The Montreal Canadiens selected a power forward from Kazakhstan with their first-round pick in the 2026 NHL Entry Draft, held on June 27. The team used the No. 15 overall selection to draft the 6-foot-3, 205-pound forward, who played last season for Barys Nur-Sultan in the Kontinental Hockey League (KHL).
Draft details and player profile
The Canadiens' pick was the team's first of the draft, and they used it to address a need for size and physical play on the wing. The 18-year-old forward recorded 12 goals and 18 assists in 52 KHL games last season, according to NHL Central Scouting. He is described as a strong skater with a heavy shot and a willingness to drive to the net.
Montreal general manager Kent Hughes said the team had targeted the player for several weeks. “We feel he brings a combination of skill and toughness that will fit well with our organization,” Hughes said in a statement released by the team.
Reaction and analysis
The selection marks the first time the Canadiens have drafted a player from Kazakhstan since 2015, when they took defenseman Nikita Tryamkin in the seventh round. The pick was met with approval from draft analysts, who noted the player's strong performance at the World Junior Championships, where he led Kazakhstan with 4 goals in 5 games.
“This is a solid pick for Montreal,” said TSN draft analyst Craig Button. “He’s a prototypical power forward who can create space and finish checks. His development in the KHL has been impressive.”
Canadiens' draft strategy
The Canadiens entered the draft with a focus on adding size up front, and the selection of the Kazakh forward aligns with that strategy. Montreal also holds picks in the second, third, and fourth rounds of the draft, which continues on Saturday.
The team’s president of hockey operations, Jeff Gorton, emphasized the importance of building through the draft. “We’re committed to developing young talent, and this pick is a step in that direction,” Gorton said.
