the second round, the Blackhawks have three picks.

Furthermore, they are no stranger to “project” picks. Consider West, a first-round pick last year, as a two-sport athlete. If the Blackhawks see the tools and potential, I could see them going for Pugachyov.