Gleb Pugachyov (C, L, 6’3″, 201, Torpedo Nizhny Novgorod, 03/25/2008) Gleb Pugachyov is a 6’3′, 201-pound left-shot forward who has spent the 2025/26 season developing across the KHL, VHL, and MHL, and the most notable aspect of his season is that he has appeared in 12 KHL games as a 2008. Physically he carries a pro frame, sitting above the average size for most professional leagues and approaching NHL-average weight, which gives him a strong physical foundation for projecting to the next level. His offensive production shows progression across levels, recording 21 points in 27 MHL games while also contributing 5 points in 15 VHL games and 3 points in limited KHL action. For a player his age competing against professionals, those numbers indicate legitimate offensive upside and adaptability. I feel he is two-way forward who can play in multiple situations; he is used on both the power play and penalty kill, as well as being put on the ice for defensive zone face-offs. He generates consistent shot volume and scoring chances while maintaining an 84% pass completion rate and he is confident attacking the royal road once enters the offensive side of the redline. His physicality stands out with over 1.6 hits per game and a willingness to initiate contact (sometimes just it seems to be just for pleasure), and he competes well winning 50% of his 50/50 battles. Pugachyov could become an NHL player because he possesses a combination of size and early professional experience that is difficult to find in prospects. His frame allows him to play through contact, he shows flashes of offensive instincts and scoring ability, and his willingness to engage physically tells me he can handle the demands of an NHL playoff game. However, there are also areas that raise questions about his long-term projection. His puck management is work in progress as his decision-making under pressure can be erratic. While he produces offense at the junior level, some of his production comes from opportunistic bounces rather than dominant puck play or driving the crease to create chaos and goals. Ultimately, Pugachyov projects as a physically mature two-way power forward with offensive upside whose NHL path will depend on how much his offensive game continues to develop as he gains experience against higher-level competition. If his puck management improves, net-front nastiness progresses, and his offensive instincts translate more consistently, he has the size and skill set to develop into a middle-six NHL forward capable of contributing meaningful minutes in all three zones. If those areas stagnate, his projection may settle as a bottom-six NHLer whose size and effort translate to momentum swings, but whose offensive impact remains limited at the NHL level.