Connor Bedard vs Matvei Michkov

[Nac Mac Feegle]

Too close to call.

But I tell ya one thing, this is likely going to be a Crosby-Ovechkin type career rivalry for the next two decades. And what a treat that is for hockey fans!

 

[BKarchitect]

Too close to call.

But I tell ya one thing, this is likely going to be a Crosby-Ovechkin type career rivalry for the next two decades. And what a treat that is for hockey fans!

With Wright as Canadian Malkin

And McDavid as old Crosby

 

[Kshahdoo]

I bet, this thread will get 1000 posts way before, than any other 2023 prospect thread, but Michkov's and Bedard's will get half of this...

 

[Pi]

And if they play for Boston?

Boston won’t be a trash team in 2 years. It will probably be 3-4 years from now. So I won’t have to worry about that.

Montreal might seriously bottom out as early as next year. They’re not a very good team.

 

[ClarkBolzano]

Lol, it's hard to not see Ovi and his frame on the ice. There is hard to find two players as dissimilar as Ovechkin and Michkov. It's actually very hard to find someone similar to Michkov at all.

Yeah, he reminds Kaprizov in many hockey aspects, but one thing is for sure, you can't say Kaprizov is invisible on the ice. He usually is the most noticeable player on the ice.

When i see Michkov i see a Sergej Makarov type of Player. Unbelievable skill ad hockey sense with at the Moment a little less skating but with a better shot. What do you think?

 

[chaser17]

was Bedard playing center this year in the WHL?

I believe he was.

 

[Kshahdoo]

When i see Michkov i see a Sergej Makarov type of Player. Unbelievable skill ad hockey sense with at the Moment a little less skating but with a better shot. What do you think?

Makarov was one of the fastest players ever, Michkov is pretty average as to speed. On the other hand Michkov probably has better edge work, which helps him a lot in the offensive zone. Overall, I'd say, Bedard is closer to Makarov, than Michkov.

 

[Daximus]

was Bedard playing center this year in the WHL?

Yeah he was a center for Regina.

 

[ClarkBolzano]

Makarov was one of the fastest players ever, Michkov is pretty average as to speed. On the other hand Michkov probably has better edge work, which helps him a lot in the offensive zone. Overall, I'd say, Bedard is closer to Makarov, than Michkov.

But i saw Michkov a few times accelerating AT full speed and to me he had really good speed but of course Makarov was a other league

 

[Mathieukferland]

As the sun sets on the u18 worlds, It has been such a pleasure getting to watch these two play over the last few weeks, hopefully the first of many head to heads. Nothing in hockey beats Canada v Russia, hopefully this is the matchup for gold in Edmonton as well, I can’t wait. Great photo courtesy of the SKA-1946 Twitter account

 

[Peiskos]

Connor Bedard is clearly "The Next One"

Gretzky ---> Lemieux ---> Crosby --- > McDavid ---> Bedard

Canada's tradition of churning out a generational superstar continues.

 

[snipes]

With Wright as Canadian Malkin

And McDavid as old Crosby

It’s the circle of life.

 

[snipes]

View attachment 431015
As the sun sets on the u18 worlds, It has been such a pleasure getting to watch these two play over the last few weeks, hopefully the first of many head to heads. Nothing in hockey beats Canada v Russia, hopefully this is the matchup for gold in Edmonton as well, I can’t wait. Great photo courtesy of the SKA-1946 Twitter account

Clearly those two have a lot of respect for one another and likely can hear all the comparisons between them. Prepare for the next two decades of their names being side by side.

Love seeing that sportsman from the two future best players in the game. The hype is so plainly obviously deserved and that’s the quality generational players have, it’s so obviously apparent that they are head and shoulders above their peers.

 

[Breakfast of Champs]

Connor Bedard is clearly "The Next One"

Gretzky ---> Lemieux ---> Crosby --- > McDavid ---> Bedard

Canada's tradition of churning out a generational superstar continues.

Lindros has gotta be on there, despite what happened later in his career - had more pts thru 400 gp than McDavid and was the most physically dominant player in the league.

 

[McNuge]

Wow are these kids incredible. Who ever has the first overall pick in 2023 is going to have a hell of a choice. Who ever has number 2 only needs to bring 2 jerseys because it's either one or the other.

 

[Starry Knight]

Wow are these kids incredible. Who ever has the first overall pick in 2023 is going to have a hell of a choice. Who ever has number 2 only needs to bring 2 jerseys because it's either one or the other.

I think they are about as equal talent-wise as you can get right now, but Michkov is signed in the KHL until he is 22, I believe. Players of their calibre are extremely valuable as 18-22 year olds, so losing out on those years heavily tilts the scales in the favour of Bedard.

 

[Pavel Buchnevich]

I wanted to see both players before I voted. I'm ready to vote.

Bedard is at least a tier higher. I think a lot of their skillset is at a similar level with scoring, puck skills, hockey sense, passing, but Bedard is a much better skater. I don't think Bedard has McDavid level speed, but he has elite edges and pretty good speed. He's probably a 70 skater. It's easily a strength. Michkov is a 50-55 skater. Good edges, and average speed. I doubt his skating is a weakness at the NHL level, but I don't see it as a strength.

 

[Eternal Leaf]

Lindros has gotta be on there, despite what happened later in his career - had more pts thru 400 gp than McDavid and was the most physically dominant player in the league.

100%.

Lindros was quite likely the greatest prospect in hockey history and in another universe would be GOAT.

I don't think you could create a better player in a lab especially if you removed injuries out of the equation.

 

[Kshahdoo]

I wanted to see both players before I voted. I'm ready to vote.

Bedard is at least a tier higher. I think a lot of their skillset is at a similar level with scoring, puck skills, hockey sense, passing, but Bedard is a much better skater. I don't think Bedard has McDavid level speed, but he has elite edges and pretty good speed. He's probably a 70 skater. It's easily a strength. Michkov is a 50-55 skater. Good edges, and average speed. I doubt his skating is a weakness at the NHL level, but I don't see it as a strength.

Yeah, they used to say Kaprizov's skating is questionable and now they call it phenomenal. Michkov is already the better skater, than Kaprizov. Michkov's edge work and agility are on another level, than Bedard's, Bedard is obviously faster. I won't call Bedard the better skater.

 

[Aceboogie]

Connor Bedard is clearly "The Next One"

Gretzky ---> Lemieux ---> Crosby --- > McDavid ---> Bedard

Canada's tradition of churning out a generational superstar continues.

Hes going to be drafted by Pittsburgh

Add in Jagr and the Pens or Oilers have had the best player in the league since the 80s

 

[nowhereman]

100%.

Lindros was quite likely the greatest prospect in hockey history and in another universe would be GOAT.

I don't think you could create a better player in a lab especially if you removed injuries out of the equation.

I'm not so sure about that. 6ft 5" Lemieux is the best combination of size and skill in the history of the game. He was also significantly more skilled than Lindros (and pretty much anyone else who has put on a pair of skates in his lifetime).

That said, the perfect hockey players were Orr and Howe.

 

[Hanji]

I wanted to see both players before I voted. I'm ready to vote.

Bedard is at least a tier higher. I think a lot of their skillset is at a similar level with scoring, puck skills, hockey sense, passing, but Bedard is a much better skater. I don't think Bedard has McDavid level speed, but he has elite edges and pretty good speed. He's probably a 70 skater. It's easily a strength. Michkov is a 50-55 skater. Good edges, and average speed. I doubt his skating is a weakness at the NHL level, but I don't see it as a strength.

I'd give a slight skating advantage to Bedard as he appeared stronger on his skates. That said, Michkov has better edgework, which is nuts because Bedard's is also phenomenal.

 

[Kshahdoo]

I'd give a slight skating advantage to Bedard as he appeared stronger on his skates. That said, Michkov has better edgework, which is nuts because Bedard's is also phenomenal.

Nobody can change direction faster than Michkov, he does it faster, than you blink. One moment he's skating to the left, the next moment he's skating to the right. Defensemen aren't even able to react to this, let alone to do something.

 

[Martinez89]

Hes going to be drafted by Pittsburgh

Add in Jagr and the Pens or Oilers have had the best player in the league since the 80s

Yes Gretzky, Lemieux, McDavid, Crosby, Jagr.... with Malkin and Draisaitl as a honourable mentions

So 2023 1st pick to the Oilers and 2nd to the Pens as a consolation prize.

 

[ClarkBolzano]

Excellent showings from both of them obviously, anyone saying otherwise is kidding themselves.

I will say this though: in the medal rounds, I thought Bedard elevated his game and was the tournament's most dangerous player, ahead of both Wright and Michkov.

No He was not.