The Montreal Canadiens took a decisive step by moving up in the 2026 NHL Draft on June 26, drawing attention. They used a trade to acquire forward Gleb Pugachyov at 26th overall, a seasoned player, boosting their prospects. That spot arrived two picks ahead of where Montreal originally stood at 28th.
They additionally made a big push for defenseman Artem Marchenko, a hard-hitting blueliner. Reports labeled the offer massive, signaling a push.
If this trade goes through, Montreal gets an older, bigger defenseman to help its blue line, bolstering the unit.