Canadiens prospect Alexander Zharovsky just threw a massive hit in a KHL game, and Habs fans are having fun with it.
Nobody expected it. Zharovsky is listed at 6'1 and 165 pounds, a lean winger the Canadiens drafted 34th overall in 2025, and physical play has never been the reason anyone talks about him.
The /r/Habs account joked that Zharovsky "is a goon now."
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The joke lands because the hit is such a departure. Prospects with that frame usually get noticed for skating, hands and reads, not for flattening somebody along the boards.
We can't see the play from the post, so the details of it stay with those who watched the game. What the reaction shows is that fans were not expecting it.
Zharovsky is still an overseas story for now. Elliotte Friedman's update on the Canadiens' timeline for Zharovsky said Montreal plans to have him and Michael Hage in town once their seasons end.
That is a long way from tonight's chatter. Zharovsky has no NHL games on his résumé, so nothing he does in the KHL changes the plan yet.
Does a big hit change what Montreal expects from him?
Not by itself. One hit shows willingness, not a new identity, and a 165-pound player who makes a habit of this will find it harder against NHL-sized bodies.
Still, an extra edge is welcome for a team that Martin St-Louis has at 11-3-4, second in the Atlantic Division. The Canadiens lost 2-1 in overtime to the Wild on Tuesday and visit the Bruins on Thursday, so the big club has its own business to handle.
Montreal will get its look at Zharovsky once his season ends, and by then the hit may have been forgotten. His skating and hands will not be.
Quick hits
PITTSBURGH PENGUINS: Yaroslav Askarov is reportedly the goalie for the San Jose Sharks tonight against the Penguins. Pittsburgh will see a fresh name in the opposite crease.
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CHICAGO BLACKHAWKS: Kyle Davidson announced that Mark Eaton joins the Blackhawks coaching staff full time, starting Monday. A quiet but real change behind the bench.
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CALGARY FLAMES: Sam Honzek has been activated off injured reserve and assigned to the Calgary Wranglers, per the AHL website. The Flames host the Rangers next.
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VEGAS KNIGHTS: Carter Hart was the first goalie off the ice at the Golden Knights' morning skate, a strong sign he starts tonight against Utah.
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BOSTON BRUINS: A late twist in the Canadiens' goalie plan. Jacob Fowler is reportedly set to start for Montreal in Boston tomorrow night.
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This article was written with the help of artificial intelligence, based on public reports and official sources.
Should the Canadiens want Alexander Zharovsky to play with more of an edge in the NHL?
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