Prospect Info: Round 1, 7th overall: Matvei Michkov, RW, SKA St. Petersburg (KHL)

[Mackiaveli]

Who's the best comparable style-wise? Kucherov? Kane?

It's Caufield - very jealous, but you guys got your Caufield in the end.

Congrats Philly fans - enjoy the moment!

He is, as of right now, a perimeter player who has a wicked shot and insane hands. He strikes me as a 50/30 type player and is probably nothing like the other Russians in the league. Best goal scorer since Ovechkin, but not as 'complete' offensively as Kucherov or Kaprizov.

 

[Dicky Dangles]

The only proper number to get for him in this version of a blouse is #23. Unless he somehow comes over this year, he’ll never wear an Adidas jersey on the ice since they’re switching to Fanatics next year and there will likely be slight changes.

Yeah, that sounds about right. I knew you’d have the right answer.

 

[BernieParent]

There’s no reason to suspect tampering, right? This is an actual good thing for the Flyers that can’t be taken away?

"The league agrees with GM Gorton's attestation that Carey Price mispronounced 'Matvei Michkov' and therefore, Michkov will be a Montreal Canadien. Oh, and they get to keep Reinbacher, too."

 

[chadateit]

It's Caufield - very jealous, but you guys got your Caufield in the end.

Congrats Philly fans - enjoy the moment!

He is, as of right now, a perimeter player who has a wicked shot and insane hands. He strikes me as a 50/30 type player and is probably nothing like the other Russians in the league. Best goal scorer since Ovechkin, but not as 'complete' offensively as Kucherov or Kaprizov.

This doesn't track at all. He has been anything but a perimeter player. Even playing against men in the KHL, he gets into the high traffic money areas and makes plays. He's got a lethal shot, but he's a much more well-rounded offensive talent than Caufield.

 

[CutOnDime97]

We got Michkov boys

 

[SolidSnakeUS]

It's Caufield - very jealous, but you guys got your Caufield in the end.

Congrats Philly fans - enjoy the moment!

He is, as of right now, a perimeter player who has a wicked shot and insane hands. He strikes me as a 50/30 type player and is probably nothing like the other Russians in the league. Best goal scorer since Ovechkin, but not as 'complete' offensively as Kucherov or Kaprizov.

Michkov seems way more creative than Caufield. He's also bigger than Caufield.

Also, serious question, if this guy is supposedly the 2nd best offensive talent behind Bedard, why are we only pegging this guy at 80 points? Especially in the current NHL, that saying he's only Kyle Conner, Hischier, Tuch, Larkin, Skinner, etc (in 80+ games). While if we're talking about the ability to generate points and goals, it would feel more like a Pettersson, Kaprizov, Hughes, at the minimum. Personally, with how the scoring is in the NHL right now, he could easily be a 100+ points per season kind of guy. That's my hot take on this.

 

[Hanover Fist]

Regarding torts and Michkov: This guy holds ALL the cards. If Torts does not build a system around Michkov, he’s gone. Michkov is set to be a franchise player and may be a flyers great.

So, I think Torts is gone before Michkov gets here. I thought that before last night too.

How do you think he’s going to do under Lappy?

 

[FatTugboatFlahr]

How do you think he’s going to do under Lappy?

Don’t think that ever happens. For a few reasons.

 

[BringBackHakstol]

I find it hard to believe Torts will be here when MM gets to Philly. He's so abrasive and the team is going to suck for a bit, it's a destined car crash for him

 

[Redpath]

Michkov seems way more creative than Caufield. He's also bigger than Caufield.

Also, serious question, if this guy is supposedly the 2nd best offensive talent behind Bedard, why are we only pegging this guy at 80 points? Especially in the current NHL, that saying he's only Kyle Conner, Hischier, Tuch, Larkin, Skinner, etc (in 80+ games). While if we're talking about the ability to generate points and goals, it would feel more like a Pettersson, Kaprizov, Hughes, at the minimum. Personally, with how the scoring is in the NHL right now, he could easily be a 100+ points per season kind of guy. That's my hot take on this.

Caulfield is a good player, and it's not terrible to conservatively place Michkov at his level, but I have to agree. Calling Michkov, a potential #2 to Bedard, with the most productive KHL draft year in memory, merely a Caulfield-type is somehow managing to sell this level of prospect short.

 

[Hollywood Cannon]

Caulfield is a good player, and it's not terrible to conservatively place Michkov at his level, but I have to agree. Calling Michkov, a potential #2 to Bedard, with the most productive KHL draft year in memory, merely a Caulfield-type is somehow managing to sell this level of prospect short.

I'm pretty sure the guy that said it is a Habs fan so...

 

[AndHeMissedTheNet]

FWIW, i absolutely don't hate the idea of letting him take the full length of his KHL contract to grow and improve away from this team. My only issue, again, is the fact that the more time he spends in Russia, the more likely it is that some political bullshit happens to keep him from ever coming over.

 

[Redpath]

I'm pretty sure the guy that said it is a Habs fan so...

That would explain it

 

[Mackiaveli]

This doesn't track at all. He has been anything but a perimeter player. Even playing against men in the KHL, he gets into the high traffic money areas and makes plays. He's got a lethal shot, but he's a much more well-rounded offensive talent than Caufield.

In transition, Michkov rarely seems to break out through the middle of the ice. He is more inclined to play on the outside, bait the commitment from the d-man, then cut in. He's not an elite passer, but his hands, his shot, and his 'thinking' is what makes him the lethal package.

Without the puck - yes absolutely he gets in tight/loves behind the net, but again the latter is still a perimeter spot.

I think Caufield has a better shot and maybe is a better skater - Michkov is better in every other facet and unbelievably so; Caufield is elite, Michkov could be generational.

Michkov seems way more creative than Caufield

100%

He's also bigger than Caufield.

100% but he's still very small and the big NHL d-men are going to push him around down low all the same.

why are we only pegging this guy at 80 points?

I think him being 50/30 is my guesstimation seeing how he doesn't seem like a big playmaker. I could see him getting those numbers up with 2ndary assists, and I could also see him scoring 60. If he was a 100 point guy it wouldn't shock me, but look at Auston Matthews, who I think is much better overall than Matvei; he's only broken 100 once and it was while scoring 60, and playing on a line with Marner who scored 35 himself.

If Matvei was a 50/30 player you should be ecstatic because there are very few 50 goal scorers

Pettersson, Kaprizov, Hughes

None of these guys are scoring 60 goals ever in their career.

 

[Larry44]

Well, the kid seems pumped to play!

 

[TCTC]

It's Caufield - very jealous, but you guys got your Caufield in the end.

Congrats Philly fans - enjoy the moment!

He is, as of right now, a perimeter player who has a wicked shot and insane hands. He strikes me as a 50/30 type player and is probably nothing like the other Russians in the league. Best goal scorer since Ovechkin, but not as 'complete' offensively as Kucherov or Kaprizov.

Nothing against Caufield, but that would be disappointing.

 

[Random Forest]

Caulfield is a good player, and it's not terrible to conservatively place Michkov at his level, but I have to agree. Calling Michkov, a potential #2 to Bedard, with the most productive KHL draft year in memory, merely a Caulfield-type is somehow managing to sell this level of prospect short.

This is what I was getting at before. All draftees represent a range of outcomes. The likelihood with Michkov, as good a prospect as he is, is that he’s not going to be that franchise player.

If you ran the simulation a million times, I think the most frequent outcome with Michkov is a consistent 75-85 point player who scores 40 goals regularly. In a good number of simulation he’s a 100+ point player. And in a few, he‘s a 120 point guy at his peak. The reason why he’s such a good risk is because he actually has those upper outcomes in his range of possibilities, not because they’re likely. The overall preponderance with him is still a merely good 1st line scorer. So I think I’m going to temper my expectations.

Kind of like John Tavares. If you had said on draft day 2009 that he would have had the career he’s had, I think most people would have been disappointed simply because he could have been a generational scorer given his talent and pedigree.

 

[chadateit]

In transition, Michkov rarely seems to break out through the middle of the ice. He is more inclined to play on the outside, bait the commitment from the d-man, then cut in. He's not an elite passer, but his hands, his shot, and his 'thinking' is what makes him the lethal package.

Without the puck - yes absolutely he gets in tight/loves behind the net, but again the latter is still a perimeter spot.

I think Caufield has a better shot and maybe is a better skater - Michkov is better in every other facet and unbelievably so; Caufield is elite, Michkov could be generational.

Perimeter play isn't about where you start, it's where you take the play. He is always looking for creative and effective ways to cut into the money areas near the goal. I don't care what part of the ice he uses at the bluelines. I care that he takes the puck to high danger scoring areas - and he's very persistent with that and extremely creative and effective with it - against men.

I agree caufield has a better shot and is a better skater, at least in terms of straightline speed. I think people underestimate Michkov's edges and elusiveness. Michkov is not a smurf or a twig. He's significantly bigger than Caufield.

I like Caufield. I wanted the flyers to draft him both times they passed. To me, his ceiling is elite complimentary guy, while Michkov's is the centerpiece of a contender's offense.

 

[sa cyred]

Damn straight. Love the attitude.

 

[Rebels57]

Well, the kid seems pumped to play!

I can't believe this is real. Am I dreaming?

How the hell did they manage to sell him on the Flyers so convincingly with Washington and Detroit picking behind us?

 

[pooch]

I can't believe this is real. Am I dreaming?

How the hell did they manage to sell him on the Flyers so convincingly with Washington and Detroit picking behind us?

I think he sold himself to the Flyers.

 

[Larry44]

I can't believe this is real. Am I dreaming?

How the hell did they manage to sell him on the Flyers so convincingly with Washington and Detroit picking behind us?

He apparently always wanted to be a Flyer! Rubstov and Provorov told him good things about playing in Philly. Who could have believed it!

 

[Danko]

Gentlepeeps, we got him. Holy shit. The hills are alive, the sun is shining, the glue has melted off of my eyelids, I am content.

 

[Mackiaveli]

I think the most frequent outcome with Michkov is a consistent 75-85 point player who scores 40 goals regularly.

Kind of like John Tavares. If you had said on draft day 2009 that he would have had the career he’s had, I think most people would have been disappointed simply because he could have been a generational scorer given his talent and pedigree.

Bingo.

You guys got an amazing prospect - and I wish the Habs picked him over Reinbacher - but he is not McDavid or Bedard. Even Eichel was a better or comparable 'prospect' and is an AMAZING player but he is not a 100p guy still.

 

[Larry44]

I think he sold himself to the Flyers.

And ghosted the Coyotes, LOL!