2023 NHL Entry Draft

[Kennerback]

Matvei Michkov. Generational talent. This kid loves driving to the net, plays a ferocious style, never back down mentality, insane hands, vision and shot. He is not your typical Russian perimeter player. He is a pure talent with grit. Bedard has coverage, nationality and talent to go #1 overall. But Michkov will be a true NHL player and a franchise changing winger in my opinion. Please look at this video and 1m34. There is 2 Michigan goals in the highlight video, but this goal for me is so sick. Beats the defender on the wing, knows where the goalie is and makes an insane smart goal then followed by a sick celly. Simple, yet high IQ play at good speed. We loved Alexei Kovalev here in Montreal, and to be honest, didn't have any exciting player since Kovy (PK, Caufield maybe). But, Michkov would be our next Kovy. We need a mini-Artiste.



Enjoy!

I have trouble putting his numbers in perspective this season. He’s more offensively skilled at lower levels than Fantilli and Carlsson. But the other 2 have everything else going for them IMO. I find Michkov looked better in last years cancelled New Year WJC than Fantilli and Carlsson do right now. But because of the situation in Russia I would need to be convinced either Fantilli and Carlson have real unavoidable offensive shortcomings, I’m not there. But there’s a big fall off after those 2. Michkov looks on another planet than anyone you want to put at 5. Like a clear and evident skill discrepancy. I don’t know how to justify picking anyone else.

 

[Fatbiggie]

Yeah his skating sucks but so did Corey Perry's and he always managed a way to be a really good player in this league.

I wouldn't make him a top 10 pick if that was our only top 10 pick.. but let's say we take Yager at 6 (think that's where we are currently), and we have pick 11-12 from Florida? I'd definitely be interested.

Is he a particularly smart or high IQ player? Having this trait can somewhat overcome bad skating a la Mark Stone

 

[Jabba11]

I have trouble putting his numbers in perspective this season. He’s more offensively skilled at lower levels than Fantilli and Carlsson. But the other 2 have everything else going for them IMO. I find Michkov looked better in last years cancelled New Year WJC than Fantilli and Carlsson do right now. But because of the situation in Russia I would need to be convinced either Fantilli and Carlson have real unavoidable offensive shortcomings, I’m not there. But there’s a big fall off after those 2. Michkov looks on another planet than anyone you want to put at 5. Like a clear and evident skill discrepancy. I don’t know how to justify picking anyone else.

Fantilli and Carlsson are both centers which already give them a head start as well as being not from Russia and contractual commitment like Michkov.

But, let's say we are picking 2nd overall. Our duty is to draft the player that will have the greatest career in the NHL and bring the most impact to our organization and franchise. Adam Fantilli and Leo Carlsson are big, strong skating centermen that we've been hoping to draft for so long. However, their performances this year like you said did not show any signs of them being more dominant in the game compared to Michkov was last year in a cancelled event. Furthermore, remember what Bobrov and the group said when drafted Slafkovsky. They all said that international career is part of who a player is and can be taken as another league of its own. Which Michkov has dominated ever since the U18s. In my opinion, he plays the game at a higher IQ and anticipation than Fantilli and Carlsson. His shot is more accurate, his hands are more skilled, and his grit is better than at least Carlsson. As for Fantilli, I personally think he is having a very good tournament for a draft elligible prospect. You can fine tuned his bad habits and he would become a strong franchise center. However, Michkov just have more elite tools in my opinion, more dynamic and more offensive. More importantly. Michkov showed to step up when his team needs it the most and when the stakes are high. He's a complete dominant winger that you can't draft every year. Fantilli is good, but you have a lot of them year by year in my opinion:

Potential during draft year:

1) Matthew Beniers
2) Mason McTavish
3) Quinton Byfield
4) Kirby Dach
5) Alex Turcotte
6) Jack Eichel (better prospect IMO)

etc.

Compared to finding the next franchise winger:

1) Patrick Laine
2) Patrick Kane

As for being from Russia, I'm sure there are ways for our organization to help him come over. Drafting Michkov is an extremely high risk, but the reward is even higher. I would be pissed to have Fantilli putting up 70pts in 3 years and seeing Michkov come over at 21 years old and have same impact as Kaprizov and Panarin, let alone Kucherov.

 

[blueberry]

Fantilli and Carlsson are both centers which already give them a head start as well as being not from Russia and contractual commitment like Michkov.

But, let's say we are picking 2nd overall. Our duty is to draft the player that will have the greatest career in the NHL and bring the most impact to our organization and franchise. Adam Fantilli and Leo Carlsson are big, strong skating centermen that we've been hoping to draft for so long. However, their performances this year like you said did not show any signs of them being more dominant in the game compared to Michkov was last year in a cancelled event. Furthermore, remember what Bobrov and the group said when drafted Slafkovsky. They all said that international career is part of who a player is and can be taken as another league of its own. Which Michkov has dominated ever since the U18s. In my opinion, he plays the game at a higher IQ and anticipation than Fantilli and Carlsson. His shot is more accurate, his hands are more skilled, and his grit is better than at least Carlsson. As for Fantilli, I personally think he is having a very good tournament for a draft elligible prospect. You can fine tuned his bad habits and he would become a strong franchise center. However, Michkov just have more elite tools in my opinion, more dynamic and more offensive. More importantly. Michkov showed to step up when his team needs it the most and when the stakes are high. He's a complete dominant winger that you can't draft every year. Fantilli is good, but you have a lot of them year by year in my opinion:

Potential during draft year:

1) Matthew Beniers
2) Mason McTavish
3) Quinton Byfield
4) Kirby Dach
5) Alex Turcotte
6) Jack Eichel (better prospect IMO)

etc.

Compared to finding the next franchise winger:

1) Patrick Laine
2) Patrick Kane

As for being from Russia, I'm sure there are ways for our organization to help him come over. Drafting Michkov is an extremely high risk, but the reward is even higher. I would be pissed to have Fantilli putting up 70pts in 3 years and seeing Michkov come over at 21 years old and have same impact as Kaprizov and Panarin, let alone Kucherov.

Who really knows. Michkov could end up Yakupov. He's 150 lbs, what if he doesn't get bigger? You also could be pissed if Fantilli hits in a big way. He's been dominant in college and he's got really good size which we can use. I wouldn't take the risk unless it's a later pick (6 or more). The grass always seems greener on the other side. You hope the scouts who see lots of them make the right decision cause how much do we really know.

 

[Vachon23]

Who really knows. Michkov could end up Yakupov. He's 150 lbs, what if he doesn't get bigger?

Big difference, Michkov have a brain

 

[Kennerback]

Who really knows. Michkov could end up Yakupov. He's 150 lbs, what if he doesn't get bigger? You also could be pissed if Fantilli hits in a big way. He's been dominant in college and he's got really good size which we can use. I wouldn't take the risk unless it's a later pick (6 or more). The grass always seems greener on the other side. You hope the scouts who see lots of them make the right decision cause how much do we really know.

Talking in my own personal name, I would take Michkov for sure if he’s on the board at 4. I just see Michkov do regularly things the others can’t do ever. Even if there’s a chance I might see him only in 5 years. Maybe someone else behind him in this draft will develop into Michkov’s talent, but I couldn’t tell you who that can be. Maybe an NHL team can spot that. I certainly can’t.

 

[blueberry]

Let's just hope we make the right choice whatever it is.

 

[The Great Weal]

I gotta be honest I'm kinda meh on the guys after the top 4 and Smith. Don't think it will be a player that will have a drastic impact on our future.

 

[SOLR]

Talking in my own personal name, I would take Michkov for sure if he’s on the board at 4. I just see Michkov do regularly things the others can’t do ever. Even if there’s a chance I might see him only in 5 years. Maybe someone else behind him in this draft will develop into Michkov’s talent, but I couldn’t tell you who that can be. Maybe an NHL team can spot that. I certainly can’t.

I think Carlsson is number 2, Michkov 3, but Michkov is better.

I gotta be honest I'm kinda meh on the guys after the top 4 and Smith. Don't think it will be a player that will have a drastic impact on our future.

I think the current narrative on Yager is way wrong - my current list.

Bedard
Carlsson
Michkov

Yager
Sale
Smith

Fantilli
Benson
Dvorsky
Heidt
Woods
Pelikka
Allen
Gulyayev
Cristall

Fantilli might fall more - struggling with Dvorsky's speed or he would be much higher - Benson has the IQ in spade that Fantilli doesn't have, but Fantilli has all the tools Benson doesn't have.

 

[Kaladin]

I gotta be honest I'm kinda meh on the guys after the top 4 and Smith. Don't think it will be a player that will have a drastic impact on our future.

So you don't think this draft is worth all the hype then?

 

[The Great Weal]

So you don't think this draft is worth all the hype then?

I think the top 5 is one of the best top 5s since 2013. Guys like Yager and Dvorsky haven't had a great year thus far and there are no stud dmen.

 

[Frank JT]

A different point of view on Michkov :

 

[SwiftyHab]

A different point of view on Michkov :

Good share. If I have 1 pick in the top 10 this year, I’m likely not taking the risk of drafting Michkov and not knowing if and when I’ll get him over.
But if I’m the Habs and have 2 picks in the top 10, and I use my first pick on more of a sure thing, then I’m more willing to risk my 2nd pick on a potential home run like him.

 

[RandomTask26]

I think Carlsson is number 2, Michkov 3, but Michkov is better.



I think the current narrative on Yager is way wrong - my current list.

Bedard
Carlsson
Michkov

Yager
Sale
Smith

Fantilli
Benson
Dvorsky
Heidt
Woods
Pelikka
Allen
Gulyayev
Cristall

Fantilli might fall more - struggling with Dvorsky's speed or he would be much higher - Benson has the IQ in spade that Fantilli doesn't have, but Fantilli has all the tools Benson doesn't have.

Cristall at 15! I’ve seen some rankings with him at 5, with comparisons to Zegras (but with worse skating). I take it you don’t agree with that?

 

[atrud66]

What do you guys think of Leo Carlsson's skating?

 

[NotProkofievian]

What do you guys think of Leo Carlsson's skating?

Pretty good. I project him as an above average skater.

 

[atrud66]

Pretty good. I project him as an above average skater.

I haven't watched him very much but he looks like one of those big boys who looks kind of slow but who has deceptive speed because he doesn't have to move his legs as much

 

[SOLR]

Cristall at 15! I’ve seen some rankings with him at 5, with comparisons to Zegras (but with worse skating). I take it you don’t agree with that?

I like him, it's more an embarrassment of riches situation. I just can't find an argument for him to go higher quite yet, but I have him at 7 some days. That 3rd group is not quite firmed up in my mind.

What do you guys think of Leo Carlsson's skating?

For his age it's fine, it's improving. He could be more dynamic.

 

[NotProkofievian]

Cristall's been my boi for a while now and I see him more as a target for our Florida pick as well.

 

[GlassesJacketShirt]

I have Cristall at #5 at the moment because I think he's got the potential to be an elite playmaker, but I also have zero issues with someone being more reluctant to put him in the top 10. Unlike someone like Gavin Brindley, who seems like a utility player who can work in multiple roles, Cristall has boom or bust written all over him with some of the things he tries in the WHL. I'm going boom.

 

[Jabba11]

Pretty good. I project him as an above average skater.

I like Fantilli's skating better

 

[atrud66]

Carlsson just had a good rush/net drive. Silky with the puck and was able to beat the defender with power and enough pace. Adding a bit more speed to his game would take him to the next level. He definitely has more IQ than Fantilli

 

[atrud66]

I desperately want high IQ players with our two first round picks. I'm so sick of us picking players with no toolbox. Carlsson would be a dream

 

[SOLR]

Carlsson showing the elevation in his game in big moments.

 

[NotProkofievian]

I like Fantilli's skating better