Gleb Pugachyov has already given Martin St-Louis and the Canadiens a development concern before his season has even settled in.
Montreal's first-round prospect entered the new campaign expected to take another step with Torpedo. Instead, his start has produced more questions than encouraging signs.
The biggest one surrounds his physical transformation. Pugachyov reportedly added 33 pounds to his 6-foot-3 frame and is now weighing close to 220 pounds.
That's a massive change for a young forward whose mobility, pace and ability to create separation will matter as he tries to move closer to the NHL.
Adding strength was clearly part of the plan. But putting on that much weight in a relatively short period can become a concern if the extra size comes at the expense of explosiveness, conditioning or skating.
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And right now, Pugachyov hasn't had the start needed to make those concerns disappear. His performance and body language have already attracted attention for the wrong reasons.
The Canadiens now have another issue to monitor
The situation became more complicated after Pugachyov's first MHL appearance of the season. Following a disappointing outing, he left the game with an injury.
Torpedo later indicated that the Canadiens prospect had entered concussion protocol. That leaves his immediate playing schedule uncertain while medical staff monitor his recovery.
His return can't be rushed, and the injury also delays Montreal's chance to see how his dramatically different frame translates over a meaningful stretch of games.
That's what makes the 33-pound increase so interesting. Size can make Pugachyov tougher to handle along the boards and around the crease, but only if he can still get to those areas quickly enough.
For a first-round selection, Montreal will want to see evidence that the added mass is helping his game rather than changing the qualities that made him attractive at the draft.
There is still plenty of development time ahead for Pugachyov, and one difficult opening stretch doesn't define a prospect.
But between the concussion, the slow start and a striking physical transformation, this isn't the beginning the Canadiens were hoping to see.
Once he's cleared to return, every shift will bring the same question: did those extra 33 pounds make Pugachyov more dangerous, or did he simply get too heavy too fast?
Should the Canadiens be concerned about Gleb Pugachyov adding 33 pounds?
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