Canadiens select Alexander Zharovsky No. 34 overall in 2025 NHL Draft

The Montreal Canadiens took a big swing on a sublimely talented winger by selecting Alexander Zharovsky with the 34th overall pick in the NHL Entry Draft at the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles on Saturday.

Zharovsky may weigh in at a rail-thin 165 lbs but was unafraid to attack players one-on-one in the MHL, Russia’s top junior league, last season, where he piled up 24 goals and 50 points in 45 games for Ufa (that’s a team name, not his contract status).

The 18-year-old is 6-foot-1, so he has time to fill out his frame to an extent that will allow him to survive the North American game. That makes it especially worthwhile for the Canadiens to take a gamble on the qualities he already has, namely electrifying hands and a willingness to take control of the game in the offensive zone.

Few draft-eligible players boast as dazzling a highlight reel, but questions about Zharovsky’s ability to translate to the NHL go beyond his weight. His skating stride is fine but doesn’t stand out as a huge plus, which could make it difficult to avoid huge checks in the NHL. His ability to keep his head on a swivel will be necessary to survive as an outside player at the highest level.

Zharovsky needs to fill out quite a bit to profile as an NHLer, but his hands are already operating at a pro level. His physical development will determine what he can achieve in North America, but it’s not hard to tell why the Canadiens decided to find out for themselves.

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