Toggle sidebar

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

  • Work is still on-going to rebuild the site styling and features. Please report any issues you may experience so we can look into it. Click Here for Updates
Status
Not open for further replies.
Embiid said:
I hope it is...
Click to expand...

Has common sense left the building? Like really. But I dunno. Maybe I missed that KHL memo floating around that says:

"To all 22 teams across the land. Every NHL drafted player shall have his ego tempered. Temper his ego for the sake of the Motherland! All coaches not in compliance will be thrown out a window. Thank you. Let's play hockey"
 
  • Wow
Reactions: Beef Invictus
Zine said:
Has common sense left the building? Like really. But I dunno. Maybe I missed that KHL memo floating around that says:

"To all 22 teams across the land. Every NHL drafted player shall have his ego tempered. Temper his ego for the sake of the Motherland! All coaches not in compliance will be thrown out a window. Thank you. Let's play hockey"
Click to expand...
Can you give a reasonable explanation why he has played 6 minutes of hockey in 4 games when he showed in the pre-season to be quite ready for the KHL.

Honest question.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Fight4yourRight, Rebels57, GapToothedWonder and 2 others
Zine said:
Has common sense left the building? Like really. But I dunno. Maybe I missed that KHL memo floating around that says:

"To all 22 teams across the land. Every NHL drafted player shall have his ego tempered. Temper his ego for the sake of the Motherland! All coaches not in compliance will be thrown out a window. Thank you. Let's play hockey"
Click to expand...
Sounds about right..lol

I am mostly exaggerating....
il_fullxfull.2426995312_53o2.jpg
 
  • Like
Reactions: kudymen and GapToothedWonder
Tripod said:
Can you give a reasonable explanation why he has played 6 minutes of hockey in 4 games when he showed in the pre-season to be quite ready for the KHL.

Honest question.
Click to expand...

Last year there were reports of Rotenberg being pissed at Michkov for not taking his off-season strength recommendations seriously.
Even in present time, Roten keep going on about Michkov's need for strength.

Rotenberg is an overcompensating fool due to his lack of background in hockey. He always must be correct.
Michkov has an aura of arrogance about him a little bit too, which doesn't help.
Me thinks the problem is Rotenberg going to big lengths to prove a point.

I read some Philly blog saying Michkov was being 'knocked down to size' or something similar. And that poster who said Michkov's ego is being tempered....that's likely valid, but it's at the expense of proping up Rotenberg's ego. It has nothing to do with the KHL.
Rotenbergs (and rampant political nepotism) is the disgrace of Russian hockey.

Such drama!
 
Last edited:
  • Like
Reactions: BackToTheBrierePatch, Rebels57, BernieParent and 1 other person
Zine said:
Last year there were reports of Rotenberg being pissed at Michkov for not taking his off-season strength recommendations seriously.
Even in present time, Roten keep going on about Michkov's need for strength.

Rotenberg is an overcompensating fool due to his lack of background in hockey. He always must be correct.
Michkov has an aura of arrogance about him a little bit too, which doesn't help.
Me thinks the problem is Rotenberg going to big lengths to prove a point.

I read some Philly blog saying Michkov was being 'knocked down to size' or something similar. And that poster who said Michkov's ego is being tempered....that's likely valid, but it's at the expense of proping up Rotenberg's ego. It has nothing to do with the KHL.
Rotenbergs (and rampant political nepotism) is the disgrace of Russian hockey.

Such drama!
Click to expand...

If I venmo you fifty bucks will you beat him up?
 
  • Like
Reactions: Zine, Rebels57 and BernieParent
Zine said:
Last year there were reports of Rotenberg being pissed at Michkov for not taking his off-season strength recommendations seriously.
Even in present time, Roten keep going on about Michkov's need for strength.

Rotenberg is an overcompensating fool due to his lack of background in hockey. He always must be correct.
Michkov has an aura of arrogance about him a little bit too, which doesn't help.
Me thinks the problem is Rotenberg going to big lengths to prove a point.

I read some Philly blog saying Michkov was being 'knocked down to size' or something similar. And that poster who said Michkov's ego is being tempered....that's likely valid, but it's at the expense of proping up Rotenberg's ego. It has nothing to do with the KHL.
Rotenbergs (and rampant political nepotism) is the disgrace of Russian hockey.

Such drama!
Click to expand...
Yeah, there are a lot of f---ked up things about Russia, but it's far less competent in terms of social control and repression than China. I doubt Putin gives two shits about Michkov, this is a lower level political spat, more about a martinet showing he's in control. As long as players stay out of politics, and keep their nose clean (follow the rules, kowtow to the right KHL people, give lip service when required) they won't have trouble.

Americans have to understand however, that Russian players abroad have to also follow the rules, it's not so much that they have to avoid windows, but if they have family in Russia, it would not behoove them to go on Western media and say criticize the invasion of Ukraine. I would err on the side of caution if I were a Russian hockey player. Avoid politics, keep a low profile, keep your money in Western banks, etc.

This is not just a Russian thing, Turkish players in the NBA have been circumspect for the most part about Erdogan (with a notable exception who I think got his family out first).
 
Excuse the stupid question, but is Sochi still KHL? If so would he be in games for them against SKA?
 
Not only are they in the KHL, but their first game against SKA is in Sochi on October 2.
Also October 27, December 19 and February 11, 2024,
 
I don't think it is overreacting to get worried about Michkov in the KHL. By all accounts this guy was a top prospect and he fell to us. That wasn't a mistake and was likely at least in part because of the political climate. It may not be as extreme as it once was, but if you don't think that a young superstar hockey player going to play in the NHL at a time of heightened conflict with the west isn't on the radar of some higher ups you are sorely mistaken. I'm not suggesting that Putin is directing things or anything like that, but the government takes an interest in the comings and goings of high profile athletes. If they can convince a guy like Michkov to not go to the NHL, that's a victory. I don't necessarily think that is what is going on but to be concerned about it is reasonable.

I think we'd all prefer that he play in juniors or some other pro Euro league or the AHL to avoid any kind of interference.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Ironmanrulez
It isn't clear to me why Michkov staying would be more desirable to Putin them him becoming a star in the best league in the world. What does him staying accomplish?
 
deadhead said:
Yeah, there are a lot of f---ked up things about Russia, but it's far less competent in terms of social control and repression than China. I doubt Putin gives two shits about Michkov, this is a lower level political spat, more about a martinet showing he's in control. As long as players stay out of politics, and keep their nose clean (follow the rules, kowtow to the right KHL people, give lip service when required) they won't have trouble.

Americans have to understand however, that Russian players abroad have to also follow the rules, it's not so much that they have to avoid windows, but if they have family in Russia, it would not behoove them to go on Western media and say criticize the invasion of Ukraine. I would err on the side of caution if I were a Russian hockey player. Avoid politics, keep a low profile, keep your money in Western banks, etc.

This is not just a Russian thing, Turkish players in the NBA have been circumspect for the most part about Erdogan (with a notable exception who I think got his family out first).
Click to expand...

Families of Russian NHLers are in no danger... no more/less than their families in NA during the NHL season.

Are there consquences for speaking out? Sure. But they'll be in the form of media slander, online threats. See both Panarin and Zadorov....perfect examples.

But the SAME would happen in the USA if a Russian overtly supports anti-Western politics. Notice how nobody (sans Ovechkin like 8 years ago) makes pro-Putin/pro-war statements to NA media?

The NHL already needs to provide extra security for players/families because online death threats in America are so bad.....and that's just for being Russian in the current political climate.

These dudes are in a catch-22 no matter what they say, so they all just STFU.
 
Last edited:
  • Haha
Reactions: Ironmanrulez
BillDineen said:
It isn't clear to me why Michkov staying would be more desirable to Putin them him becoming a star in the best league in the world. What does him staying accomplish?
Click to expand...

GapToothedWonder said:
Why are you assuming the decision would be made for logical and not emotional reasons?

Why couldn't it be true purely out of spite?
Click to expand...

What makes you think Putin gives 2 craps about Michkov? As hardcore hockey fans we tend to think our sport is the center of the universe. It isn't,

Of course Putin is a hockey fan, and the KHL is a project of the gov.....but Putin isn't sitting around the war room worrying about some 19 year old hockey player. He has way, way more important things to deal with.
 
Last edited:
  • Haha
Reactions: Ironmanrulez
Status
Not open for further replies.

Latest posts

Ad

Upcoming events

Ad

Top Bottom