Gleb Pugachyov
26th overall | Chaika Nizhny Novgorod, W, 6’3″ 224 lbs.
Grade: A
I like that the Montreal Canadiens traded up and got a player they wanted and didn’t think would be there two picks later. This pick is addressing an organizational need: a big, physical player who can take up the reins from Josh Anderson down the line.
When it comes to Gleb Pugachyov, there is a lot to like with him. What stands out to me is the fact that he isn’t a player that necessarily gets you to the playoffs, but he gets you through the playoffs — and he loves the playoffs.
There is also the fact that he had a few KHL games this season. While the point total isn’t much (three in 13 games), the hit count certainly is; in the MHL he had close to two hits a game, but in the KHL he was close to three per game. It could be easy to hit against your peers especially with a size advantage, but levelling up your hits as you adapt to a higher league setting is very impressive.
Pugachyov was supposed to start in the KHL last season but appendicitis stopped that. I fully expect him to start in the KHL next season, and that should benefit him getting ready for the NHL and it will be easier to evaluate for fans as well. While I think Habs prospect Yevgeni Volohkin will challenge for KHL rookie of the year, Pugachyov could be an outside threat.
Timofei Runtso
57th overall | Victoria Royals (WHL), RD, 6’3″, 196 lbs.
Grade: B-
I am on the record liking the fact you draft over-agers as you have more data on them, and with a later birthday in 2007, people might have had too little data to take a swing on Timofei Runtso last year.
He got a big role that he filled with the Victoria Royals last season. He is the same size David Reinbacher was in his draft year, and has the same kind of offensive flair in his game. He likes to transport the puck up the ice, however the one thing that stands out is his defensive-zone struggles. It’s not only the coverage but also the exit passes that Runtso struggles with and it all comes down to consistency.
It will be up to the Canadiens’ development team to work with him to iron out his deficiencies, and that is a strong group. Runtso will go to the Miami University, which will give him four years before a decision has to be made, something I am in favour of.
Montreal is betting on his upside, and they have made sure Runtso will have time to reach it, which is the base of my grade.
Cooper Cleaves
93rd overall | Dartmouth College (NCAA), RD, 6’3″, 205 lbs.
Grade: C
Another over-ager, this time a double over-ager, however Montreal should have good insights on Cooper Cleaves as he was a development camp invitee last year. The NCAA route also gives you extra years for developmentment.
He is big and a future shutdown defenceman. The question will be if he can add to his repertoire down the line, and that is what will decide his future in the organization.
I think this is a little bit less exciting of a pick, but it’s also players like this that are needed to help the offensive-minded defencemen that Montreal has in the system, and some of them signed long-term.
Brayden Klimpke
117th overall | Saskatoon Blades (WHL), LD, 6’0″, 174 lbs.
Grade: B
Good skating, high hockey IQ, and a Swiss Army knife, what’s not to like? At this time of the draft the smart thing is to bet on someone with good hockey sense who is stable in all aspects of the game. You want the player to pan out, to reach at least an AHL level to be able to work with him further, which is something that Klimpke should do.
I understand that some would consider a swing for the fences here, but I think those are better left for the later rounds.
Parker Trottier
189th overall | USNTDP (USHL), LW, 6’1″, 185 lbs.
Grade: C-
A kind of Brendan Gallagher-lite, which Montreal has drafted plenty of through the years, and that is the best-case scenario for every player picked late in the sixth round.
Consistency will be the key going forward. Can the Montreal development team work wonders with the player? Hockey Prospect doesn’t seem to think so, hence the minus after the C in this case.
Wesley Royston
190th overall | Owen Sound Attack (OHL), RW, 6’4″, 190 lbs.
Grade: C+
Fast and hits hard – with size. The question will be if something can be added to these attributes. With the size and skating he was more or less certain to be picked in the draft even if McKeen’s had him at 246 in their rankings. A swing-for-the-fences pick and no one can be upset about it.
Jean-Samuel Daigneault
221st overall | Muskegon Lumberjacks (USHL), LD, 6’3″, 194 lbs.
Grade: B
Jean-Samuel Daigneault is another hard-hitting, big defender. He has some offence to his game but he lacks overall balance. He doesn’t show discipline in his positioning or the details of his game. To me it sounds like his hockey IQ needs to develop further.
Elite Prospects wrote in their profile that “we didn’t feel quite confident enough to rank him as highly as many on our staff wanted.” To get him with one of the last picks in the draft might be a bit of a steal for Montreal, a low-risk, high-reward decision. It makes this pick a solid B for me.
Tyler Deakos
224th overall | Waterloo Black Hawks (USHL), RW, 6’1″, 174 lbs.
Grade: C
Another over-ager that is looking to go the NCAA route.
Overall Grade: B+
I think this draft will be judged on the two first picks, maybe even on Gleb Pugachyov alone. I graded the big Russian an A, and the rest of the draft carries a bit of uncertainty in it. The Canadiens’ draft team has scored well in the last drafts, so I trust in them and in the process.
I used to say that if you can get two NHL players out of the draft then you have drafted well, but I am struggling to see the second player making the NHL in this draft class, hence I grade the class as a whole a bit lower than on Pugachyov alone.
Montreal has in general drafted players that they seem to have some underlying metric on, and that counts for something. The team really went its own way this year. However, these picks are not for when the window has opened, which one might argue is now, but rather to extend it. Time is on Montreal’s side.
