Hockey

Alexander Zharovsky Opens Up On Canadiens Draft, Demidov And Next Steps

Published: Jul 1, 2025, 12:00 PM
5 min read
Updated: Jul 11, 2025, 11:45 AM

Key Takeaways

  • Zharovsky goes 34th overall: Despite hoping for a first-round selection, Alexander Zharovsky became the first Russian skater taken in the 2025 NHL Draft, joining the Montreal Canadiens.
  • Training and development hurdles: Visa delays will keep him from Montreal’s development camp, but he’s continuing offseason prep in Russia after training in Miami.
  • Rising star in Russian leagues: Zharovsky was named MHL Rookie of the Year and made his KHL playoff debut at 18, showing strong potential at both junior and pro levels.
Alexander Zharovsky

Alexander Zharovsky (Photo by HC Salavat Yulaev)

Alexander Zharovsky was the first player selected by the Montreal Canadiens in the 2025 NHL Draft. The Russian forward was taken early in the second round, with the No. 34 overall pick. To move up, the Canadiens traded picks No. 41 and No. 49 to the Carolina Hurricanes in exchange for No. 34 and No. 189.

“From the start, both my agent and I were hoping for the first round. So I was a bit disappointed not to be picked on Day One,” Zharovsky told RG in an exclusive interview. “I really thought I’d be in the first, even just barely. But in the end, I went early in the second — and the main thing is the team. I’m glad it worked out this way.”

The 18-year-old forward became the first Russian skater selected in the 2025 NHL Draft. He currently plays in Russia for the Salavat Yulaev Ufa system. According to multiple reports, the Canadiens had Zharovsky ranked higher on their draft board and were impressed by his hands, hockey IQ, and puck control.

“Montreal is a team with a great history. Everything worked out perfectly. I’m really happy to be drafted by this team,” he said.

“Right after the draft, the Canadiens’ head scout for Russia, Nikolai Bobrov, reached out and told me the team believes in me and is counting on me.”

Zharovsky said he had multiple interviews with the Canadiens, including one just days before the draft in Miami. “We talked again there. I probably shouldn’t share everything, but it went well. When they called the second time and asked more detailed questions, that’s when I felt things were getting serious,” he said. “My English isn’t great. I handled some conversations on my own, but needed a translator with a few teams. Sometimes I understood them, sometimes I didn’t.”

Due to visa issues, Zharovsky won’t be able to attend Montreal’s development camp. He doesn’t yet have a Canadian visa, and the process might take up to a month. On Sunday, June 29, he flew back to Russia from Miami, where he’ll continue his offseason training.

Childhood Friends and Draft-Day Joy

An interesting detail about his background — Zharovsky has been friends with fellow Russian prospect Ivan Demidov since childhood.

“I’ve known Vanya since we were eight. We played on the same team, and our dads know each other. We still text from time to time, ask how things are going,” he said. “He was also in Miami recently, but we didn’t get a chance to meet. If I had gone to Montreal, we would’ve seen each other. He and Bogdan Konyushkov would’ve been there too. But I’m flying back to Russia. Vanya called me right after the draft, congratulated me, and asked how I was feeling.”

Zharovsky had been training in Miami at a camp organized by his agent, Dan Milstein. The Gold Star camp brought together the agency’s clients for several days of intense on- and off-ice work, while NHL scouts and executives observed.

“It was a great camp. We trained for two or three hours a day. First on the ice, then off-ice workouts in the gym. The scouts and GMs showed up. First we’d do drills on the ice, then scrimmages. On Day One we trained more, but the rest of the days were warmups followed by games. I think scouts are more interested in the games anyway. Then we’d go to the gym, do strength and conditioning, and talk with scouts and team officials. The workouts were tough. But everything was awesome.”

MHL Rookie of the Year and KHL Debut

In the 2024–25 season, Zharovsky made his debut in the MHL, Russia’s top junior league. The year before, he played in the NMHL, the country’s second-tier junior league.

“The MHL isn’t just a kids’ league,” he said. “The MHL has more skilled players, for sure. Playing against 21-year-olds when you’re 16 is more like adult hockey. It was tough at first, but then I adjusted.”

He was named MHL Rookie of the Year last season after leading Tolpar Ufa in scoring with 50 points (24 goals, 26 assists) in 45 games. He also made his KHL debut at age 18, appearing in seven playoff games for Salavat Yulaev and recording one assist. He averaged just over six minutes of ice time per game.

“The atmosphere was amazing — the fans, the energy, doing what you love. Pure joy,” he said about his KHL debut.

Zharovsky admitted he was nervous but thanked Salavat Yulaev head coach Viktor Kozlov, a former NHL player with stints in San Jose, Florida and other teams.

“I’m grateful he trusted me and gave me the chance to play. They really let me play. Sometimes one period, sometimes two. First line, then third. The KHL is faster and tougher than the MHL. Those are grown men, professionals. It’s more intense and more fun.”

Zharovsky said his favorite players include Pavel Datsyuk, Connor McDavid, Nikita Kucherov, Artemi Panarin, and Ivan Demidov. “I wouldn’t say I try to copy anyone,” he noted. As for the Canadiens, he’s only familiar with Demidov and captain Nick Suzuki.

This summer, Zharovsky is focused on improving his physical game. “I need to get bigger, stronger and faster,” he said. 

He’ll begin MHL team practices on July 14 and could join Salavat Yulaev’s training camp on Aug. 1.

<p>Daria Tuboltseva has worked as a sports journalist since 2014 and has specialized in hockey coverage since 2016. She’s reported from some of the world’s biggest sporting events, including the Olympic Games (Beijing 2022), the FIFA World Cup (2018), the IIHF World Championships (2016–2019, 2021), the IIHF World Junior Championship (2019), and every Gagarin Cup Final since 2017.</p><p>Her work has appeared in leading Russian sports outlets like Championat.com and Sport24, as well as on the official websites of the KHL and the Women’s Hockey League (WHL). Daria has conducted exclusive interviews with some of the sport’s most recognized names, including Alex Ovechkin, Jaromir Jagr, Kirill Kaprizov, Sergei Bobrovsky, and Igor Shesterkin.</p><p>Beyond her writing, Daria brings extensive on-camera experience. She hosted NHL Today on Yandex.Efir and has produced powerful long-form projects such as the documentary Lokomotiv Crash and the series Hockey Country, featuring stars like Ovechkin, Malkin, Bobrovsky, Vasilevskiy, and Panarin. Her work has taken her to NHL games across North America and international events like the NHL Global Series in Europe.</p><p>In addition to her media career, Daria is a certified integrative nutritionist with a focus on sports nutrition. She works one-on-one with KHL players, helping them optimize performance and recovery through tailored nutrition plans. Her ability to blend media expertise with athlete support gives her a unique presence in the professional hockey world.</p><p>Daria publishes in both English and Russian and is the creator of the Telegram channel Coolest Game on Earth, where she shares insights, interviews, and behind-the-scenes stories from the hockey world.</p><p>Based in: Saint Petersburg, Russia</p><p>Languages: English, Russian</p>
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James Murphy
James Murphy
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James Murphy is a veteran sports journalist covering the NHL, NCAA and CHL hockey for RG.

With 25 years of experience covering the Bruins, the NHL, NCAA, CHL and more, Murphy has seen it all when it comes to hockey. His hockey black book is filled with Hall of Famers, current players, coaches, management, scouts and a diverse array of hockey media personalities who have lived and worked in and around the game. Murphy also currently co-hosts The Eye Test podcast with Pierre McGuire and, along with McGuire, interviews NHL owners and executives, as well as NHL and NCAA head coaches and players daily.

The Arlington, Massachusetts, native began his writing career in hockey in 2001, when the Boston Bruins raised one of his childhood idols, Ray Bourque’s No. 77, to the rafters before their 2001–02 season opener. For 22 of his 25 years as a hockey reporter, Murphy covered the Bruins daily, including their victorious 2011 Stanley Cup run and their runs to the 2013 and 2019 Finals, multiple NHL drafts and countless Stanley Cup playoffs. He did all that for the Boston Metro, NHL.com, NESN.com and ESPN Boston.

In addition to his print work covering the Bruins, Murphy also made regular TV appearances on NESN, Fox 25 Boston, ESPN and NHL Network. From 2008 to 2012, Murphy hosted The Hockey Primetime Show on SiriusXM NHL Network Radio and made numerous appearances on national and international radio shows.

Ironically, his three years not covering the Bruins were spent covering their archrivals, the Montreal Canadiens. From 2012 to 2015, Murphy was based in Montreal and covered the Canadiens for NHL.com and TSN.ca. He also appeared regularly on TSN 690 radio and CTV.

Murphy returned to Boston in 2015 and left the media business to work in sales and marketing for LiveBarn, a Montreal-based sports streaming company, for four years. In 2019, Murphy once again became a Bruins beat reporter, this time writing for Boston Hockey Now. He spent four seasons working for BHN before arriving at RG in 2024 and also dedicated more time to The Eye Test podcast.

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