Canadiens draft forward Alexander Zharovsky in second round
The Montreal Canadiens were active in the 2025 NHL Entry Draft, trading their two first-round picks and moving up in the second round. (Christinne Muschi/The Canadian Press)
The Montreal Canadiens did not make a selection in the first round of the NHL Draft, but quickly made a trade to improve their position in the second round on Saturday and select a player they clearly had their eye on.
The Habs set their sights on forward Alexander Zharovsky with the 34th overall pick. To do so, they traded the 41st and 49th picks to the Carolina Hurricanes in exchange for the 34th and 189th picks.
Zharovsky, who played for Ufa Tolpar in the Russian junior league, was ranked fifth among international skaters by the NHL Central Scouting Bureau.
A 6-foot-1, 163-pound left-handed right winger, Zharovsky scored 24 goals and 26 assists in 45 games last winter. The NHL Central Scouting Bureau noted his exceptional progress during the last campaign.
The Canadiens also made a trade with the Boston Bruins to move up to 69th overall in the third round. They sacrificed their 79th and 108th picks and selected right-handed centre Hayden Paupanekis of the Kelowna Rockets.
The 6-foot-5, 202-pound powerhouse scored 22 goals and 21 assists in 71 games last winter with the Spokane Chiefs and Rockets.
He was ranked 38th among North American skaters by the NHL Central Scouting Bureau. It notes that he is not afraid to get physically involved, but adds that he can be considered a 'project,' meaning he will need time to develop.
At 81st overall, the Canadiens selected right-handed defenceman Bryce Pickford of the Medicine Hat Tigers. Then, at 82nd overall, the Habs opted for Belarusian goaltender Arseni Radkov of Tyumenski Legion in the Russian junior league.
Pickford is 19 years old and had 20 goals and 27 assists in 48 games with the Tigers last winter. He added 13 goals and 11 assists in 18 playoff games, helping the Tigers win the Western Hockey League championship.
For his part, Radkov, who is 6 feet 4 inches tall, is committed to attending the University of Massachusetts in two years.
In the fourth round, the Canadiens selected American centre John Mooney with the 113th pick. A small player at 5 feet 8 inches, he is known for his dynamism and instinct on offence.
He has committed to attending the University of Minnesota in two years. He is the cousin of Utah Mammoth star Logan Cooley.
The Canadiens also had a fifth-round pick (145), two sixth-round picks (177 and 189) and a seventh-round pick (209).
On Friday, the Habs did not have a first-round pick. They traded the 16th and 17th picks in the afternoon to the New York Islanders, along with forward Emil Heineman, in exchange for defenceman Noah Dobson.
It was the fifth time in franchise history that the Canadiens did not make a first-round pick, and the first time since 2008.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published in French on June 28, 2025.
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