Montreal's Russian Draft Domination

NHL News Today | 2 Min News | The Daily News Now! · Jun 28, 2026 · 2m

Montreal Canadiens are rewriting the draft playbook by hunting overlooked gems—especially from Russia—where they’ve built a scouting network that others avoid. With scouts like Nick Bobrov leading the charge, they’ve landed high-upside players like Ivan Demidov, Alexander Zharovsky, and Gleb Pugachyov, a towering, physical forward with elite defensive instincts. While other teams hesitate, Montreal’s aggressive, system-fit approach has turned Russian juniors into a goldmine. They’re also mining value in overage players like Cooper Cleaves and Bryce Pickford—proving that timing isn’t…