Kent Hughes and the Montreal Canadiens may have quietly added a prospect with even more upside than Alexander Zharovsky. The latest official ranking from NHL.com is turning heads across the hockey world—and for good reason.
You read that right. On the Montreal Canadiens’ prospect list published by the NHL’s official website, Gleb Pugachyov is ranked ahead of Alexander Zharovsky.
Drafted 26th overall in June, Pugachyov brings a rare power-forward profile that is increasingly hard to find. The big winger loves to throw the body, play a physical brand of hockey, and occupy the hard areas of the ice. In an era that often prioritizes pure skill, that combination stands out.
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Yet in the eyes of many evaluators, Pugachyov does not possess the same pure offensive ceiling as Michael Hage or Alexander Zharovsky, both of whom are viewed as more gifted scorers and playmakers. That is precisely why the NHL website’s ranking feels so surprising.
The list is led by David Reinbacher. Pugachyov sits fourth. Zharovsky, the highly touted Russian forward, ranks fifth—and last among the top group.
It is a major surprise.
Zharovsky, despite being a year older, is coming off a strong KHL campaign in which he produced around 42 points. That is a significant sample in a league where Pugachyov has yet to fully establish himself. On pure production and recent trajectory, Zharovsky has the clearer track record.
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Still, NHL.com appears to value something else. Pugachyov’s game extends beyond the scoresheet. His size, physicality, and power-forward instincts project as a safer, more complementary piece for a Canadiens roster that already features skill up front. In Montreal’s system, that profile fits cleanly.
In other words, according to the NHL’s own ranking, the Canadiens may have landed a better long-term prospect by selecting Pugachyov at 26th overall than they did with Zharovsky. If the evaluation holds, it would mark another sharp, under-the-radar success for Kent Hughes and the scouting staff.
The consensus among Montreal fans and many local analysts still leans toward Alexander Zharovsky as the higher-upside talent. His offensive creativity and recent KHL production remain compelling. The debate is healthy—and revealing.
It also raises an interesting question: if Kent Hughes were forced to keep only one of the two, which prospect would he choose?
For now, the official ranking has delivered an unexpected verdict. Gleb Pugachyov has jumped Alexander Zharovsky on the Canadiens’ prospect board. Whether that ranking ultimately proves prophetic or simply a snapshot in time, one thing is already clear: Montreal’s prospect pipeline continues to generate intrigue, and the organization’s latest high selection is suddenly looking like more than just a solid pick. He may be a genuine secret weapon.