Confirmed with Link: Canadiens Will Pick 5th (Hughes Presser in OP) NO POLITICS

[Sterling Archer]

I think Michkov will drop to Habs. The only team in question right now is San Jose and if they’ll draft Michkov or Carlsson/Smith. My money is SJ drafting a center wh can play for them in a year. SJ has been terribad for a long time now and I don’t think they have the appetite to wait another 3 years. So my prediction is Michkov falls to the Habs. Now whether they take him or not is the question.

With Bobrov as the co-hard scout and his connections to SKA, I think he’ll push very hard for Canadian Bedard but the variables we likely don’t know will weigh on that decision. If they grab Leonard over Michkov, I think they’ll regret the decision in 3-5 years when Michkov comes over.

I understand the geopolitical risk and hesitation it can cause along with the 3 year contract that’s left, but make no mistake, this kid is absolutely the real deal. The team that gets him will have one of the best players in the league in 5 years on. This is exactly the elite player the Canadiens are missing in their prospect pool and a true game changing talent. I wouldn’t mind Smity or Carlsson as they’re both excellent prospects but they’re not at Michkov level. He’s top tier with Bedard and if they can steal him at 5, it’d be a bigger coup then when we got Caufield. He’s exactly what the Habs need to be a legitimate contender. Best part is, when he does come over, he’ll be on an entry level contract and would be like adding a superstar for league minimum to a roster that should already be very competitive.

 

[Vachon23]

Yeah, and so what? Pick Michkov ffs.

Holy shit are they gonna f*** this franchise up out of some warm-hearted feelings for these kids? Please no. I still have HuGo in high respect, and this is the era-defining moment for them if Michkov falls to 5th.

If Michkov is gone, then I'm fine with Smith. I love what I saw of him.

Don’t forget they have TONS of information that we don’t avec access. Especially Bobrov in Michkov case..

If they pass on him (and CBJ/SJ too), there will be a reason why..

 

[Grate n Colorful Oz]

Don’t forget they have TONS of information that we don’t avec access. Especially Bobrov in Michkov case..

If they pass on him (and CBJ/SJ too), there will be a reason why..

The "reason" might be plural and differently percieved by teams. Whatever reason #2 or #3 pass on a player, might not be for the exact same reason(s) and the following team might be more comfortable or have different information too.

This whole one equals one equals one is way too reductive.

 

[Runner77]

Don’t forget they have TONS of information that we don’t avec access. Especially Bobrov in Michkov case..

If they pass on him (and CBJ/SJ too), there will be a reason why..

If Michkov is able to fly in for the draft, what’s stopping him from being present at the combine? He can do like Slaf last year — only do interviews.

 

[Vachon23]

Does the size factor make Smith the better pick than Benson?

It shouldn’t since Benson plays way bigger then Smith

 

[Frank Drebin]

If they pass on him (and CBJ/SJ too), there will be a reason why..

It could be simply because the player available at their respective draft position is more appealing than the risk/reward combination with Michkov.

Like Chicago is a no brainer.

Anaheim likely a no brainer as well.

Columbus would likely be passing on a very good player in Leo Carlsson to take Michkov. Is the difference in skill worth that much risk?

It gets a lot murkier when it gets to San Jose and us.

 

[Vachon23]

If Michkov is able to fly in for the draft, what’s stopping him from being present at the combine? He can do like Slaf last year — only do interviews.

I don’t know.. like everybody here I have 0 information on Michkov and that’s the silly thing about that case. Last time I saw him play was in 2020

 

[Runner77]

I don’t know.. like everybody here I have 0 information on Michkov and that’s the silly thing about that case. Last time I saw him play was in 2020

I just thought it was weird that he can show up at the draft and yet miss the combine which teams rely upon as a major component of their evaluations.

 

[Naslund]

I find it funny to see the level of conviction that some people have that a guy like Michkov is going to be more impactful than guys like Leonard, Dvorsky, or Benson. Maybe he will, but maybe not.

- How many people though that Yakupov and Galchenyuk would bust and P. Forsberg would be the star forward of the 2012 draft?
- Same thing for Bo Horvat being a much more impactful player than Jo Drouin
- Or Tkachuk over Puljujarvi
- Or Zegras and Boldy over Turcotte
- Or Raymond and Stutzle over Lafreniere

These are just a few examples, but there are so many. It should teach us to be patient, open-minded, and acknowledge the unpredictability of the draft. I hope that whoever we draft, we will end up supporting both the player and the organization. Unless they draft Reinbacher of course, f*** that guy (just kidding!).

 

[Kennerback]

I find it funny to see the level of conviction that some people have that a guy like Michkov is going to be more impactful than guys like Leonard, Dvorsky, or Benson. Maybe he will, but maybe not.

- How many people though that Yakupov and Galchenyuk would bust and P. Forsberg would be the star forward of the 2012 draft?
- Same thing for Bo Horvat being a much more impactful player than Jo Drouin
- Or Tkachuk over Puljujarvi
- Or Zegras and Boldy over Turcotte
- Or Raymond and Stutzle over Lafreniere

These are just a few examples, but there are so many. It should teach us to be patient, open-minded, and acknowledge the unpredictability of the draft. I hope that whoever we draft, we will end up supporting both the player and the organization. Unless they draft Reinbacher of course, f*** that guy (just kidding!).

Anything is possible. However, saying’s he’s going to bust as a hockey player is like saying Bedard or McDavid are going to bust as a hockey player. Those two had record breaking seasons in Canada. Whereas Michkov pulverized all records in Russia that were set by the likes of Ovechkin.

Yakupov was a consensus #1 in an arguably sub-par draft year. Whereas several very serious hockey people say Michkov would go #1 in the past few drafts except the Bedard and McDavid years. Michkov is seen as the Next One in Russia.

 

[Kennerback]

Don’t forget they have TONS of information that we don’t avec access. Especially Bobrov in Michkov case..

If they pass on him (and CBJ/SJ too), there will be a reason why..

That’s assuming Bobrov would be the one that makes the final decision. I suspect this is not a decision they would defer to their top scout.

 

[Sterling Archer]

I find it funny to see the level of conviction that some people have that a guy like Michkov is going to be more impactful than guys like Leonard, Dvorsky, or Benson. Maybe he will, but maybe not.

- How many people though that Yakupov and Galchenyuk would bust and P. Forsberg would be the star forward of the 2012 draft?
- Same thing for Bo Horvat being a much more impactful player than Jo Drouin
- Or Tkachuk over Puljujarvi
- Or Zegras and Boldy over Turcotte
- Or Raymond and Stutzle over Lafreniere

These are just a few examples, but there are so many. It should teach us to be patient, open-minded, and acknowledge the unpredictability of the draft. I hope that whoever we draft, we will end up supporting both the player and the organization. Unless they draft Reinbacher of course, f*** that guy (just kidding!).

This can be said of literally any prospect. Bedard, Mathews, McDavid and so on. You have to go with the pool of data available at the time and when it’s overwhelming, the odds become better and better. Some prospects show incredible talent and skill which sets than apart from their peers and you have to act on that. That’s why the odds of a player making an impact in the NHL drops significantly with each passing pick. By pretty much a massive consensus, Michkov is the second best player on n his draft and his numbers are actually better than Bedards. That’s why I can say picking him at 5 would be an absolute steal. He’s absolutely on a different level than any prospect not names Bedard.

 

[Kennerback]

This can be said of literally any prospect. Bedard, Mathews, McDavid and so on. You have to go with the pool of data available at the time and when it’s overwhelming, the odds become better and better. Some prospects show incredible talent and skill which sets than apart from their peers and you have to act on that. That’s why the odds of a player making an impact in the NHL drops significantly with each passing pick. By pretty much a massive consensus, Michkov is the second best player on n his draft and his numbers are actually better than Bedards. That’s why I can say picking him at 5 would be an absolute steal. He’s absolutely on a different level than any prospect not names Bedard.

Superelite forwards are players that did things like score an average of 3 goals a game in PeeWee or Bantam. Lemieux, Gretzky, Crosby, Ovechkin, Bedard, McDavid. Winning scoring titles of international tournaments as a « double » underager. It just doesn’t come out of nowhere at 18.
Leonard, Dvorsky, or Benson will probably become solid top-6 forwards but we’re not talking about the same thing.

 

[Vachon23]

That’s assuming Bobrov would be the one that makes the final decision. I suspect this is not a decision they would defer to their top scout.

I was saying that because of Bobrov connections in SKA, he’s gonna have access on more information on Michkov

 

[Kennerback]

I was saying that because of Bobrov connections in SKA, he’s gonna have access on more information on Michkov

With all the inside info he has at SKA included, Bobrov will say the same thing вs everyone else, Michkov is the BPA. That’s his job, Making the pick is someone else’s job.

 

[Sterling Archer]

Superelite forwards are players that did things like score an average of 3 goals a game in PeeWee or Bantam. Lemieux, Gretzky, Crosby, Ovechkin, Bedard, McDavid. Winning scoring titles of international tournaments as a « double » underager. It just doesn’t come out of nowhere at 18.
Leonard, Dvorsky, or Benson will probably become solid top-6 forwards but we’re not talking about the same thing.

Kind of like how Michkov is destroying all the records for best draft age prospect n Russia and annihilated the U18 tournament and had more points than Bedard.

 

[Vachon23]

With all the inside info he has at SKA included, Bobrov will say the same thing вs everyone else, Michkov is the BPA. That’s his job, Making the pick is someone else’s job.

Or he could learn things that would make Michkov a non draft..

 

[Adam Michaels]

That’s assuming Bobrov would be the one that makes the final decision. I suspect this is not a decision they would defer to their top scout.

It's not about whether Bobrov makes the final decision or not. It's about him having deep connections with that organization so that can give him access to a lot more information than maybe other NHL teams. And that would allow the Habs to do their due dilligence more thoroughly.

 

[MrNasty]

Don’t forget they have TONS of information that we don’t avec access. Especially Bobrov in Michkov case..

If they pass on him (and CBJ/SJ too), there will be a reason why..

Yes, and for all we know he could be a total jerk and not a team player. This happens alot which is why the interviews, meeting with families etc are so important. All we see is the skill on the ice.
Public draft ranking are mostly based on what they see on tape and generally NHL teams prefer players more balanced (2-way) or more tough. i.e. I would rather have a Tkachuk than a Marner.

Michkov may be the absolute best for this team but there is more info we don't see.

I just thought it was weird that he can show up at the draft and yet miss the combine which teams rely upon as a major component of their evaluations.

Maybe he can't do chin-ups

 

[No More Subban]

So why knock Subban with your ID, as he was very much a competitor, or is it a lament?

I don’t get the hate for Pac on the ice. He was less eager for contact after Chara intentionally injured him but I think I can understand that.

A lament, I guess. I love PK.

I don't want to dig up stuff again with Patches, he was just frustrating to watch

Wouldn't be surprised if Benson drops.

He will, just like Caufield.

 

[Vachon23]

Yes, and for all we know he could be a total jerk and not a team player. This happens alot which is why the interviews, meeting with families etc are so important. All we see is the skill on the ice.
Public draft ranking are mostly based on what they see on tape and generally NHL teams prefer players more balanced (2-way) or more tough. i.e. I would rather have a Tkachuk than a Marner.

Michkov may be the absolute best for this team but there is more info we don't see.


Maybe he can't do chin-ups

NHL teams like predictably and Michkov situation give them all but that.

 

[ZUKI]

Someone knows if Mitchkov is able to buy out his contract in Russia ? i think it is possible in certain leagues

Another part of the equation is that Mitchkov yet wins more money in Russia that he would here because of the entry level contract. If he stays In Russia, and signs another contract ( i think for 2 seasons) , then he would be enough old to escape the entry level contract.

I am not sure at 100 % about this, but i am sure that it could be confirm . Someone here knows ?

 

[HomaridII]

If Mitchkov is available at 5 its most probably because Smith was drafted before that and I don't see the Habs drafting Leonard, Dvorski or Benson over Mitchkov.

For the fans of stats, what he has done is unprecedented in the history of the KHL, his U18 stats beat Bedard's. To me he is undeniably the second most talented player in this draft.

 

[jrom]

Last time teams passed on a great prospect for geopolitical reasons, Pittsburgh ended up with Jaromir Jagr at 5th. He then went on to win 4 straight Art Ross trophies and have many more great seasons with the team, not to mention how entertaining he was.

Jagr told every team he wouldn’t be coming, except to the Penguins.

 

[Sorinth]

Anything is possible. However, saying’s he’s going to bust as a hockey player is like saying Bedard or McDavid are going to bust as a hockey player. Those two had record breaking seasons in Canada. Whereas Michkov pulverized all records in Russia that were set by the likes of Ovechkin.

Yakupov was a consensus #1 in an arguably sub-par draft year. Whereas several very serious hockey people say Michkov would go #1 in the past few drafts except the Bedard and McDavid years. Michkov is seen as the Next One in Russia.

Yakupov was quite often referred to as as a mini-Ovechkin or Ovechkin-lite. And since they both played in Russia after being drafted due to an NHL lockout we can see why "pulverizing" Ovechkin's records in Russia are not what it may seem.
Ovehckin's D+1 season in Russia 27 points in 37 games for a ppg of 0.73
Yakupov's D+1 season in Russia 18 points in 22 games for a ppg of 0.82


Look, Michkov is unlikely to completly bust like Yakupov did but that doesn't mean he can't end up dissapointment on the ice either. If Michkov becomes a 30-40 goal, 70-80 point scorer who gets a lot of production from the PP and has no real defensive game to talk about. That's far from him being a bust, but it's also what peak Mike Hoffman gave teams and if someone were to compare Michkov to Hoffman I'm pretty sure it would be taken as criticism.