Photo credit: Amber Searls-USA TODAY Sports
Apparently, Kent Hughes and the Montreal Canadiens pulled off another excellent offensive acquisition at the 2025 NHL Draft.
Former Habs goaltender Zach Fucale recently shared his assessment of Alexander Zharovsky, having spent time around the Montreal Canadiens prospect in the KHL last season.
Fucale was in a great position to observe him.
The 31-year-old goaltender was playing his first season with Dinamo Minsk, which meant he had to face Zharovsky directly.
That gave him the opportunity to see the young player’s talent firsthand.
“There’s no doubt the skill is there,” Fucale acknowledged.
That said, Fucale is fully aware that the real test is still ahead for the young Zharovsky.
A move to North America that will be very interesting to follow for Alexander Zharovsky
Fucale compared his situation to that of Demidov.
According to him, Demidov is easier to evaluate because he has already played a season in the NHL.
With Zharovsky, there is still some uncertainty.
“We’ll have to see how he performs when he comes here to North America,” he specified.
The goaltender nevertheless approves of the young player’s summer stay in Montreal.
Zharovsky is spending part of the summer in Montreal to get acclimated to the organization, and that is a very good thing.
Fucale also sees it as an excellent decision.
“I think it’s great, he’ll be able to acclimate and meet people within the organization,” he added, while still believing that a return to the KHL would be beneficial.
You can watch the interview here:
It remains to be seen how Zharovsky will handle this crucial transition.
There is no doubt about the talent; it is the adaptation to the North American game that will determine what comes next.
And according to Fucale, a little patience could be the key to the promising forward’s development.
Previously on Montreal Hockey Fanatics
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Excellent acquisition for Kent Hughes and the Montreal Canadiens: ‘The skill is there’
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