Canadiens Draft Gleb Pugachyov 26th Overall

With the 26th pick in the 2026 NHL Entry Draft, the Montreal Canadiens have selected Gleb Pugachyov from the Nizhny Novgorod Jr of the Russia-Jr (MHL) league.  

About Gleb Pugachyov

Born in Almaty, Kazakhstan, Gleb Pugachyov is known for his combination of great size, speed and physicality. At 6-foot-3 and 198 pounds, he projects as the stereotypical power forward everyone chases.

This past season, he split his time between the KHL, the premier professional league in Russia, the VHL, a tier-two professional league, and the MHL, where he spent most of his time in the junior ranks. At the top level, he scored two goals, had three points and was an impressive plus-7 in 13 games. At the lower level of pro hockey, he scored one goal and totalled five points in 15 games.

Then, at the junior level, he showcased more of his offensive abilities, scoring 10 goals and recording 14 assists for 24 points in 33 games. He has flown under the radar in this class, as the offensive skills aren’t special per se, but the bones are there. He has a heavy shot and loves to play in the dirty areas of the ice, even if the rest of his skill set doesn’t come along. He plays the type of game that gives him a very high floor as a prospect, being the type of guy who could play anywhere in a lineup, depending on what he develops into.

Coming out of Russia, the Canadiens won’t be able to get their hands on him until his contract runs out over there, but in a couple of seasons, it’s reasonable to expect he’ll be ready to make the transition to the North American professional leagues, whether it be the American Hockey League (AHL) or the show.

THW Prospect Profile Excerpt

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 he should improve his release.

He wasn’t expected to break out that early, but in Jan. 2026, he had a good series of games in the KHL and was awarded Rookie of the Week honors. He threw the body around in the senior league as well, but he will have to take an extra step in his development before playing that game in North America.

At the moment, Pugachyov is signed in the KHL on his entry-level contract with Torpedo Nizhny Novgorod until the 2027-28 season. It’s not a problem, as such a deal will allow him to develop at home.

Continue reading our full player profile here.

How This Affects the Canadiens’ Plans

With Pugachyov, the Canadiens are addressing a huge need for size up front. He’ll have to spend a couple more seasons over in Russia, hopefully rounding out his offensive game. But with his combination of size, speed and shot, he’s shown flashes of top-six potential. But the great thing with a player like this is the floor is also high, and the Canadiens could end up using him in numerous ways, depending on how his development pans out and what direction the team goes in over the next few seasons.