The Montreal Canadiens made an aggressive move in the first round of the 2026 NHL Draft on Friday. They traded up two spots with the Vegas Golden Knights and then selected the Russian forward, Gleb Pugachyov, as the 26th overall pick.

To get Pugachyov, Montreal sent Vegas its 28th-overall pick in 2026 and a third-round selection in 2027.

Pugachyov is a right winger who spent the 2025-26 season in Russia. He scored 10 goals and 14 assists in 33 games for Chaika Nizhny Novgorod of the MHL, and earned MHL All-Star recognition. 

Pugachyov, 18, made his KHL debut last season. He recorded 3 points in 13 KHL games with Torpedo Nizhny Novgorod and added 5 points in 15 VHL games, according to NHL.com.

NHL Central Scouting described him as a big, strong top-line winger, traits that likely appealed to Montreal.

The move suggests Montreal was determined to secure Pugachyov before another team had the chance.

The trade-up indicates the Canadiens valued Pugachyov highly and had a strong belief that Pugachyov would not still be available at No. 28.

Beyond Gleb Pugachyov: Canadiens' Broader Trade Activity

The Pugachyov selection was not Montreal's only move this week. The Canadiens also acquired forward Brett Berard from the New York Rangers and Hunter McKown from the Columbus Blue Jackets ahead of the draft, signaling they remained active on multiple fronts.

Before the draft, President of Hockey Operations Jeff Gorton told reporters at the CN Sports Complex that the Canadiens had already been in contact with several teams and were exploring multiple options, according to NHL.com.

Gorton emphasized the organization would only make moves that aligned with its long-term plan.

General manager Kent Hughes echoed that sentiment, saying every move had to meet the organization's standards as Montreal continues building its roster.

After moving up for Pugachyov and completing two additional trades, Montreal enters Day 2 with seven remaining selections, giving the front office more opportunities to address areas of need.

Following last season's five-game playoff exit to Carolina, adding defensive depth and strengthening the center position remain key priorities.

With seven selections remaining, the Canadiens have additional opportunities to address those needs as the draft continues.

What are your thoughts on Gleb Pugachyov's selection? Let us know in the comments.

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Written by

Aadhya Nalla

Edited by

Rudra Dubey