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

[chadateit]

I was 18 and remember listening to 610 WIP when Larry Bertuzzi awarded him to the Flyers. I remember Eric's first press conference in Philly and I was at his first ever preseason game at the Spectrum vs. the Devils. I remember seeing him warm up and say to myself, "It's been years since the Flyers have had a player this talented."

I have the same level of excitement and anticipation for Michkov as I had for Lindros -- nothing else compares. Not Ricci, not Renberg, not Richards, Carter, Giroux, or Hart. Even with the LeClair & Desjardins trade there wasn't this level of anticipation.

Quite honestly, the last time I was this excited about a Flyers player was when they acquired Forsberg and lastly Pronger.

You and I are close in age, have similar memories, an and I feel the same.

 

[Flyerfan4life]

These idiots will promote him into an assistant GM role or something similar.

exactly...

Torts is going to gain control over players not lessen his control as he shifts from fulltime HC into upper management.

i find the very idea Torts will allow a first year player to play his own way hilarous..

we are talking about the same J. Torts right ???

 

[Boxscore]

we are talking about the same J. Torts right ???

I think we might be misinterpreting what Torts expects from his players. Case in point is Tippett -- the kid has flaws and limitations in his game but he excelled under Torts. And I think that's because he hustled his butt off despite his limitations and sometimes poor shoot vs. passing choices.

Michkov is Tippett on steriods, Red Bull, and Jolt. He's got a hefty motor and hustles. If his wizardry is netting results and he's giving his ass, I don't suspect a problem. Unless we think Torts coaching Kucherov would turn him into Fedotenko lmao.

 

[Striiker]

Michkov and Tippett are nothing alike.

 

[Fight4yourRight]

Michkov and Tippett are nothing alike.

Hockey IQ alone, is basically diametrically opposite.

 

[Striiker]

Hockey IQ alone, is basically diametrically opposite.

Michkov = high IQ

Tippett = Moderately Intelligent Dolphin

 

[Chicken N Raffls]

Michkov = high IQ

Tippett = Moderately Intelligent Dolphin

Why dis the dolphins though?

 

[Boxscore]

Michkov and Tippett are nothing alike.

I wasn't comparing them as players, just the perception that Torts would negatively effect their games. When Torts arrived people thought Tippett could end up in his doghouse because the knock on him was lax defense, shooting from everywhere, and not always making the safe play. People assume just because Torts called out Zegras that he's going to take issue with Michkov or suppress his game.

 

[Magua]

I don’t remember a single person saying Tippett would end up on Torts’ bad side.

If Tortorella is coaching Michkov in 3 years, just sell the team anyway.

 

[Striiker]

I wasn't comparing them as players, just the perception that Torts would negatively effect their games. When Torts arrived people thought Tippett could end up in his doghouse because the knock on him was lax defense, shooting from everywhere, and not always making the safe play. People assume just because Torts called out Zegras that he's going to take issue with Michkov or suppress his game.

Tippett is big, dumb, and he keeps it simple. Torts loves that.

Michkov is intelligent, creative, dynamic, flashy, not big, and much closer to that Zegras type that Torts can't stand.

 

[Musampa]

But Panarin did fine under Torts

 

[DancingPanther]

Imagine a 70 year old Tortorella actually for real still coaching the Flyers in 2026 when Michkov is due to debut. Imagine

I think we might be misinterpreting what Torts expects from his players. Case in point is Tippett -- the kid has flaws and limitations in his game but he excelled under Torts. And I think that's because he hustled his butt off despite his limitations and sometimes poor shoot vs. passing choices.

Michkov is Tippett on steriods, Red Bull, and Jolt. He's got a hefty motor and hustles. If his wizardry is netting results and he's giving his ass, I don't suspect a problem. Unless we think Torts coaching Kucherov would turn him into Fedotenko lmao.

So what you're saying is Tippett is a poor man's Michkov. That is a fair conclusion following your logic.

Nawww

 

[Boxscore]

Michkov is intelligent, creative, dynamic, flashy, not big, and much closer to that Zegras type that Torts can't stand.

Michkov is more like Panarin and Kucherov. He has a sick motor and crazy anger to score goals. Zegras is the prototypical YouTube player who's all sizzle, no steak. Talented kid, but he shows off just to show off. Michkov is flashy, dynamic, and loves to shoot, but he is a high-intensity cat who goes hard to the net and works his butt off. Zegras doesn't have that kind of DNA.

Regardless, Torts will not mess up his game. If he tries to, he'll be gone. Michkov is the franchise piece Briere and Jones are hitching their wagon to. When he arrives -- be it next year or 3 years from now -- the media will be in a frenzy and the fans will be foaming at their mouths. If Torts even shows signs of ruining that, the fans will revolt against him faster than the brass can remove him.

 

[HeadLiceHatty]

So excited for this kid to come over, I just wanna like and enjoy hockey again. Winning will be great, but just enjoying sitting down and watching a game will be awesome.

 

[Bigkarl]

Michkov is more like Panarin and Kucherov. He has a sick motor and crazy anger to score goals. Zegras is the prototypical YouTube player who's all sizzle, no steak. Talented kid, but he shows off just to show off. Michkov is flashy, dynamic, and loves to shoot, but he is a high-intensity cat who goes hard to the net and works his butt off. Zegras doesn't have that kind of DNA.

Regardless, Torts will not mess up his game. If he tries to, he'll be gone. Michkov is the franchise piece Briere and Jones are hitching their wagon to. When he arrives -- be it next year or 3 years from now -- the media will be in a frenzy and the fans will be foaming at their mouths. If Torts even shows signs of ruining that, the fans will revolt against him faster than the brass can remove him.

I think you misunderstand what's left of this fanbase and media. They foam at the mouth over Deslauriers and Ristolainen. I guarantee there will be chunk of the fanbase calling him soft within 2 years of coming over

 

[Kshahdoo]

Meanwhile SKA development camp has almost started... As far as I understand the other kid is Ivan Demidov.

 

[Alex K]

Meanwhile SKA development camp has almost started... As far as I understand the other kid is Ivan Demidov.

Would like to see them both at the Flyers camp in a couple of years.

 

[Embiid]

These idiots will promote him into an assistant GM role or something similar.

"Offensive" coordinator

Will be right down his jerky alley..

 

[Redpath]

A poster on the main boards tried to downplay Michkov’s KHL draft year success by citing that 8 of Michkov’s points this past season came against Kunlun Red Star, the KHL’s 2nd worst team. (Michkov played on the 1st worst team, FWIW)

I would say that is a fair criticism of inflating a small sample size, except for the fact that Michkov dominating every league’s records is the norm for him. It would be unusual if he hadn’t set a KHL record last year.

Per Elite Prospects:

Highest draft eligible KHL PPG ever
Highest draft eligible VHL PPG ever
Highest D-1 KHL PPG ever
Highest D-1 MHL PPG ever
Highest D-2 WJC-18 PPG ever
2nd highest D-2 MHL PPG ever (And #1 has a sample size of 5 points in 4 games versus Michkov’s 56 points in 56 games)

The crazy thing? Even if you want to ignore the 8 points where Michkov padded his stats against Kunlun Red Star, but still count those as games played, he would STILL have the 3rd highest draft eligible KHL PPG ever, behind only Tarasenko and Panarin.

 

[Kshahdoo]

A poster on the main boards tried to downplay Michkov’s KHL draft year success by citing that 8 of Michkov’s points this past season came against Kunlun Red Star, the KHL’s 2nd worst team. (Michkov played on the 1st worst team, FWIW)

I would say that is a fair criticism of inflating a small sample size, except for the fact that Michkov dominating every league’s records is the norm for him. It would be unusual if he hadn’t set a KHL record last year.

Per Elite Prospects:

Highest draft eligible KHL PPG ever
Highest draft eligible VHL PPG ever
Highest D-1 KHL PPG ever
Highest D-1 MHL PPG ever
Highest D-2 WJC-18 PPG ever
2nd highest D-2 MHL PPG ever (And #1 has a sample size of 5 points in 4 games versus Michkov’s 56 points in 56 games)

The crazy thing? Even if you want to ignore the 8 points where Michkov padded his stats against Kunlun Red Star, but still count those as games played, he would STILL have the 3rd highest draft eligible KHL PPG ever, behind only Tarasenko and Panarin.

Lol, padded stats... Does anybody in Canada care how many points did Bedard score at the WJC vs 3rd tier teams? Nah, nobody does...

 

[Beef Invictus]

He's Russian, he avoided meeting with teams in some capacity, and he can't come over for three years.

And Montreal exists.

 

[Beef Invictus]

So within a week of Michkov falling to #7 over concerns about his contract:

- We have heard from Frank Seravalli that a buyout of Michkov's contract is possible

- The mutual recognition of NHL/KHL contracts may be called into question due to CSKA signing Fedotov despite his contract with (ironically) the Flyers

I can't help but laugh at seeing Michkov's pre-draft concerns potentially immediately resolve post-draft

I don't think that would happen, but it would be hilarious.

I also don't want it to happen, though. Don't let that piece of shit Tortorella ever handle this kid

 

[Beef Invictus]

I wasn't comparing them as players, just the perception that Torts would negatively effect their games. When Torts arrived people thought Tippett could end up in his doghouse because the knock on him was lax defense, shooting from everywhere, and not always making the safe play. People assume just because Torts called out Zegras that he's going to take issue with Michkov or suppress his game.

What has Tortorella done specifically with Tippett? Tortorella proudly and loudly assured us he wouldn't be bothering to coach anyone on anything but the broadest, highest level systems stuff. We have players who confirmed he is too lazy and bitter about youths to directly coach them.

Whatever Tippett figured out, he figured out on his own initiative. A lot of what saw him improve involved realizing he can pass in the OZ too, and it involves the exact kind of passing Tortorella repeatedly discouraged, so if anything he's going against his coach.

 

[Beef Invictus]

But Panarin did fine under Torts

His production was negatively impacted so nah

 

[SolidSnakeUS]

I don't think that would happen, but it would be hilarious.

I also don't want it to happen, though. Don't let that piece of shit Tortorella ever handle this kid

I will admit, if Michkov is strong headed enough, I kind of want him to drive Torts up the f***ing wall and explode himself into losing a job.