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

[Caser]

I don’t think you understand.

We just used up every shred of luck we’ve been storing for the past 50+ years. It’ll be 50 years before we get anything nice again.

You can try to appeal to the luck department using an argument that Rubtsov was kind of a damaged goods.

 

[Appleyard]

Naah, i prefer Kiviharju. Michkov is enough. Perhaps even adding one center more, so that the Flyers can compete against the Devils and Hughes-Hischier. Because they will be strong now and for a long future.

Also, let's not forget Helenius nor Hemming. I believe Demidov will get selected before them but if the Flyers pick Kiviharju and have the luck to pick them later on? Well now we are talking. That would be a serious rebuild for the future and a balanced one.

I reckon Flyers would be more likely to take Levshunov, Dickinson or Mews than Kiviharju tbh...

afterall, he is 5'10 and a lefty aha.

 

[Svedu]

I reckon Flyers would be more likely to take Levshunov, Dickinson or Mews than Kiviharju tbh...

afterall, he is 5'10 and a lefty aha.

You are probably right. But doesn't always have to be the right choice in the end.
Kiviharju does lack physicality and that showed in this years WJC. So those concerns are valid.
On the other hand, his IQ and skill seem to be there. Especially when it comes to holding and distributing the puck. Who knows, could become a new Quinn Hughes production wise if lucky, but with a lot worse skating but smarter understanding of the game and actually making teammates better.
Something Hughes hasn't always convinced me about.

 

[Striiker]

You can try to appeal to the luck department using an argument that Rubtsov was kind of a damaged goods.

I’ve sent them human feces a few too many times for them to open my letters anymore.

 

[Caser]

I’ve sent them human feces a few too many times for them to open my letters anymore.

Oh that kind of explains the reason you got Chuck Fletcher for almost 5 years.

 

[BernieParent]

Soooo who gets him the puck to put up 130 points?

Noah Cates. Duh!

 

[Striiker]

Oh that kind of explains the reason you got Chuck Fletcher for almost 5 years.

Actually the letters were a direct result of Fletcher. All the feces has been within the last two years.

 

[BernieParent]

I don’t think you understand.

We just used up every shred of luck we’ve been storing for the past 50+ years. It’ll be 50 years before we get anything nice again.

And there are a billion things that can go wrong between now and 3 years. Not that I am a pessimist ... oh, wait, yes I am.

 

[Appleyard]

You are probably right. But doesn't always have to be the right choice in the end.
Kiviharju does lack physicality and that showed in this years WJC. So those concerns are valid.
On the other hand, his IQ and skill seem to be there. Especially when it comes to holding and distributing the puck. Who knows, could become a new Quinn Hughes production wise if lucky, but with a lot worse skating but smarter understanding of the game and actually making teammates better.
Something Hughes hasn't always convinced me about.

Oh, I think he will likely end up the best D from the draft!

But luckily this 2024 draft looks the best draft for Dmen since maybe 2008 (not THAT good as 2008 but yeh).

I think may end up being ~4 or so legit #1 D from it.

 

[BernieParent]

You can try to appeal to the luck department using an argument that Rubtsov was kind of a damaged goods.

Rubtsov is a 3 at best on the DEFCON levels of misfortune for this organization. Lindros, Lindbergh, Patrick, etc.

 

[Striiker]

Rubtsov is a 3 at best on the DEFCON levels of misfortune for this organization. Lindros, Lindbergh, Patrick, etc.

Ghost trade

 

[DancingPanther]

Soooo who gets him the puck to put up 130 points?

It's going to be 130 assists. Cutter is going to be a 130 goal scorer

 

[Danko]

so what's the airport story thats been referenced by a few people? Is this the same thing that a guy from the same website as Jamie Baskow tweeted about?

 

[Hollywood Cannon]

It's going to be 130 assists. Cutter is going to be a 130 goal scorer

Cutter is going to score 130 goals left handed and right handed and then win a long drive contest.

 

[BernieParent]

This kid is downright violent in his approach. In the offensive zone, he's a ruthless predator in the mold of Maurice Richard, Brett Hull, Nate MacKinnon, Pavel Bure, and Sergei Makarov, who he reminds me the most of -- a modern day Sergei Makarov. In terms of raw talent, Michkov is the most talented player the Flyers ever drafted -- right up there with Peter Forsberg. He's more talented than Clarke, Carter, Giroux, etc. If the Flyers are brutal and are in the position to draft a Celebrini or Eiserman next year, they will soon be the envy of the league.

 

[Cody Webster]

Hopefully Torts is gone in 3 years or else someone will be sitting...

 

[BernieParent]

Ghost trade

I said misfortune, not intentional demonstrations of stupidity.

 

[Rebels57]

He is extremely special

 

[cheesesteak]

His highlights are crazy. Didn’t realize he pulled off “the Michigan” 5 times in game already, thought it was only once. Then watching him drilling where every other time he either does the Michigan or floats it over the net and bats it out of mid air.

Is it a positive if our development staff is nowhere near him for 3 years?

 

[BillDineen]

He is extremely special

Torts would bench him for that deke at the blueline.

 

[Hanji]

His highlights are crazy. Didn’t realize he pulled off “the Michigan” 5 times in game already, thought it was only once. Then watching him drilling where every other time he either does the Michigan or floats it over the net and bats it out of mid air.

Is it a positive if our development staff is nowhere near him for 3 years?

Yep, thats all Michkov ever does in practice. The Michigan. That’s all. Nothing more. Hours and hours and hours of it.

 

[Hanji]

He is extremely special

This is quite an informative analysis of his skills. Props to EP.

 

[JABEE]

Someone posted an article under Meltzer's tweet about Rotenberg. It sounds like he was essentially saying they are developing players to be stars and they don't want him to leave until he is 100% ready.

It's Google Translation, so maybe someone who knows Russian would be able to see if it sounds as sinister or hard line as what the other tweet says.

Ротенберг заявил, что будет работать над развитием Мичкова в СКА

 

[Captain Dave Poulin]

Since you guys decided to go with Russians anyway:

Ivan Demidov - Stats, Contract, Salary & More

Eliteprospects.com hockey player profile of Ivan Demidov, 2005-12-10 Sergiyev Posad, RUS Russia. Most recently in the KHL with SKA St. Petersburg. Complete player biography and stats.

www.eliteprospects.com

He is absolutely wicked.

 

[Kshahdoo]

Dont care. Hes too good to care.

I think Michkov is a good kid though. He doesnt have that diva attitude Provorov did i just dont see it. You can see his real personality come out in the russian interviews. If he has views like that, he will keep them to himself like most people.

He isn't diva for sure. Character wise I think he'll be kind of like MacKinnon plus a little bit of Marchand.