Canadiens prospect Alexander Zharovsky reveals major decision about his Montreal future
Alexander Zharovsky won't join Martin St-Louis this fall. The Canadiens prospect is heading back to the KHL for another season.
That's the headline out of Montreal on Sunday, after Zharovsky's agent confirmed the forward will stay overseas for at least one more year.
The plan is straightforward. His summer will be built around getting stronger and adding more physical maturity before taking another step in his development.
For the Canadiens, that means patience again. Zharovsky won't be part of the conversation at training camp, and he won't be pushing for a roster spot in the near term.
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That doesn't shake the club's short-term picture. Montreal just came off a 106-point regular season, and the focus inside the room is still locked on the playoff push.
Still, this kind of delay always matters for a prospect. Every extra year away is one less year adjusting to the smaller ice, quicker pace, and grind of the North American game.
The Canadiens can wait, but not forever for Zharovsky
That's where this becomes more than a simple development note. Zharovsky may still be a real piece for the organization, but the timeline is now moving further down the road.
And timelines matter in a system this crowded. Montreal's pipeline already has young talent fighting for space, and players who stay away too long can get passed on the depth chart.
That doesn't mean the Canadiens are backing off him. It means the pressure shifts to what comes next when he finally does make the jump.
When that moment arrives, he'll need to show he can handle the pace, the structure, and the traffic that come with hockey in this market and in this league.
For now, Kent Hughes and the front office can afford to stay patient. The organization isn't desperate, and there's no need to force a move before the player is ready.
But this decision still changes the feel around Zharovsky's path. He remains a name to watch, just not one Montreal fans should expect to see in uniform anytime soon.
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APRIL 26, 2026
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| G | A | PTS | ||
| Bowen Byram | 1 | 1 | 2 | |
| Josh Doan | 1 | 1 | 2 | |
| Zach Benson | 1 | - | 1 | |
| Peyton Krebs | 1 | - | 1 | |
| Ryan McLeod | - | 1 | 1 | |
| Owen Power | - | 1 | 1 | |
| Jack Quinn | - | 1 | 1 | |
| Alex Tuch | - | 1 | 1 | |
| Viktor Arvidsson | - | - | - | |
| Jonathan Aspirot | - | - | - | |
| Rasmus Dahlin | - | - | - | |
| Morgan Geekie | - | - | - | |
| Jordan Greenway | - | - | - | |
| Jordan Harris | - | - | - | |
| Tanner Jeannot | - | - | - | |
| Mark Kastelic | - | - | - | |
| Marat Khusnutdinov | - | - | - | |
| Tyson Kozak | - | - | - | |
| Sean Kuraly | - | - | - | |
| Elias Lindholm | - | - | - | |
| COMPLETE STATS | ||||
| 2025-2026 NHL STANDINGS | ||||||
| GP | W | L | OL | PTS | ||
| Sabres | 82 | 50 | 23 | 9 | 109 | |
| Lightning | 82 | 50 | 26 | 6 | 106 | |
| Canadiens | 82 | 48 | 24 | 10 | 106 | |
| Bruins | 82 | 45 | 27 | 10 | 100 | |
| Senators | 82 | 44 | 27 | 11 | 99 | |
| Red Wings | 82 | 41 | 31 | 10 | 92 | |
| Panthers | 82 | 40 | 38 | 4 | 84 | |
| Maple Leafs | 82 | 32 | 36 | 14 | 78 | |
| GP | W | L | OL | PTS | ||
| Hurricanes | 82 | 53 | 22 | 7 | 113 | |
| Penguins | 82 | 41 | 25 | 16 | 98 | |
| Flyers | 82 | 43 | 27 | 12 | 98 | |
| Capitals | 82 | 43 | 30 | 9 | 95 | |
| Blue Jackets | 82 | 40 | 30 | 12 | 92 | |
| Islanders | 82 | 43 | 34 | 5 | 91 | |
| Devils | 82 | 42 | 37 | 3 | 87 | |
| Rangers | 82 | 34 | 39 | 9 | 77 | |
| GP | W | L | OL | PTS | ||
| Avalanche | 82 | 55 | 16 | 11 | 121 | |
| Stars | 82 | 50 | 20 | 12 | 112 | |
| Wild | 82 | 46 | 24 | 12 | 104 | |
| Mammoth | 82 | 43 | 33 | 6 | 92 | |
| Blues | 82 | 37 | 33 | 12 | 86 | |
| Predators | 82 | 38 | 34 | 10 | 86 | |
| Jets | 82 | 35 | 35 | 12 | 82 | |
| Blackhawks | 82 | 29 | 39 | 14 | 72 | |
| GP | W | L | OL | PTS | ||
| Golden Knights | 82 | 39 | 26 | 17 | 95 | |
| Oilers | 82 | 41 | 30 | 11 | 93 | |
| Ducks | 82 | 43 | 33 | 6 | 92 | |
| Kings | 82 | 35 | 27 | 20 | 90 | |
| Sharks | 82 | 39 | 35 | 8 | 86 | |
| Kraken | 82 | 34 | 37 | 11 | 79 | |
| Flames | 82 | 34 | 39 | 9 | 77 | |
| Canucks | 82 | 25 | 49 | 8 | 58 | |
COMPLETE STANDINGS | ||||||