The Montreal Canadiens made forward Gleb Pugachyov their 2026 first-round pick last week, and it sure appears the 18-year-old Russian is not lacking any self-confidence.
During the team’s predraft interview process with prospects, which Montreal regularly turns into a bizarre interrogation filled with off-the-wall topics, Pugachyov was actually asked a more normal, hockey-related question. However, it was his answer to the question that delivered the level of crazy that Montreal’s executives typically bring, and likely just what they wanted to hear.
Pugachyov recently sat down with RG’s Daria Tuboltseva and recounted his first meeting with his new club and how the Habs tested his resolve by raising a “hypothetical” involving Washington Capitals winger Tom Wilson.
“They said: ‘You are a big player who hits everyone and is not afraid of anybody,'” Pugachyov told Tuboltseva. “‘Imagine that you already play for Montreal. We are facing Washington, you deliver a hard hit on one of their young players, and Tom Wilson immediately comes after you. Are you ready to fight him?’
“Yes,” Pugachyov says he replied. “I told them there would be nothing left of him.”
As things currently stand, Pugachyov, who stands 6-foot-3, would be giving up an inch to the 6-foot-4 Wilson, as well as a 14-year age difference. According to HockeyFights, the latter also has 104 career NHL fights with the Capitals. Pugachyov has played just 28 total career games against men in Russia, never once dropping his gloves.
Aside from Wilson naturally being one of the most feared players in the NHL, the Canadiens also have a recent, heated history with the Capitals’ big winger. During Montreal and Washington’s first-round playoff series in 2025, Wilson was one of the main characters in what turned out to be a short but very feisty series, mostly boiling over in what was the Canadiens’ lone victory in Game 3.
Ahead of the game, Wilson exchanged verbal barbs with Canadiens enforcer Arber Xhekaj, and then famously got into a literal bench brawl with Josh Anderson at the conclusion of the second period. The heated bout and Wilson’s ensuing viral crybaby taunt seemingly bled into Game 4, when Wilson threw a devastating hit on defenseman Alexandre Carrier that practically ended the series.
Tom Wilson throws massive hit on Alexandre Carrier during 2025 playoffs
While Pugachyov does come as advertised, constantly throwing his weight around in Russia, he may want to pump the brakes on already getting on Wilson’s bad side. Pugachyov is also talented beyond just his physical ability, but the Canadiens should still ask the New York Rangers what doing too much to combat Wilson can do to a club.
Pugachyov, who later listed Capitals captain Alex Ovechkin as one of his role models, also revealed that he was asked another hypothetical question about potentially hitting teammate Josh Anderson and then getting into a confrontation with him during a practice. He responded, “There will be a fight,” so maybe he is just a little crazy.
Habs fans will get to learn more about their newest top prospect as he returns to Russia to play a likely larger role with KHL club Torpedo Nizhny Novgorod during the 2026-27 campaign.
