The Montreal Canadiens executed a bold maneuver by moving up in the 2026 NHL Draft on June 26, raising eyebrows. They used a trade to obtain forward Gleb Pugachyov at 26th overall, a promising talent, positioning them well. That spot emerged two picks ahead of where Montreal originally stood at 28th.
They furthermore made a big push for defenseman Artem Marchenko, a hard-hitting blueliner. Reports called the offer massive, showing ambition.
If this trade goes through, Montreal gets an older, bigger defenseman to help its blue line, bolstering the unit.