Gleb Pugachyov has given Martin St-Louis another prospect to watch after a new ranking placed him ahead of Alexander Zharovsky.
The surprise comes from NHL.com's latest look at the Montreal Canadiens' prospect pool. Pugachyov landed fourth in the organization, one spot ahead of Zharovsky.
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Only David Reinbacher, Michael Hage and Jacob Fowler were placed ahead of Pugachyov. That's serious company for an attacker selected 26th overall in the most recent draft.
The placement immediately stands out because Zharovsky has already created major expectations around Montreal's prospect group. His offensive skill and creativity have made him one of the organization's most intriguing young forwards.
Zharovsky produced 42 points in 59 KHL games during his rookie season, giving Montreal another high-upside Russian attacker to follow closely.
But Pugachyov brings a much different profile. At 6-foot-3 and 225 pounds, he has the size and physical approach that can separate him from several other forwards in the system.
Pugachyov gives Montreal a different type of prospect
That contrast may explain why Pugachyov received such an aggressive ranking. Zharovsky can create with the puck, while Pugachyov projects as a heavier forward who can establish position and pressure defenders.
Montreal already has skill coming through the pipeline. What makes Pugachyov interesting is the possibility that he can bring size without sacrificing offensive upside.
There's still plenty of development ahead. A prospect ranking in August doesn't guarantee where either player will eventually fit in an NHL lineup.
Still, jumping Zharovsky sends a clear message about how highly Pugachyov's package is being viewed. He's no longer just another recent draft pick buried deep on the organizational depth chart.
For St-Louis, the bigger story is the variety developing underneath the NHL roster. Montreal isn't collecting one type of forward; the organization is building options with different strengths.
Zharovsky remains one of the most skilled names in the system, but Pugachyov suddenly has another layer of attention around him.
And once training camps and future development seasons begin, that internal race will become much harder to ignore.
Will Gleb Pugachyov become a better NHL player than Alexander Zharovsky?
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