RW Matvei Michkov (2023, 7th, PHI) Part 4
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bert
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Late bloomers exists, therefore, NHL draft sucks. Powerful logic
You all are ridiculous with your debates about Michkov and whether or not he'll be better than his Russian predecessors. Who cares? Just let the kid be the first Michkov.
- Apr 27, 2005
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I like this sentiment. It's probably just simplest to say he's got the potential to be one of the greatest Russians wingers in NHL history. If it turns out he becomes worthy of being mentioned alongside guys like Ovechkin, Kucherov, Bure, Kovalchuk etc, that'd be pretty incredible.
anyone doubting his NHL potential simply hasn’t watched him play or has an agenda. The talent and eye test are obvious and the resume is also great. Last time he played against his peers internationally, he was dominant and on equal footing with Bedard. Now he’s outpacing Kucherov & Kaprizov and other elite NHLers in the KHL.
The cherry on top w/ Michkov is that he is also incredibly unique and fun to watch. If you are into hockey prospects, he’s a unicorn
Reminds me of Luka Doncic in the NBA. European Prodigy who all the North American GMs let slip in the draft despite it being OBVIOUS he had special talent.
The cherry on top w/ Michkov is that he is also incredibly unique and fun to watch. If you are into hockey prospects, he’s a unicorn
Reminds me of Luka Doncic in the NBA. European Prodigy who all the North American GMs let slip in the draft despite it being OBVIOUS he had special talent.
Fantomas
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Why would he not? Russia develops many great players and will develop many more. There's nothing particularly unique about Kucherov in the long line of Russian stars.
Michkov is more at the level of Oveckhkin/Malkin as a prospect.
bert
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Why would he not? I dunno because the only better Russian player than Kucherov ever is Ovechkin and he hasnt even been as good in the playoffs.
Kucherov is incredibly unique actually he was the best player on the planet that had Crosby and Mcdavid playing at the same time. If you think this level of play is common you are not correct. Historically there is an abundance of evidence that its not. So yes the player is unique.
Fantomas
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I like Kucherov, he's a star. He's just not on the same level as Ovechkin, Malkin and Michkov far ahead of him currently at 18.
Saying that the only Russian player better than Ovechkin is Kucherov is... well, your opinion and yours alone.
bert
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Kucherov has the same PPG as he does in the regular season as he does in the playoffs. Its not only about who they play with when they are the ones driving the offense.
Well Kucherov has had an extremely similar career to Malkin thus far but has much more longevity to fill for him to fully match him. So they are very comparable. Kucherov has been the best player on his team, he never had Crosby and has a better playoff ppg than Malkin. And been a better playoff player than Ovechkin.
If you think Michkov is going to be better than Kucherov then great. Its just not very likely. That's not a slight to Michkov either. Its just how good Kucherov is/has been.
Fantomas
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Star player, not a year-in, year-out top-5 player. Partly but not exclusively because of injuries. There will be many more Kucherovs.
I don't have a crystal ball and I don't know what the future holds for Michkov. I can only assess his potential, which as I've said is far beyond what Kucherov is.
i think he’s been a clear top 5 player for a number of years now. McDavid, Draisaitl, MacKinnon, Kucherov and then whichever of Matthews/Makar had a better year. If you want to factor in durability, maybe he is just short of Top 5.
bert
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History does not agree. I also have watched Michkov quite a bit, great prospect but I do not agree he is far beyond Kucherov not a chance. This is one of the most clutch players alive to ever play the game.
HeadLiceHatty
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I don't think people are arguing the greatness of Kucherov, he is great and elite, and performed on the biggest stage, just the clear obvious potential that Mickhov could bring multiple Harts / Art Ross's, hes that special. Dude's nuts, i dont remember the last time that I saw hockey IQ like that since Crosby, and I got to see a ton of that man destroy my team, anyways, we'll see, and who knows!
Fantomas
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Exactly. Completely different level as a prospect. If he turns into Kucherov I'll be a little disappointed.
bert
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No other NHL team shares that sentiment then because if thats the expectation he would have been competing for number 1 on draft day.
tnfrs
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its worth noting that michkov has been putting up points on a team that even though is in the top of standings right now, is considered a bad team by KHL standards, and he's been doing it on the second line with players that are more on par with 3rd linerson every other lineup. Theyve maybe converted 25% of the chances Michkov has generated. He wasnt loaned to a 6th place team, he was loaned to a 17th place team and he's been carrying them every game like a backpack, which is fitting because he's still young enough to be a student and instead of going to class he's taking grown ass men to school on a nightly basis.
NatusVincere
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I think career wise Kuch is now in the same tier +/- as Malkin. I see it like this:
Ovechkin - ATG top 6-15, peak multiple MVPs/best player in the world years, prime multiple years around top 5-10 player in the world.
Malkin, Kucherov - ATG top 30-50, peak MVP/Hart season at least once, prime multiple years around top 5-10 player in the world.
Fedorov - ATG top 100, peak MVP/Hart season at least once, prime few years top 10-20 forward.
Bure, Datsyuk - ATG top 100, peak top 3/5 multiple years but where never considered best player in the world (even without Gretzky/Mario), prime multiple years top 10-20 forward.
Mogilny, Yashin, Kovalev, Kovalchuk, Panarin - superstar/star, peak around top 5 player in the world at least once, multiple years top 10-20 forward in the world.
Michkov is in my eyes a candidate for group 2/3 - in his peak compete for the best player in the world at least once with multiple years a top 5/10 player. But if Bedard or someone else turns out the be the next Gretzky, Michkov should at very least have a career like Datsyuk/Bure, without MVP title but several years around that top 5 player tier.
Btw, found this highlight video of Kuch with all his U18 WJC goals (for those who want to compare):
He looked like a light version of Michkov. Pretty similar style: high IQ game with great positioning, passing and feeling for the game. Scored most of his goals also from the same area around the slot. Not the fastest skater too. Kuch was almost 18 years back then.
Fantomas
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I don't think comparing them as prospects holds any merit. As you've agreed, development isn't linear.
Really? That's a crazy high bar.
Fantomas
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Holds a lot of merit. We can only talk of Michkov as a prospect and therefore of his potential.
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So in that vein, most top 10 picks have the potential to be better than Kucherov, because they were better as prospects?
Development isn't linear.
Redpath
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Interested to see how this move impacts Michkov.
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