Canadiens Wisely Use 2026 First-Round Pick Selecting Pugachyov

The disappointment on the part of any Montreal Canadiens fans after the Habs picked Gleb Pugachyov at 26th overall at the 2026 NHL Entry Draft is both palpable and understandable. And it has nothing to do with Pugachyov, in whom many scouts see upside reminiscent of Tom Wilson, who has emerged as a valuable, physically imposing (but also admittedly reckless) top-six fixture for the Washington Capitals.

Pugachyov vs. McTavish

If that’s what the Canadiens end up having drafted in Pugachyov, absolutely no one will complain, at least in due time. The Russian forward is currently slated to spend two more years in the Kontinental Hockey League, at least based on his current contract, but is already around the 32-year-old Wilson’s listed size, which certainly bodes well for the Habs.

Gleb Pugachyov’s agent Dan Milstein says there is a chance he will attend Canadiens development camp, assuming the visa process is efficient. Also confirms Pugachyov has two years left on his KHL contract. His official measurements from the Gold Star camp: 6-2 3/4, 224 lbs.

— Arpon Basu (@ArponBasu) June 27, 2026

Granted, others see little more than a third-line forward in Pugachyov, even if the general consensus is that is his absolute floor. That assessment speaks to the aforementioned disappointment in that, while Pugachyov projects as valuable, he’s not the top-six centre the Canadiens need now to for all intents and purposes round out the top of their lineup to build on their recent, incredibly successful postseason run to the third round next season.

The theory goes, their first-round pick, which had initially been at No. 28, before the Canadiens traded up (with a third-rounder) could have been better utilized as part of a package instead. The problem with that is, picks in that range didn’t seem to hold as much value as they once might have, in a trade market where the day of the Draft the Utah Mammoth used the 23rd overall pick (three slots earlier than where Pugachyov went) to trade with the Detroit Red Wings for an unproven goalie prospect in Sebastian Cossa, and the St. Louis Blues traded Nos. 15 and 29 (one slot later from where the Canadiens had been initially) overall for pivot Mason McTavish, a one-time third-overall pick (2021) who had trouble gaining traction within the Anaheim Ducks organization.

Could the Canadiens have put together a package that included No. 28 overall for McTavish that at least rivalled what the Ducks ultimately got for McTavish? They certainly had the assets to, but, with McTavish’s offensive production having plateaued and his defensive awareness having drawn criticism, it’s hard to argue he would have been worth it, especially after the Habs’ last gamble, acquiring a much-maligned one-time third-overall pick who projected as a second-line centre in Kirby Dach, didn’t work out as planned.

Hughes’ Actual MO

That was Kent Hughes’ first draft as Canadiens general manager in 2022, when he traded No. 13 overall for Dach. The next year at around the same time, he traded a late first-round pick and an early second for Alex Newhook. In 2025, he traded Nos. 16 and 17 for defenseman Noah Dobson. So, Habs fans have come to expect big swings by Hughes, which may be contributing to any disappointment a few days after the team actually opted to keep a first-round pick. Here’s the thing, though: With exception to in 2025 (Dobson), the Habs have always drafted in Round 1 under Hughes, oftentimes benefitting from multiple picks.

This is Hughes’ actual modus operandi, to build through the Draft. And, in continuing to build their prospect pipeline, the Canadiens are accruing assets they can theoretically always flip in the future. For example, in the minds of many Habs fans, Michael Hage, a 2024 first-round pick, has become expendable and could be included in a trade package for a current NHL centre, after he decided to stay in university for another year instead of signing on at the end of 2025-26.

Think about how illogical that is, when Hage could theoretically be that second-line centre the Habs need, and, how, according to reports, he just wants to develop into more of a complete player before making the jump to the NHL. All that’s required is a little more patience.

The difference between Hage and Pugachyov is the former is more of a certainty and obviously more valuable as a trade chip. There is always a chance Pugachyov’s value takes a hit through developmental missteps or what have you. However, that’s true of any prospect when a team opts to take the best player available instead of directly addressing a need with a pick.

Pugachyov may very well not pan out as such. However, it’s fairly clear the Canadiens feel like they got the best player available, even if only based on how they traded up to get him. So, it’s hard to find fault with the strategy, especially when they got as far as they did this past year as the youngest team in the NHL.

Kapanen and the Canadiens’ Status Quo

Fans may level criticism Hughes’ way for failing to make a move, when just about every other team in the Atlantic Division having improved (on paper) this summer. That shouldn’t negate what the Canadiens have accomplished so far. With the Habs having improved in the standings each season since 2022, there’s little reason to believe they won’t at least inch up relative to the 106 points they just earned, even if only organically as the members of their core enter their respective primes. That includes rookie Oliver Kapanen.

It would be less than ideal for the Canadiens to continue to play Kapanen at centre on fellow-rookie Ivan Demidov’s line, seeing as they did sit him for most of the playoffs. However, he still did score 22 goals last season at Age 22. Hughes still has literally months left of the offseason to make a move, but, if he doesn’t, it wouldn’t be the worst thing were the Habs to start next season with him on Line 2, even if he may be better-suited for a bottom-six role. For context, Kapanen had five more goals and just four fewer points than McTavish last season. There’s no denying the latter has more upside, but Kapanen has proven to be a better fit with the Canadiens than McTavish with the Ducks (obviously).

Rolling the dice with a trade is unnecessary, unless the Canadiens are reasonably certain they would be addressing a need or getting better. That wouldn’t necessarily have been true with McTavish. And, while it may not be the case with Pugachyov either, they’ve gotten as far as they have largely on the strength of their drafting.

It’s no time to force the issue when there’s still a lot of time left in the offseason, the Canadiens continue to make year-over-year gains in the standings and are as young as they are. Using a first-round pick on a potential third-line forward may not represent ideal asset management, but it certainly beats illogically throwing assets at a problem that has just as much likelihood of solving itself on its own in time, which is what they have in excess. This way they keep the assets and roll the dice on acquiring a top-six forward effectively for free.

Wilson or not, that’s a decent deal.