The Russian Kid Who’s Painting Hockey in Motion

Every so often, a player comes along who doesn’t just play hockey — he creates it. You can see it in the way the puck moves when it touches his stick, in the rhythm of his skating, in the way the ice almost seems to bend around him. It’s not luck. It’s not coincidence. It’s art.

And right now, somewhere in the heart of Russia, a teenager wearing the green and blue of Salavat Yulaev Ufa is making the KHL look like his personal gallery.

For most fans in Montreal, his name still sounds new — Alexander Zharovsky, the Canadiens’ second-round pick from this year’s NHL Draft. At just 18, he’s not supposed to be doing this. Not in a league filled with grown men, former NHLers, and veterans who’ve been battling on the ice since before he could drive a car. But that’s exactly what makes his rise so extraordinary.

Ask anyone in the Montreal front office, and you’ll hear a careful optimism — the kind that hides excitement under polite restraint. No one wants to say it out loud yet. But inside the organization, there’s a growing realization: this kid might be different.

Over the last few weeks, Zharovsky has done more than simply “adjust” to professional hockey. He’s rewriting what it means to be ready. The KHL isn’t supposed to be a playground for rookies, especially those fresh out of junior programs. Yet somehow, the young forward has found a way to make it look almost effortless.

Coaches talk about his vision — how he sees plays developing seconds before they happen. Teammates talk about his humility, how he’s the last one to leave the ice and the first to thank the veterans who guide him. Scouts, meanwhile, have started using words they rarely dare to say about teenagers: poise, creativity, composure.

But there’s another word that keeps coming up — one that sticks in people’s minds after watching him play.

Artist.

It’s the kind of label that doesn’t come from analysts or highlight reels. It comes from people who share the ice with him — people who watch him weave through defenders like he’s sketching his next masterpiece at full speed. One of his teammates, when asked about him, couldn’t hide his smile.

“You have to see it to believe it,” he said. “Zhar… he’s an artist.”

You can almost picture it — a young man in motion, the sound of blades carving lines across the ice like brushstrokes on a canvas, the crowd roaring as he turns instinct into imagination.

For fans of the Montreal Canadiens, this story feels like a whisper of the future. The kind that starts in a foreign rink, halfway around the world, before finding its way to the Bell Centre under the bright lights of the NHL.

But before we get there, it’s worth pausing to ask one question:

How good, exactly, is Alexander Zharovsky right now?

The answer — when you see what he’s already doing in Russia — might just surprise you.

Photo credit: All Habs / NHL

The young Russian prospect of the Canadiens, Alexander Zharovsky, continues to amaze everyone in the KHL.

In the last game between Salavat Yulaev Ufa and Admiral Vladivostok, this year’s second-round pick of the Montreal Canadiens recorded one goal and two assists in a 6-1 victory.

His goal, scored on the power play, made it 5-1 in the second period, confirming his team’s domination.

And for Zharovsky, this was clearly his best professional game so far.

“Habs prospect Alexander Zharovsky had 1 goal and 2 assists for 3 points today.

He is now PPG with 12 points in 12 games as a KHL rookie.”

– HabsOnReddit

That’s crazy!

Let’s not forget – he’s doing this in one of the best leagues in the world.

Alexander Zharovsky Impresses in the KHL and Moves Closer to NHL Level

With 12 points in 12 games this season – the young forward has an average of one point per game. Really impressive for an 18-year-old.

Looking at his stats, you can see that he has collected eight of those points in his last six games – a progression that hasn’t gone unnoticed.

One of his teammates even told Hockey News Hub:

“Zhar… he is an artist!! And he is well surrounded and kid wants to learn any chance he gets. Awesome guy! Excited for him.”

I really like hearing that. I think those words show just how appreciated and respected he is by his peers.

In my opinion, the Montreal Canadiens and their fans can be thrilled to have landed such a promising prospect – and in the second round, no less.

I can’t wait to see the rest of his season!