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

[Zine]

I want to love this pick, because if we are honest, he is clearly the most offensively talented prospect we have ever drafted.

But man, it's really, really hard with the situation in Ukraine. He might have a staunch anti-war view, but until he's in the country for good and away from that shit stain of a dictator we aren't going to know. It's really, really tough to root for any Russian at the moment.

The Russian people aren't wholly and completely responsible for what's going on over there. Hell they don't even know the truth with the propaganda they are fed.

These players are caught in a catch-22.

Speaking against the war will elicit many threats to them and their families in Russia (see Zadorov).....and perhaps a Panarin situation where he was personally slandered.

Speaking in favor of Putin will likewise elicit many threats to them and their families in North America. The NHL is already providing extra security for Russians and their families b/c threats have gotten so extreme, and this is just for being Russian.

These guys are gonna STFU about the war regardless of where they are.

 

[Danko]

Been trying to go back and read the Prospects Board thread on him, there's like 4 of them. All the russian guys that post and wathc him regularly are in love with him.

 

[Redpath]

Been trying to go back and read the Prospects Board thread on him, there's like 4 of them. All the russian guys that post and wathc him regularly are in love with him.

I’m on Part 3 of the saga myself.

The Russian guys have me convinced that we just stole a prospect better than Bedard.

 

[Fly0rDie]

I’m on Part 3 of the saga myself.

The Russian guys have me convinced that we just stole a prospect better than Bedard.

Certainly seems to be one of the best/most talented prospect ever selected outside the top 3-5 at the time of the draft…

 

[Striiker]

I bet I’d get banned from the hockey history board in minutes…

Best avoid it.

 

[Captain Dave Poulin]

I bet I’d get banned from the hockey history board in minutes…

Best avoid it.

Yeah, you're f***ed

 

[Redpath]

Certainly seems to be one of the best/most talented prospect ever selected outside the top 3-5 at the time of the draft…

The fact that a) he was reasonably considered in the same tier as Bedard pre-Ukraine and b) has smashed records post-Ukraine leads me to believe he is a better prospect than Bedard. I believe my logic is irrefutable.

 

[Striiker]

Yeah, you're f***ed

Which is a shame because they could probably learn a lot…

 

[wankstifier]

The fact that a) he was reasonably considered in the same tier as Bedard pre-Ukraine and b) has smashed records post-Ukraine leads me to believe he is a better prospect than Bedard. I believe my logic is irrefutable.

Bedard hasn't done anything in the KHL. More proof

 

[DancingPanther]

Do we think Bedard is more of a McDavid prospect or more of like a Tavares prospect? I'm leaning more towards Tavares since he doesn't have that alien speed and hands combo that McDavid has, no?

 

[Captain Dave Poulin]

Do we think Bedard is more of a McDavid prospect or more of like a Tavares prospect? I'm leaning more towards Tavares since he doesn't have that alien speed and hands combo that McDavid has, no?

I think you're right that he's not like McDavid. The closest comparable I can think of is early Yzerman, before the knee injury.

 

[Magua]

Do we think Bedard is more of a McDavid prospect or more of like a Tavares prospect? I'm leaning more towards Tavares since he doesn't have that alien speed and hands combo that McDavid has, no?

Bbgurl, there's quite a ways between McDavid and Tavares.

Bedard has an alien game in tight spaces. His footwork and hands combo are as good as it gets; he looks like he's moving 6 ways at once in body language. He's just impossible to read with his micro-movements. He's the definition of elite skating without elite straight line speed. You can quibble about order a bit, but he's in the next tier of any non-McDavid prospect.

 

[FLYguy3911]

Bedard was better than McDavid in the CHL. A good bit younger too. Wouldn't dare say someone will have a better NHL career than him, but if anyone does, it's Bedard.

 

[DancingPanther]

Bbgurl, there's quite a ways between McDavid and Tavares.

Bedard has an alien game in tight spaces. His footwork and hands combo are as good as it gets; he looks like he's moving 6 ways at once in body language. He's just impossible to read with his micro-movements. He's the definition of elite skating without elite straight line speed. You can quibble about order a bit, but he's in the next tier of any non-McDavid prospect.

I obviously know that, but I don't watch these guys and really haven't paid attention at all these last few seasons because f*** hockey. Someone up there said Michkov could be a better prospect/end up being a better player than Bedard, and it got me thinking about the last time that might have happened to a player with this sort of hype train. I mean the exceptional status player career arc ranges from bust to McDavid. I'm not saying I agree with that post, just got me wondering.

I chose Tavares not as an actual player comp but more of a career impact comp. Great, but not generational. But even so, Tavares still ended up being the best of his class. Other than Flyers legend Ryan Ellis of course.

To me it sounds like he's pretty certainly going to be in the top tier of NHL forwards, but not necessarily a tier of his own. It would just be wild if, after hearing about Bedard since he was 14- a Crosby/McDavid level hype train, Michkov ends up being better than him, and not because Bedard busts. Is this making any sense?

 

[DancingPanther]

Bedard was better than McDavid in the CHL. A good bit younger too. Wouldn't dare say someone will have a better NHL career than him, but if anyone does, it's Bedard.

Sheeeesh

f*** Bedard he's a Blackhawk I hope McDavid trounces him every year

 

[Magua]

Someone up there said Michkov could be a better prospect/end up being a better player than Bedard, and it got me thinking about the last time that might have happened to a player with this sort of hype train.

You know how these things go. I mean there's a non-zero chance of anything, but I'm not holding my breath.

 

[landsbergfan]

You know how these things go. I mean there's a non-zero chance of anything, but I'm not holding my breath.

The flyers will develop michkov into a better all around player

 

[Magua]

The flyers will develop michkov into a better all around player

 

[enthuuusiast]

W

 

[BernieParent]

I bet I’d get banned from the hockey history board in minutes…

Best avoid it.

Is that restraining order from the National Audubon Society still in effect?

 

[Striiker]

Is that restraining order from the National Audubon Society still in effect?

A restraining order won't stop the truth.

 

[Flyerfan4life]

A restraining order won't stop the truth.

its weird all the Ghost haters are so silent lately..

 

[Alex K]

In the game angainst Vityaz in February Michkov took two penalties in a row, one for holding and the other for insulting referees, both PK's resulten in goals against and he wasn't benched for that by Sochi coach. Matvei got his fair share of hate from the fans, the coach was also bashed for cowardness. A lot of fans in Russia think that treating him as a superstar at such young age hurts his personality.

 

[ponder719]

I obviously know that, but I don't watch these guys and really haven't paid attention at all these last few seasons because f*** hockey. Someone up there said Michkov could be a better prospect/end up being a better player than Bedard, and it got me thinking about the last time that might have happened to a player with this sort of hype train. I mean the exceptional status player career arc ranges from bust to McDavid. I'm not saying I agree with that post, just got me wondering.

I chose Tavares not as an actual player comp but more of a career impact comp. Great, but not generational. But even so, Tavares still ended up being the best of his class. Other than Flyers legend Ryan Ellis of course.

To me it sounds like he's pretty certainly going to be in the top tier of NHL forwards, but not necessarily a tier of his own. It would just be wild if, after hearing about Bedard since he was 14- a Crosby/McDavid level hype train, Michkov ends up being better than him, and not because Bedard busts. Is this making any sense?

I don't remember the level of hype in 1987 (of course I don't, I was four) but Turgeon #1, Shanahan #2 has the same dynamic you're looking for. Turgeon wasn't a bust by any stretch of the word, but there's a huge gulf between a guy who put up a couple good seasons and won a Lady Byng, and one of the premiere power forwards of his generation inducted in his second year of eligibility (when his first year, he was up against Bure, Oates, Sakic, and Sundin.)

 

[Caser]

In the game angainst Vityaz in February Michkov took two penalties in a row, one for holding and the other for insulting referees, both PK's resulten in goals against and he wasn't benched for that by Sochi coach. Matvei got his fair share of hate from the fans, the coach was also bashed for cowardness. A lot of fans in Russia think that treating him as a superstar at such young age hurts his personality.

Unfortunately the level of competence of the Russian hockey fans (at least the ones that hang out on websites like sports.ru etc. - that's where I've seen the discussion like that) make the hfboards community look like some high-end experts in comparison.