Around the League - 2023 Offseason Edition

[Pierce Hawthorne]

Best thing about September, it leads to October and the beginning of our year. I don't think I've ever jonesed as hard for a season to begin as I am now. And we've had some damn long summers to contend with at times.

October 11th can't get here soon enough. Kings w/ PLD for the first game should be fun. It's in LA but TNT has the broadcast. On the plus side, at least it isn't ESPN.

Agreed. Very much looking forward to the season this year. Feels like the first year in a while where I really dont know how good/bad the team is going to do. I think they could be anywhere from top in the division and fighting for 1st in the league, or quite frankly I see more than a couple scenarios where they're on the outside looking in of the wildcard picture in the last few weeks of the season.


Very interested to see how all the Avs high risk moves work out this year. Could go either way I think.

 

[Alienblood]

Comtois signed a PTO with Vegas

 

[The Kingslayer]

Best thing about September, it leads to October and the beginning of our year. I don't think I've ever jonesed as hard for a season to begin as I am now. And we've had some damn long summers to contend with at times.

October 11th can't get here soon enough. Kings w/ PLD for the first game should be fun. It's in LA but TNT has the broadcast. On the plus side, at least it isn't ESPN.

Here here.

 

[Bill Peckerskull]

 

[S E P H]

Good move, doing something every Canadian team is afraid to do and will be more successful coming out of it.

 

[henchman21]

Yeah Army 2.0 has done a good job of providing stability and a path forward. I'm not sure of the ultimate end here, but they have drafted a lot of good prospects and have some good young players. I think there is a decent chance they are over .500 this year and in that 84-88 point range. Not to the playoffs quite yet, but much closer. If Cooley can step into the 1C role and put up 60 points with Hayton taking a half step and settling into a 2C role... they might be even better than that. Big if.

I'm sure the Avs wouldn't have selected him... but JJ Moser going one pick in front of Behrens is aggravating.

 

[Hasbro]

Yeah Army 2.0 has done a good job of providing stability and a path forward. I'm not sure of the ultimate end here, but they have drafted a lot of good prospects and have some good young players. I think there is a decent chance they are over .500 this year and in that 84-88 point range. Not to the playoffs quite yet, but much closer. If Cooley can step into the 1C role and put up 60 points with Hayton taking a half step and settling into a 2C role... they might be even better than that. Big if.

I'm sure the Avs wouldn't have selected him... but JJ Moser going one pick in front of Behrens is aggravating.

Behrens is promising though.

 

[henchman21]

Behrens is promising though.

Oh I like Behrens and think he has a NHL future... Moser is a legit top 4D today. As we are talking about Toews, trading G, Byram's injuries, etc... Moser would have already allowed one of them to be expended to improve the team and still have a level of safety for another if needed.

 

[Ceremony]

I'm really glad we didn't pick Moser purely because of the amount of bitching there would be on here about the Altitude broadcast mentioning it every five seconds.

 

[henchman21]

I'm really glad we didn't pick Moser purely because of the amount of bitching there would be on here about the Altitude broadcast mentioning it every five seconds.

There is a solution that we would likely all agree on there.

 

[henchman21]

@Alienblood I guess Michkov isn't a center now.

 

[Balthazar]

@Alienblood I guess Michkov isn't a center now.

Is he even playing? He was a healthy scratch for the first few games.

Seems like the "Russian factor" is growing bigger and bigger every year. KHL teams don't give a flying f*** about development.

 

[henchman21]

Is he even playing? He was a healthy scratch for the first few games.

Seems like the "Russian factor" is growing bigger and bigger every year. KHL teams don't give a flying f*** about development.

He was scratched the first game and I don't think he played much more than 6 minutes today at wing. He didn't look bad to my eyes (one real nice backcheck), but he's certainly not high in the pecking order right now. Chucky was the 1C for them today.

KHL just does what they want to do and they develop players how they see the game. Not how NHL GMs see the game or want to develop. Michkov will be fine. I'm just giving @Alienblood a hard time for his stance that Michkov is a center now from a few weeks ago.

 

[LOFIN]

Is he even playing? He was a healthy scratch for the first few games.

Seems like the "Russian factor" is growing bigger and bigger every year. KHL teams don't give a flying f*** about development.

European teams in general, not just a Russian problem.

Neither do NHL-teams either, unless they are in a rebuild and also realize this.

 

[Pokecheque]

So is Comtois just not that good or just not durable enough?

 

[The Abusement Park]

So is Comtois just not that good or just not durable enough?

Lazy is what I see whenever I watch him. Decent talent but no motor or effort to maximize the talent.

 

[Foppa2118]

Just because a healthy scratched player played wing, doesn't necessarily mean he's a winger. Just means they didn't want to take out a center to play him.

Just like how the Avs hoped Ben Meyers would be a center, then he got scratched, then played wing, and now they've put him in contention for the 4C spot again.

 

[Balthazar]

Just because a healthy scratched player played wing, doesn't necessarily mean he's a winger. Just means they didn't want to take out a center to play him.

Just like how the Avs hoped Ben Meyers would be a center, then he got scratched, then played wing, and now they've put him in contention for the 4C spot again.

Michkov isn't a center though? It has nothing to do with this year. He's not and never going to be a center.

 

[henchman21]

Michkov isn't a center though? It has nothing to do with this year. He's not and never going to be a center.

He played center in a preseason game and people ran with it... hyping him as a center. Which I agree he won't be.

So is Comtois just not that good or just not durable enough?

Lazy, uncoachable, some off ice concerns (not just the WJC thing that people tie him to)... talent wise, he's a middle 6 NHLer. Talent doesn't make a player though.

 

[Foppa2118]

Michkov isn't a center though? It has nothing to do with this year. He's not and never going to be a center.

I don't know if he'll be a center or not, but there are multiple sources saying they planned to play him in that position, and he played well there in pre-season. Their GM/Head Coach also sees him as a center.

"Michkov’s scratches have occurred after the forward played well in SKA’s early preseason outings. The talented prospect had strong showings even while playing center, an entirely new position. Not only did Michkov score at least a point in almost every preseason game, the prospect was contributing on the ice in other ways as well."

"Matvei Michkov, a prospect for the Philadelphia Flyers and forward for SKA St. Petersburg, will be trying out a new position this season: center. Michkov, who typically plays on the wing, will experiment with playing in the center position during the KHL season."

"When the interview came out where Matvei revealed that SKA General Manager Roman Rotenberg saw him as a centreman and Matvei also wanted to be a center....."

“This is actually a challenge for me. I used to play a couple of games in the center, I always liked it. The whole game goes through you, you conduct a trio or all five. I am generally comfortable doing this,” Michkov said. “Roman Borisovich said that he saw me in the center, and I was only glad. Of course, I myself am happy to play anywhere – even as a defender, even as a goalkeeper, I will give all my best in any position. The main thing is that the team wins.”

“When I found out that I would play in the center, I came home, opened the computer and began to study how the center plays. But I watched the video of Sidney Crosby. And not goals and actions in attack, but how he works out in defense.”

https://thelibertyline.com/2023/08/07/why-does-ska-see-matvei-michkov-as-a-center-and-why-should-you/

Prospect Watch: Michkov Moves to Center in KHL Preseason | Philadelphia Flyers

The highly touted prospect opens preseason play with four points in three games.

www.nhl.com

Matvei Michkov to play center with SKA, learned from watching Sidney Crosby

Matvei Michkov, already known as a dynamic player, is learning a new position throughout the season with SKA. The Flyers' prospect will be moving to center.

broadstreetbuzz.com

Philly Flyers Prospect Matvei Michkov to Try New Position as Center in KHL Season

Matvei Michkov, a prospect for the Philadelphia Flyers and forward for SKA St. Petersburg, will be trying out a new position this season: center. Michkov, who t

bvmsports.com

PODCAST: Will Matvei Michkov Play Center In The NHL? – FLYERS NITTY GRITTY

flyersnittygritty.com

Philadelphia Flyers’ Matvei Michkov scratched for SKA St. Petersburg’s opening two games

Michkov was scratched for SKA St. Petersburg’s season opener and a second straight game despite a strong preseason showing.

www.dailyfaceoff.com

 

[Alienblood]

He was scratched the first game and I don't think he played much more than 6 minutes today at wing. He didn't look bad to my eyes (one real nice backcheck), but he's certainly not high in the pecking order right now. Chucky was the 1C for them today.

KHL just does what they want to do and they develop players how they see the game. Not how NHL GMs see the game or want to develop. Michkov will be fine. I'm just giving @Alienblood a hard time for his stance that Michkov is a center now from a few weeks ago.

I really don't care if he even even plays hockey lol but I certainly wouldn't have taken David regardless

Time will tell on where Michkov plays.

 

[Alienblood]

I don't know if he'll be a center or not, but there are multiple sources saying they planned to play him in that position, and he played well there in pre-season. Their GM/Head Coach also sees him as a center.

"Michkov’s scratches have occurred after the forward played well in SKA’s early preseason outings. The talented prospect had strong showings even while playing center, an entirely new position. Not only did Michkov score at least a point in almost every preseason game, the prospect was contributing on the ice in other ways as well."

"Matvei Michkov, a prospect for the Philadelphia Flyers and forward for SKA St. Petersburg, will be trying out a new position this season: center. Michkov, who typically plays on the wing, will experiment with playing in the center position during the KHL season."

"When the interview came out where Matvei revealed that SKA General Manager Roman Rotenberg saw him as a centreman and Matvei also wanted to be a center....."

“This is actually a challenge for me. I used to play a couple of games in the center, I always liked it. The whole game goes through you, you conduct a trio or all five. I am generally comfortable doing this,” Michkov said. “Roman Borisovich said that he saw me in the center, and I was only glad. Of course, I myself am happy to play anywhere – even as a defender, even as a goalkeeper, I will give all my best in any position. The main thing is that the team wins.”

“When I found out that I would play in the center, I came home, opened the computer and began to study how the center plays. But I watched the video of Sidney Crosby. And not goals and actions in attack, but how he works out in defense.”

https://thelibertyline.com/2023/08/07/why-does-ska-see-matvei-michkov-as-a-center-and-why-should-you/

Prospect Watch: Michkov Moves to Center in KHL Preseason | Philadelphia Flyers

The highly touted prospect opens preseason play with four points in three games.

www.nhl.com

Matvei Michkov to play center with SKA, learned from watching Sidney Crosby

Matvei Michkov, already known as a dynamic player, is learning a new position throughout the season with SKA. The Flyers' prospect will be moving to center.

broadstreetbuzz.com

Philly Flyers Prospect Matvei Michkov to Try New Position as Center in KHL Season

Matvei Michkov, a prospect for the Philadelphia Flyers and forward for SKA St. Petersburg, will be trying out a new position this season: center. Michkov, who t

bvmsports.com

PODCAST: Will Matvei Michkov Play Center In The NHL? – FLYERS NITTY GRITTY

flyersnittygritty.com

Philadelphia Flyers’ Matvei Michkov scratched for SKA St. Petersburg’s opening two games

Michkov was scratched for SKA St. Petersburg’s season opener and a second straight game despite a strong preseason showing.

www.dailyfaceoff.com

Yes him not playing and then playing him on the wing has nothing to do with whether he will be a center in not , we will see

 

[Chiarelli]

who's the last player to go from wing to center after their draft?
generally players go the other direction ...

 

[henchman21]

who's the last player to go from wing to center after their draft?
generally players go the other direction ...

A few do it, but it is more of the rarity. PLD is probably the highest profile recentish example. Columbus drafted him as a center even though he primarily played wing in the Q (and rumors of PLD preferring wing). They worked with Cape Breton to get him playing center and comfortable there.

 

[Balthazar]

Michkov is a small goal scoring winger with 0 interest for defense or backchecking. I don't see any future at center for him in the NHL.

He's a Russian Cole Caufield.