Canadiens trade up select Gleb Pugachyov 26th overall in NHL draft
Posted June 26, 2026 7:03 pm.
Last Updated June 26, 2026 11:06 pm.
The first round of the 2026 NHL Entry Draft is underway, and the Montreal Canadiens are looking to add some depth and talent by selecting Gleb Pugachyov with the 26th overall selection.
Prior to the 26th pick being selected, Gary Bettman announced that the Golden Knights and the Canadiens had made a trade.
The deal? Montreal moved up two spots in the draft to 26th overall in exchange for the 28th overall pick and the third round pick in 2027.
The Habs finished the 2025-26 season in sixth overall with a record of 48-24-10, before making it to the Eastern Conference Final.
Avec le 26e choix au total, les Canadiens sélectionnent l’attaquant Gleb Pugachyov de Chaika Nizhny Novgorod dans la MHL.
— Canadiens Montréal (@CanadiensMTL) June 27, 2026
With the 26th-overall selection, the Canadiens have drafted forward Gleb Pugachyov from Chaika Nizhny Novgorod in the MHL. #GoHabsGo | #RepêchageLNH |… pic.twitter.com/XToxbfWklr
Pugachyov played 13 games with Torpedo Nizhny Novgorod in the KHL, where he scored two goal and 1 assist. Additionally, he also played 15 for Torpedo-Gorky NN in the VHL where he scored 1 goal and got four assists. Lastly, he also played for 33 games for Chaika Nizhny Novgorod in the MHL, where he scored 10 goals in 14 assists.
The Toronto Maple Leafs, who won the draft lottery, selected Gavin McKenna first overall.
| Pick number | Team selecting | Player selected | Position | Team selected from (league selected from). |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Toronto Maple Leafs | Gavin McKenna | LW | Penn State (Big 10) |
| 2 | San Jose Sharks | Ivar Stenberg | LW | Frolunda (Sweden) |
| 3 | Vancouver Canucks | Caleb Malhotra | C | Brantford (OHL) |
| 4 | Buffalo Sabers (from CHI) | Daxton Rudolph | D | Prince Albert (WHL) |
| 5 | New York Rangers | Alberts Smits | D | Munchen (Germany) |
| 6 | Calgary Flames | Carson Carels | D | Prince George (WHL) |
| 7 | Seattle Kraken | Chase Ried | D | Sault Ste. Marie (OHL) |
| 8 | Winnipeg Jets | Viggo Bjorck | C | Djurgarden (Sweden) |
| 9 | San Jose Sharks (from FLA via OTT) | Keaton Verhoeff | D | North Dakota (NCHC) |
| 10 | Nashville Predators | Wyatt Cullen | LW | USA U-18 (NTDP – NSHL) |
| 11 | St. Louis Blues | Tynan Lawrence | C | Boston University (H-EAST) |
| 12 | New Jersey Devils | Alexander Command | C | Orebro Jr. (Sweden – Jr.) |
| 13 | New York Islanders | Malte Gustafsson | D | HV71 (Sweden) |
| 14 | Columbus Blue Jackets | Oscar Hemming | LW | Boston College (H-EAST) |
| 15 | Anaheim Ducks (from DET via STL) | Nikita Klepov | RW | Saginaw (OHL) |
| 16 | St. Louis Blues (from WSH) | Maddox Dagenais | C | Quebec (QMJHL) |
| 17 | Utah Mammoth (from LAK) | Ethan Belchetz | LW | Windsor (OHL) |
| 18 | Washington Capitals from (ANA) | Oliver Suvanto | C | Tappara (Finland) |
| 19 | Los Angeles Kings (from UTA) | Elton Hermansson | RW | Modo (Sweden-2) |
| 20 | Buffalo Sabres (from EDM via SJS) – | Ilia Morozov | C | Miami (NCHC) |
| 21 | San Jose Sharks (from PHI) | Ryan Lin | D | Vancouver (WHL) |
| 22 | Pittsburgh Penguins | Liam Ruck | RW | Medicine Hat (WHL) |
| 23 | Detroit Red Wings (From BOS via UTA) | Jeffrey (JP) Hurlbert | LW | Kamloops (WHL) |
| 24 | Vancouver Canucks (from MIN) | Adam Novotny | LW | Peterborough (OHL) |
| 25 | Ottawa Senators (from TBL via SEA via FLA) | Jonas Lagerberg hoen | RW | Leksand Jr. (Sweden – Jr.) |
| 26 | Montreal Canadiens (from DAL via CAR via NYR via VGK) | Gleb Pugachyov | RW | Nizhku Novgorod Jr. (Russia – Jr.) |
| 27 | Philadelphia Flyers (from CAR via SJS) | Maksim Sokolovkii | D | London (OHL |
| 28 | Vegas Golden Knights (from MTL) | Marcus Nordmark | LW | Djurgarden (Sweden) |
| 29 | Anaheim Ducks (from COL via NYI via STL) | Juho Piiparinen | D | Tappara (Finland) |
| 30 | Calgary (From VGK) | Jack Hextall | C | Youngstown (USHL) |
| 31 | Carolina Hurricanes | Thomas Bleyl | D | Moncton (QMJHL) |
| 32 | Ottawa Senators | Jaxon Cover | RW | London (OHL) |
