Montreal Canadiens bring Russian forward Alexander Zharovskiy to summer development camp

The Montreal Canadiens have invited 19‑year‑old Russian forward Alexander Zharovskiy, selected 34th overall in the 2023 NHL Draft, to a summer development program in Montreal. Zharovskiy arrived recently and began training with fellow prospect Ivan Demidov and other young players, aiming to acclimate to the city, language, culture and the Canadiens' style of play before a future NHL role. The club hopes the program will smooth his transition, though he is not expected to join the main roster until at least next season because he remains under contract with Salavat Yulaev Ufa through 2026‑27. Zharovskiy previously excelled in the KHL, scoring 16 goals and posting 42 points in 59 regular‑season games for Ufa and earning the league’s rookie of the year award, positioning him as a potential teammate and future competitor to Slovak star Juraj Slafkovsky.