Some of the Canadiens’ top prospects hit the ice for the first time at the team’s development camp Wednesday at the CN Sports Complex in Brossard after going through medical and physical testing on Tuesday.
Russian forward Gleb Pugachyov wasn’t among them because he was unable to obtain a visa in time to attend the camp. The 18-year-old winger was the Canadiens’ first-round pick (26th overall) at last week’s NHL Draft in Buffalo after posting 10-14-24 totals in 33 games this season with Nizhny Novgorod Chaika in the Russian junior league. The 6-foot-2, 224-pounder also played 13 games in the KHL with the Nizhny Novgorod Torpedo, posting 2-1-3 totals.
Another player who wasn’t on the ice Wednesday in Brossard was Bryce Pickford, who was named the CHL’s top defenceman this season after posting 45-38-83 totals in 55 games with the WHL’s Medicine Hat Tigers, to go along with a plus-55 differential.
The Canadiens announced Wednesday that Pickford will undergo shoulder surgery on Thursday. The Canadiens selected the 20-year-old Pickford, who shoots right, in the third round (81st overall) of the 2025 NHL Draft.
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Forward Tyler Deakos also wasn’t on the ice Wednesday as he continues rehabilitation following shoulder surgery. Deakos was the final pick at this year’s draft, selected by the Canadiens in the seventh round (224th overall). The 6-foot-1, 174-pounder had 7-10-17 totals in 19 games this season with the USHL’s Waterloo Blackhawks and 8-7-15 totals in 10 games with the Drumheller Dragons of the AJHL.
Pickford and Deakos were among 37 players invited to the development camp, which will wrap up with a scrimmage at 11 a.m. Thursday in Brossard.
Two of the players at the development camp — forward L.J. Mooney and defenceman Tim Runtso — have been invited by USA Hockey to the World Junior Summer Showcase event that will be held July 26 to Aug. 1 in Windsor, Ont. The tournament is part of the selection process for IIHF World Championship rosters and includes teams from the United States, Canada, Finland and Sweden.
The Canadiens selected Mooney, a 5-foot-7, 159-pound centre, in the fourth round (113th overall) of the 2025 NHL Draft. The 19-year-old had 7-23-30 totals in 34 games this season as a freshman at the University of Minnesota.
Runtso, 18, was selected in the second round (57th overall) of this year’s NHL Draft. The 6-foot-2, 194-pound right-shot defenceman had 11-33-44 totals in 68 games this season with the WHL’s Victoria Royals.
The world junior championship will be held from Dec. 26 to Jan. 5 in Edmonton and Red Deer, Alta.