2023 NHL Entry Draft

[Supersonic]

And people here have been claiming it’s ridiculous to think drafting Michkov is a risk…

 

[tooji]

I don't see any reason why it would have to do with that. Matvei wasn't planning on leaving Russia anytime soon. Even if he was planning on leaving now, the threat of imprisonment is what Putin would likely do at worst.
Most probably it has nothing to do with the government.

It could be literally anything -- depression, owed money to the wrong people, got in a car accident in the middle of nowhere, who knows.

 

[MonkeyBusiness]

I don't see any reason why it would have to do with that. Matvei wasn't planning on leaving Russia anytime soon. Even if he was planning on leaving now, the threat of imprisonment is what Putin would likely do at worst.
Most probably it has nothing to do with the government.

Sorry, what? Putin doesn't abide by any rules, and we have no way of knowing what he would have done. Especially if you consider the fact that he's done far worse things for similar ''transgressions''. What happened to Michkov's father, no one as of yet knows, and we might never know. But it is ridiculous to claim that we can tell what the outcomes would have been if Matvei had chosen to leave Russia.

And people here have been claiming it’s ridiculous to think drafting Michkov is a risk…

I have yet to see a comment suggesting that there was/is no risk. People (like me), believe his talent trump the risk of him never coming over.

 

[Supersonic]

Sorry, what? Putin doesn't abide by any rules, and we have no way of knowing what he would have done. Especially if you consider the fact that he's done far worse things for lesser transgressions. What happened to Michkov's father, no one as of yet knows, and we might never know. But it is ridiculous to claim that we can tell what the outcomes would have been if Matvei had chosen to leave Russia.

I have yet to see a comment suggesting that there was no risk. People (like me), believe his talent trump the risk of him never coming over.

There’s been multiple people on this board claiming there’s zero issues with assuming he’ll be good to go to come over. I agree with you the talent is there, but to suggest the risk is completely imagined is some quality arm chair political science

 

[River Meadow]

It could be literally anything -- depression, owed money to the wrong people, got in a car accident in the middle of nowhere, who knows.

Good point.

We don't know anything.

 

[MonkeyBusiness]

There’s been multiple people on this board claiming there’s zero issues with assuming he’ll be good to go to come over. I agree with you the talent is there, but to suggest the risk is completely imagined is some quality arm chair political science

I agree, and I probably haven't read this thread enough to see comments like this. You're totally right.

 

[Kudo Shinichi]

Sorry, what? Putin doesn't abide by any rules, and we have no way of knowing what he would have done. Especially if you consider the fact that he's done far worse things for lesser transgressions. What happened to Michkov's father, no one as of yet knows, and we might never know. But it is ridiculous to claim that we can tell what the outcomes would have been if Matvei had chosen to leave Russia.

Why would the government gain by killing Matvei's father (versus imprisonment)? And why didn't they do that with other Russian players such as Kaprisov and Panarin?

 

[DramaticGloveSave]

Apples to apples, does anyone take Michkov over Benson at this point? Both are small offensive wingers, but Benson doesn’t have all the other questions. If I’m an NHL team I’m taking Benson over Michkov I think even if Michkov has more “upside”. The floor difference is massive.

 

[MonkeyBusiness]

Why would the government gain by killing Matvei's father? And why didn't they do that with other Russian players such as Kaprisov and Panarin?

Nothing, and I didn't claim he did. That wasn't the point. The point is that you said the threat of imprisonment was likely the worst he would do. This makes no sense, and he just sent Fedotov to a Siberian military camp for evading his military service. He can do whatever he pleases with impunity. If Michkov threatened to leave Russia and dishonor his contract with SKA, I sincerely doubt the threat of prison would be the worst outcome.

Kaprisov had problems returning to North America; he never openly criticized Putin like Panarin did.

 

[calder candidate]

Poor Michkov. I can't believe what it's like to lose your father at only 18 years of age.

The details surrounding this are sketchy, to say the least. HockeyNewsHub (the credibility of this account is a mystery to me) on twitter posted a video of the pond where he drowned and I don't really fathom how you can end up there, of one's own volition, and drown. Maybe it was the hubris brought about by alcohol mixed with the freezing water, or he fell in it. I don't know. It doesn't have to be a governmental conspiracy; it could simply be an accidental death or a murder.

I agree that if it isn’t accidental it more likely a robbery gone bad than a government conspiracy.

 

[Kudo Shinichi]

Nothing, and I didn't claim he did. That wasn't the point. The point is that you said the threat of imprisonment was likely the worst he would do. This makes no sense, and he just sent Fedotov to a Siberian military camp for evading his military service. He can do whatever he pleases with impunity. If Michkov threatened to leave Russian and dishonor his contract with SKA, I sincerely doubt the threat of prison would be the worst outcome.

Kaprisov had problems returning to North American; he never openly criticized Putin like Panarin did.

There's a world of difference between killing and imprisonment/being sent to a military camp. Sure Putin could do whatever he wants, but there's no precedent of killing a hockey player's family members because he wants to leave the country.

 

[MonkeyBusiness]

There's a world of difference between killing and imprisonment/being sent to a military camp. Sure Putin could do whatever he wants, but there's no precedent of killing a hockey player's family members because he wants to leave the country.

Yes, and we're on the same page. As I stated above I don't believe this death is attributable to Putin. I just do not agree that it is likely the worst Putin could to Michkov, if he were to try and leave the country. Especially with a war going on and him not having yet fulfilled (I think) his military obligations. In the end this is all hypothetical and Michkov will honor his contract in Russia.

 

[TomKosto]

There's a world of difference between killing and imprisonment/being sent to a military camp. Sure Putin could do whatever he wants, but there's no precedent of killing a hockey player's family members because he wants to leave the country.

He wants to leave in 3 years... I mean hard to believe the Putin murder.

 

[Ezpz]

Apples to apples, does anyone take Michkov over Benson at this point? Both are small offensive wingers, but Benson doesn’t have all the other questions. If I’m an NHL team I’m taking Benson over Michkov I think even if Michkov has more “upside”. The floor difference is massive.

Would you rather have a talent who is capable of 100+ points or a guy who could be anywhere from 50-80? I think for this team and the state we're in, we are not going to have a chance to get another first overall quality talent after this year. Michkov could be the last "freebie" elite player we could get with this core.

There's no way we're not overhauling the strength and conditioning staff this summer and we're really struggling to stay in the bottom 5 missing 10+ regulars. I would guess we'll pick 10-14 next year with a stay-the-course approach.

I wouldn't be upset with any of the top 4, Benson or even Smith. I just hope wherever we're picking if we have the choice we choose the one we think has the biggest upside over anything else. Drafting for floor is a loser move Bergevin would follow.

 

[FF de Mars]

I would pick Michkov 2OV... so I really hope he falls in our lap. Really bad news too, you only have one father and he just lost him.

 

[Mrb1p]

From the very little I've seen of Reinbacher he reminds me a little bit of Jiricek. How do they compare? And why is he so low on all the draft lists, did he just come out of nowhere this season?

He does compare well to Jiricek. Hes a better skater and more fluid, has a better wrister but a slightly worse clapper (Jiriceks already one of the best in the NHL.). Jiricek is a lot more Weber in the way he generates offense, Reinbacher is a lot more Subban offensively, without the unecessary swagger.

I agree unless the D prospect is elite like with last year's top D draftees, it's not worth it when you can take a high end forward. Hopefully Habs don't have to worry about that and get a top 4 pick

Reinbachers every bit as elite as Nemec and Jiricek.

Leads his team in PO scoring in the NL? Thats almost unheard of, even for forwards. Hes had more than double the points of Josi

Well, Reinbacher isnt a number one D either, though I feel like Hutson might be. And you don't need to absolutely have 3RD and 3LD to be a contender lol.

Matheson-Barron
Guhle-Hutson
Xhekaj-Mailloux
Harris-Engstrom

Is pretty solid

Says who? I would bet money on Reinbacher being a 1D.

As of today...
1- Bedard
2- Fantilli
3- Carlsson
4-Michkov
5-Smith
6- Benson
7- Leonard
8- Moore
9- Reinbacher
10- Barlow

Moore is way too high

I hope it has nothing to do with Michkov career… Poor kid

Thats horrible.

 

[Wats]

And people here have been claiming it’s ridiculous to think drafting Michkov is a risk…

At 5th/6th/7th overall there is no guaranteed pick with no risk. Michkov on ice has less risk than anyone that would be available.

 

[Whitesnake]

Moore is way too high

Don't believe he is. But that's just my opinion.

 

[DiglettDangles]

The one thing from the Habs' scouting I have full confidence in, is that they are very good at identifying legit D prospects recently, either at the top (Sergachev, Guhle) or later in the draft (Romanov, Mailloux, Hutson, Engstrom) or even Xhekaj from Costco.

When I look at the D prospects drafted after these round 2+ guys, we seem to have invariably picked the single best option for excellent value - hitting way above average.
The only ones we really missed are Quinn Hughes and Noah Dobson, where they preferred a center (not a D bust), and they are excused for QH because they got a wish-dot-ca version last year at 62.
Zellweger or Morrow vs Mailloux - jury's still out?
And obviously Slaf vs Nemec/Jiricek, where I think we made a mistake but it's too early to know for sure.

Anyways, I guess my point is that if we elect to draft Reinbacher at either pick, I'll be confident he'll be worth it, and if we don't, I'll sleep soundly too.
Not like our cupboards are bare either at RHD. A lot of people don't seem to know Engstrom prefers to play on the RHS even though he's a LH shot.

 

[Wateredgarden]

Poor Michkov, that's as dark as it gets for a 18 years old.

 

[Jaynki]

Pump the break with the killing thing mate...all speculation at this point. I can speculate that Putin has other people in mind than a 17yo who told everyone he is playing in Russia for the next 3 years. Losing his dad at 17yo is for sure a trauma, but he's not the first one to live something like this. Telling his career is over, way too soon. Will he droped at the draft, maybe,, let's take that opportunity.

You are right, i am jumping to conclusion and it might be a natural occurence. Michkov should have the resilience to go through this, assuming he is dead under ''normal'' circumstances.

This being said, it is really f***ed up.

 

[phillytennis]

Gurianov already plays in NA while Michkov is in Russia, those are wildly different cases. I don't think anybody can guess if Michkov will ever come play in the NHL, or even if he will be able to leave the country if he wants to come over so this is big gamble for a top 5 pick.

I would not pick Michkov at 5--7...the risk is too great that he won't be free to come over to play in the NHL...it's speculative...but he might be told by Russian authorities...if you want to play hockey, it's in the KHL or you will be drafted to fight in Ukraine.

 

[Jack Skellington]

If Hughes actually coached Smith for 3 years that's a really good thing. Either he knows the kid well enough to trust the pick or he knows enough to stay tf away.

 

[Mrb1p]

The one thing from the Habs' scouting I have full confidence in, is that they are very good at identifying legit D prospects recently, either at the top (Sergachev, Guhle) or later in the draft (Romanov, Mailloux, Hutson, Engstrom) or even Xhekaj from Costco.

When I look at the D prospects drafted after these round 2+ guys, we seem to have invariably picked the single best option for excellent value - hitting way above average.
The only ones we really missed are Quinn Hughes and Noah Dobson, where they preferred a center (not a D bust), and they are excused for QH because they got a wish-dot-ca version last year at 62.
Zellweger or Morrow vs Mailloux - jury's still out?
And obviously Slaf vs Nemec/Jiricek, where I think we made a mistake but it's too early to know for sure.

Anyways, I guess my point is that if we elect to draft Reinbacher at either pick, I'll be confident he'll be worth it, and if we don't, I'll sleep soundly too.
Not like our cupboards are bare either at RHD. A lot of people don't seem to know Engstrom prefers to play on the RHS even though he's a LH shot.

How did Xhekaj impress at Costco ? Hopefully he didn't beat up anyone or hip check an old lady trying to cut the line to get a glizzy.

 

[montreal]

That's insane wow. Poor kid. Is drowning in a pond a common death

From what i've been told from other Russians, drowning is common in Russia, due to people getting drunk and going outside to piss and falling or passing out near water or freezing to death. I never looked it up to see if it was true though.