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 promising talent, positioning them well. That spot appeared two picks ahead of where Montreal originally stood at 28th.
They furthermore made a big push for defenseman Artem Marchenko, an experienced defender. Reports labeled the offer massive, signaling a push.
If this trade goes through, Montreal secures an older, bigger defenseman to help its blue line, adding depth.