A quiet buzz is building around Alexander Zharovsky, and the latest praise coming out of Quebec only adds to it.
The Montreal Canadiens prospect has now earned a strong endorsement from Zachary Fucale, the former Canadiens goaltender who had plenty to say about the young forward’s game. Fucale zeroed in on one detail that stands out immediately: Zharovsky was used on his team’s power play in the KHL at only 18 years old.
“You don't have many 18-year old players on the powerplay in the KHL.
To be in that situation, he has the abilities”
That kind of role is not handed out casually in a pro league like the KHL. According to Fucale, it says plenty about what Zharovsky already brings to the table.
The Canadiens took Zharovsky 34th overall in the 2025 NHL Draft, and he’s quickly becoming the kind of second-round pick that gets people talking. For Montreal, he looks more and more like a very strong pickup by Kent Hughes.
Fucale’s perspective carries weight, too. He knows the organization and understands what it takes for a young player to earn trust and responsibility at that level. His assessment lines up with the growing belief that Zharovsky is already making a real impression.
That feeling isn’t coming from Fucale alone. Ivan Demidov has also spoken highly of his fellow countryman, and the two have been spending part of the summer together in Montreal.
Zharovsky’s name may still be flying a little under the radar, but the praise is getting louder.
In Other News...
Canadiens Delay On Bolduc And Xhekaj Signals Something Bigger Ahead
Montreals offseason to-do list still has some important names on it, and the wait on Zach Bolduc and Arber Xhekaj fits the way Kent Hughes has handled the roster so far. The Canadiens have been careful with their cap space, keeping flexibility while also trying to shape the lineup around bigger moves, and that means even with more than $14 million available, nothing is moving in a straight line.
Kirby Dach is still unsigned too, but Bolduc and Xhekaj are in a different spot because there is no hard signing clock pushing either side into a quick deal. They are not the kind of restricted free agents who scream offer-sheet risk, which helps explain the patience, but the bigger question is whether Montreals pursuit of a top-six forward on the trade market changes the math and forces the club to settle its remaining business sooner rather than later. [Read more 🡒]
Canadiens Prospect Retires At 22 In A Brutal Carey Price Twist
Gannon Laroques path in pro hockey has reached an early end, with the 22-year-old defense prospect stepping away after a career that once carried real promise. Originally drafted by the San Jose Sharks in 2021, Laroque had become part of the Canadiens long-range picture, the kind of depth piece teams hope can grow into something more if the development breaks right.
His name also carries extra weight in Montreal because he was one of the assets tied to the Carey Price trade, a reminder that even major deals can have unexpected aftershocks years later. Laroques recent seasons were already interrupted by injuries, and while the Canadiens will move on with their prospect pool, the loss of a young defender this early is another harsh example of how quickly a hockey career can change course. [Read more 🡒]
Canadiens Fans Just Got Another Reason To Love Lane Hutson's Deal
Pavel Mintyukovs new deal in Anaheim is another reminder of how quickly the market for young defensemen has climbed, and it also gives Canadiens fans a fresh way to look at Lane Hutsons contract. Montreal was among the teams linked to Mintyukov before he decided to stay put, so the comparison is more than just theoretical for a club that has been hunting for blue-line help and watching the price tag on that kind of player keep rising.
Hutsons value only looks better against that backdrop. His production has already separated him from Mintyukovs, and the contract gap feels even wider when the market is pushing upward around them. For the Canadiens, it is the kind of development that makes an already favorable deal look even sharper, even if the broader defenseman market is still leaving plenty of room for more expensive decisions elsewhere. [Read more 🡒]