Over the past few weeks, Gleb Pugachev has been making headlines for all the wrong reasons.
The Canadiens prospect, who hasn’t made a splash since his Russian team’s training camp began, has come under fire for being unselfish and in poor shape on the ice.
This happened both at the training camp and during the season.
In his first (and only) regular season game of the season in Russian junior hockey, he was criticized for the way he played and ended up getting injured during the game.
In fact, on that note, he returned to his KHL club… but under observation after a concussion he suffered in his first game of the season.
In continuation of what @DariaTuboltseva reported, Torpedo has now indicated that Pugachev is following the concussion protocol. “We’re going to sit him out for a while.” @TVASports
— Nicolas Cloutier (@NCloutierTVA) September 16, 2026
All this to say that when he returns to the game – whenever that is and at whatever level – he will need to keep up with the pace of the game and turn things around.
He will also have to look interested.
One might wonder what made an 18-year-old first-round NHL draft pick look out of breath in junior hockey.
And after reading Daria Tuboltseva’s (RG Media) article on the topic, one can’t help but wonder if the 33 pounds he’s gained over the past year is slowing him down.
Gleb Pugachev gained 33 pounds over the year, fighting for a permanent place in the Torpedo lineup. The Canadiens prospect talked about his offseason work, the concussion that delayed his MHL debut and what he’s already seeing since Montreal’s rebuild.
— RG (@TheRGMedia) September 16, 2026
He now weighs 220 pounds. Last year he weighed 187 pounds.
He doesn’t want to use it as an excuse, but we can all agree that the 6ft 3in player needs to get used to his new physique, which means his muscles may be slowing him down.
Obviously, seeing a young player put on so many pounds in such a short time is not always a good thing. Speed is also important in modern hockey.
Let’s see if his strategy pays off in the end.
In a nutshell
– Interesting race.
The race for the playoffs is really interesting.
— Passion MLB (@passion_mlb) September 17, 2026
– Stay tuned.
Elliott Friedman: I think the Zeev Buyum deal [9.3 AAV] in Vancouver will affect the defensive market, potentially affecting players such as Simon Edvinsson and Alexander Nikishin, who still have not signed a contract – FAN Hockey Show (9/16)
— NHL Rumor Report (@NHLRumorReport) September 17, 2026
– Yes.
#GoHabsGo has brought in another giant in Chris Kreider! @gourmet_hockey: “I will always remember the sound Chris Kreider makes at ice level when he skates” #thesickpodcast @TonyMarinaro @CraigJButton pic.twitter.com/FqRJucZQsG
— The Sick Podcast with Tony Marinaro (@thesickpodcasts), September 17, 2026
– Great addition.
Welcome to the VIP CLUB… @AABarbeau!
Listen to the first part RIGHT NOW! pic.twitter.com/orf9Vg1lQe
— BPM Sports (@BPMSportsRadio) September 17, 2026
– Will the Habs make a move?
“The Canadiens have a lot more room to work with than we think” – @mndamico on salary cap flexibility #GoHabsGo
#sick #starranddamicoshow @ShaunStarr78 pic.twitter.com/5evlyUZ5XZ
— The Starr and D’Amico Show (@StarrandDamico) September 16, 2026
