Matvei Michkov: 9 points in first 8 NHL games

[Dr Jan Itor]

I think he looks like what Kaprizov probably would've looked like if he came to the NHL a couple years earlier. So, yeah, probably going to be pretty elite sooner rather than later.

Nice by Philly stacking his line. Not much else there as far as forwards goes, so he doesn't have all the pressure to drive his line right away.

 

[CanadienShark]

Seems like he's doing exactly as expected. He's probably going to hit a wall at some point, but a 70+ point season seems pretty reasonable for him.

 

[SaSaShi]

Don't agree with more dominant. Bedard has the shot / speed advantage currently, but Michkov is able to control the puck through contact and board play in a way Bedard cannot, due to his stature. Bedard is kind of frail in a way, not a knock on him just he's not built very thick? Michkov is more fire hydrant type he bounces off guys, it's a big advantage for Michkov.

Yes more dominant is the wrong word as it makes it seem that Bedard is much better. They are currently close, but I feel Bedard is still currently the better player.

It can change after one summer of a powerskating program and my contact in philadelphia just told me that Briere is preparing that program for Michkov. It is literally the only thing missing in his game, a big issue, but if he fixes that, Michkov will be a machine.

 

[Hanji]

Easier to do when you are doing it with a man advantage every game.

Thing is Michkov looks fantastic both on PP and ES. The difference is its easier for his linemates to convert on the PP.

 

[HeadLiceHatty]

Yes more dominant is the wrong word as it makes it seem that Bedard is much better. They are currently close, but I feel Bedard is still currently the better player.

It can change after one summer of a powerskating program and my contact in philadelphia just told me that Briere is preparing that program for Michkov. It is literally the only thing missing in his game, a big issue, but if he fixes that, Michkov will be a machine.

Would be interesting to see how he plays with an offseason of an intense skating program.

I think he looks like what Kaprizov probably would've looked like if he came to the NHL a couple years earlier. So, yeah, probably going to be pretty elite sooner rather than later.

Nice by Philly stacking his line. Not much else there as far as forwards goes, so he doesn't have all the pressure to drive his line right away.

I think this has been the first full game he played with Couturier and Konecny, they’ve been shuffling lines a ton. He was absolutely the one driving the line tonight though.

 

[GreatSaveEssensa]

Nobody should give a flying squirrel what your +/- is when you're making the NHL look like easy mode as a 19 year old scorer.

Especially when on a bad team.

 

[Tkachuk Norris]

Nope not yet....Bedard is still the more dominant player for me.

If Michkov improves his skating speed....then it becomes a possibility because Michkov is the smarter player, better hands, better passer too.

Bedard has the shot and speed advantage while also being a very good passer and smart player too.

Agreed. Bedard creates more. Michkov has a vastly superior supporting cast. Philly is bad but the Blackhawks are legit one of the worst rosters, maybe the worst, in NHL history since he’s joined them.

 

[ViD]

Don't agree with more dominant. Bedard has the shot / speed advantage currently, but Michkov is able to control the puck through contact and board play in a way Bedard cannot, due to his stature. Bedard is kind of frail in a way, not a knock on him just he's not built very thick? Michkov is more fire hydrant type he bounces off guys, it's a big advantage for Michkov. That being said, they're both 19, who knows how this all ends.

What shot advantage? If you go by their recent shot effectiveness, Michkov has it better

 

[Hanji]

Would be interesting to see how he plays with an offseason of an intense skating program.



I think this has been the first full game he played with Couturier and Konecny, they’ve been shuffling lines a ton. He was absolutely the one driving the line tonight though.

You'd think Michkov would've already had intense skating development. SKA's skating coach was Daniel Bochner who was just hired by Carolina. He's worked with a lot of the Caps, Panarin, Crosby, McDavid, etc.

 

[HeadLiceHatty]

What shot advantage? If you go by their recent shot effectiveness, Michkov has it better

I mean I’m willing to say it for now, as Bedard has more of a sample size that Michkov currently, if it continues how it has been then we re-evaluate. Michkov has crazy accuracy when he shoots, it’s not as blistering but it’s where he wants to put it, I almost feel like it’s more about his intelligence than the actual power or physical shot release.

 

[ViD]

Agreed. Bedard creates more. Michkov has a vastly superior supporting cast. Philly is bad but the Blackhawks are legit one of the worst rosters, maybe the worst, in NHL history since he’s joined them.

That’s nonsense, Terevainen, Foligno, Hall are as good if not better the Flyers that realistically only have one good player in Konecny

 

[KirkAlbuquerque]

He could be the next Demidov

If he’s lucky

 

[SaSaShi]

You'd think Michkov would've already had intense skating development. SKA's skating coach was Daniel Bochner who was just hired by Carolina. He's worked with a lot of the Caps, Panarin, Crosby, McDavid, etc.

SKA treated Michkov like an outcast, kinda like what they were doing to Demidov. Plus he had a bad bout of pneumonia last year .So Im not sure if he has went through a full summer of skate training.

Michkov is a great stickhandler, but it's a weapon that he doesn't use too often on the rush because the explosiveness just isn't there to take advantage of it.

He's able to create so many openings and angles now just by guile, if he had better skating, he will have space like Moses in the Red Sea.

 

[AvatarAang]

As a hockey fan we are blessed that Montreal did not get the opportunity to ruin Michkov’s development

I am not surprised that Michkov refused to play for montreal, Montreal cannot develop their lottery picks: Kotkaniemi, slaf, reinbacher etc. all of them looking like the wrong pick shortly after joining the habs

 

[Ezpz]

As a hockey fan we are blessed that Montreal did not get the opportunity to ruin Michkov’s development

I am not surprised that Michkov refused to play for montreal, Montreal cannot develop their lottery picks: Kotkaniemi, slaf, reinbacher etc. all of them looking like the wrong pick shortly after joining the habs

? He literally stepped off the plane like this for the flyers. They've had zero involvement with his development so far.

 

[Acetylene]

Michkov is a beauty. Happy for Flyers fans!

 

[Hanji]

SKA treated Michkov like an outcast, kinda like what they were doing to Demidov. Plus he had a bad bout of pneumonia last year .So Im not sure if he has went through a full summer of skate training.

Michkov is a great stickhandler, but it's a weapon that he doesn't use too often on the rush because the explosiveness just isn't there to take advantage of it.

He's able to create so many openings and angles now just by guile, if he had better skating, he will have space like Moses in the Red Sea.

He spent 4 years in SKA's system, 2 of which he was their prized possession after he transferred from Yaroslavl.
Considering all his other skills are amazingly developed, there's no way he wouldn't have had intense skating instruction from Bochner.
That's not to say he can't improve however.

 

[SaSaShi]

He spent 4 years in SKA's system, 2 of which he was their prized possession after he transferred from Yaroslavl.
Considering all his other skills are amazingly developed, there's no way he wouldn't have had intense skating instruction from Bochner.
That's not to say he can't improve however.

Again u maybe right....but bottom line is this:

If he makes zero improvements to his skating, he can be an all star level player for years.

If he makes just slight improvement in his skating/explosiveness: I see some Harts and Art Rosses.

 

[hamzarocks]

That’s nonsense, Terevainen, Foligno, Hall are as good if not better the Flyers that realistically only have one good player in Konecny

No they arent lool

Foligno isnt an NHL top 9 player

Hall is a shell of his former self

TT is a very good top 6 player

Tipett, Brink, Konency, Couterier are all better than any Hawks forward outsude of Bedadd besides TT

 

[x Tame Impala]

After todays game 9 points (6 points on the power play) and a -5. He was a -9 going into todays game.

This is such a dumb point to try and make with a 18/19 year old rookie on an awful team.

 

[EdmFlyersfan]

He used to comment a lot in the Michkov thread. Where has he been?

Probably got taken behind the woodshed like Lassie by his family...

 

[Gurglesons]

I'm annoyed as a Penguins fan. But this kid rocks as a hockey fan.

 

[SaSaShi]

No they arent lool

Foligno isnt an NHL top 9 player

Hall is a shell of his former self

TT is a very good top 6 player

Tipett, Brink, Konency, Couterier are all better than any Hawks forward outsude of Bedadd besides TT

Montreal fans were debating a lot with Michkov fans for the past year or so. That ship is starting to sail.

Looks like now blackhawks fans will start a new debate with Michkov fans. Should be even more fun to watch.

Mods should get ready....

 

[Acallabeth]

Agreed. Bedard creates more. Michkov has a vastly superior supporting cast. Philly is bad but the Blackhawks are legit one of the worst rosters, maybe the worst, in NHL history since he’s joined them.

Honest question: vastly superior at what exactly?
Philadelphia record is the same, but goal differential is much worse even after today's win.
Their PP was dead last in the league last season before the arrival of a certain 'PP merchant'.
Prior to today's game Konecny had 4 points in 8 games, Couturier had 1, and Michkov played with new linemates nearly every game (including starting his NHL career on LW lol).

 

[the valiant effort]

Honest question: vastly superior at what exactly?
Philadelphia record is the same, but goal differential is much worse even after today's win.
Their PP was dead last in the league last season before the arrival of a certain 'PP merchant'.
Prior to today's game Konecny had 4 points in 8 games, Couturier had 1, and Michkov played with new linemates nearly every game (including starting his NHL career on LW lol).

Not just dead last PP but historically bad PP