Scott Wheeler’s latest top 100 drafted prospects list came with a pretty blunt message for the Canadiens: Gleb Pugachyov still has a lot to prove.
Montreal’s newest first-round pick, taken 26th overall in the most recent draft, is nowhere to be found on Wheeler’s rankings. He doesn’t show up in the top 100, and he doesn’t even land among the honourable mentions. That’s a notable snub for a player the Canadiens just spent a premium pick on, though it doesn’t come out of nowhere.
Wheeler had already pegged Montreal among the draft’s losers, and a big part of that view was tied to Pugachyov’s selection. The analyst sees the Russian forward as a third-line type, which helps explain why he wasn’t included among the 100 best prospects.
The Canadiens do have some strong representation on the list, even if a few familiar names have already graduated out of prospect status. Ivan Demidov, Lane Hutson and Juraj Slafkovsky, all recently signed to long-term contracts, are no longer eligible as prospects.
Among the players still in the mix, Michael Hage leads the way at No. 21 overall, which Wheeler places him as the seventh-best prospect from the 2024 draft class. Alexander Zharovsky checks in at No. 33, and David Reinbacher comes in at No. 48.
Still, the most eyebrow-raising omission may not be Pugachyov at all. Adam Engstrom, who remains eligible for the list, is also left out of both the top 100 and the honourable mentions. That stands out even more when compared with Bryce Pickford, who did receive an honourable mention.
Engstrom is 22 and getting close to the NHL, so many around the team would likely have expected him to show up somewhere on the list.
For Pugachyov, though, the takeaway is simple: the early doubt is there, and now it’s on him to answer it.
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The appeal of acting early is obvious with players whose value could rise over the next couple of seasons, but there is also some risk in trying to settle everything too soon. Montreal has to weigh present-day production against future role, and the next round of negotiations could say plenty about how Hughes sees the roster taking shape beyond the 2026-27 season. [Read more 🡒]