RW Matvei Michkov (2023, 7th, PHI) Part 4

[Kshahdoo]

Ska won't forfeit 2 years of his contract even if he stands on his knees and begs. Also he looks too raw for the NHL. He should make SKA roster first.

He looks too good for SKA roster already. Has better PPG than any SKA player and would be the second best scorer (and best goal scorer) of the team with the fewest games played...

 

[Caser]

He looks too good for SKA roster already. Has better PPG than any SKA player and would be the second best scorer (and best goal scorer) of the team with the fewest games played...

That's kind of another reason for them to not to terminate the contract early though.

 

[Kshahdoo]

That's kind of another reason for them to not to terminate the contract early though.

He looked pretty solid last season too, which still didn't help him to make SKA roster. Rotenberg is a weird dude, his actions are very hard to predict.

 

[Hanji]

Why would Anaheim or Columbus regret taking big strong centers who are projected to be stars? Michkov may end up a star as well, but a high end center is a much more important piece, especially for both of those teams and where they’re at.

Michkov could very well project to be a high end center in the NHL. His superior IQ allows him to be deployed anywhere up front.
He looked amazing between Demidov and Gritsyuk earlier this year.

 

[Crazy8oooo]

Michkov could very well project to be a high end center in the NHL. His superior IQ allows him to be deployed anywhere up front.
He looked amazing between Demidov and Gritsyuk earlier this year.

Great, so you have 3 players who could end up being high end, star centers. One of which isn’t available to their NHL team for 3 seasons. Meanwhile, the other two are available immediately. The other two are also big bodies that are ideal for a #1 C. Carlsson’s also been talked about as having an exceptionally high hockey IQ. So, as I asked before, why would either Anaheim or Columbus regret their picks? (I’ve not said that Michkov will not become a star…just wonder why the original poster and now you think that Anaheim or Columbus will regret their picks)

 

[FlyguyOX]

Michkov could very well project to be a high end center in the NHL. His superior IQ allows him to be deployed anywhere up front.
He looked amazing between Demidov and Gritsyuk earlier this year.

His assist last game was amazing

 

[Pavel Buchnevich]

Why would Anaheim or Columbus regret taking big strong centers who are projected to be stars? Michkov may end up a star as well, but a high end center is a much more important piece, especially for both of those teams and where they’re at.

Because they are worse hockey players. No offense, but big and strong loses out to skill in this league. The best players in the league are the best because of their offensive ability, and it looks likely Michkov will join them as one of the best in the league eventually.

 

[Sasha Orlov]

Great, so you have 3 players who could end up being high end, star centers. One of which isn’t available to their NHL team for 3 seasons. Meanwhile, the other two are available immediately. The other two are also big bodies that are ideal for a #1 C. Carlsson’s also been talked about as having an exceptionally high hockey IQ. So, as I asked before, why would either Anaheim or Columbus regret their picks? (I’ve not said that Michkov will not become a star…just wonder why the original poster and now you think that Anaheim or Columbus will regret their picks)

Michkov is just a much better player

 

[Crazy8oooo]

Because they are worse hockey players. No offense, but big and strong loses out to skill in this league. The best players in the league are the best because of their offensive ability, and it looks likely Michkov will join them as one of the best in the league eventually.

It remains to be seen if they’re worse players. You can’t say that with certainty when one is doing it in the KHL and other two are fitting in quite well in the NHL. It’s going to be a few years before one can say with certainty who is better out of the three.

 

[Matti Mich]

I think the quality drop from the 23 draft really started at 4.
Honestly if the flyers had picked 2 or 3 and took either of Carlson or Fantilli I dont think I have been upset. Both are going to be capable and top line players for a long time. Do I think Michkov is better or has a higher ceiling, we will see, I don't know, and without the Russians in the WJC it's hard to make apples to apples comparisons.

 

[belfour30]

Why would Anaheim or Columbus regret taking big strong centers who are projected to be stars? Michkov may end up a star as well, but a high end center is a much more important piece, especially for both of those teams and where they’re at.

Honestly I think Will Smith is going to be really good and the 2023 top 4+Michkov are the future of the NHL.

I don't think the Sharks should regret their pick but I have no idea what Montreal and Arizona were doing unless Michkov just wasn't interested in playing there. Probably more of an issue for Arizona than Montreal.

 

[Crazy8oooo]

Honestly I think Will Smith is going to be really good and the 2023 top 4+Michkov are the future of the NHL.

I don't think the Sharks should regret their pick but I have no idea what Montreal and Arizona were doing unless Michkov just wasn't interested in playing there. Probably more of an issue for Arizona than Montreal.

I know most people with picks at the top of the draft were not keen on their team picking Michkov, due to “reasons”. As a Ducks fan, I would’ve been thrilled with him since I think he’ll be a special player. However, I also think Carlsson will be special and am not at all upset at that pick. He’s actually impressed me more than what I was expecting this early on.

Agreed that Smith will be really good too and the Sharks should be thrilled. I’m not looking forward to him playing against the Ducks for years to come. I really thought Montreal would grab Michkov and was surprised when they didn’t. I feel they over thought it.

 

[belfour30]

I know most people with picks at the top of the draft were not keen on their team picking Michkov, due to “reasons”. As a Ducks fan, I would’ve been thrilled with him since I think he’ll be a special player. However, I also think Carlsson will be special and am not at all upset at that pick. He’s actually impressed me more than what I was expecting this early on.

Agreed that Smith will be really good too and the Sharks should be thrilled. I’m not looking forward to him playing against the Ducks for years to come. I really thought Montreal would grab Michkov and was surprised when they didn’t. I feel they over thought it.

I'm a Hawks fan and the bottom spot they could pick in 2023 was 5 and I would have been thrilled with Smith or Michkov before the lottery. The fact the Hawks got Bedard is just gravy.

I see a lot of Hawks/Ducks WCF matchups in the distant future.

 

[Guadana]

Its okay to not draft "Kucherov" when you draft "Eichel" or "Barkov". So Ducks and Jackets fans shouldn't be worry, even if Michkov wil be as good as Kucherov or even better. SJ, mtl, or Arizona - different story.

 

[coooldude]

I know most people with picks at the top of the draft were not keen on their team picking Michkov, due to “reasons”. As a Ducks fan, I would’ve been thrilled with him since I think he’ll be a special player. However, I also think Carlsson will be special and am not at all upset at that pick. He’s actually impressed me more than what I was expecting this early on.

Agreed that Smith will be really good too and the Sharks should be thrilled. I’m not looking forward to him playing against the Ducks for years to come. I really thought Montreal would grab Michkov and was surprised when they didn’t. I feel they over thought it.

Maybe the sharks fans are just being typically cynical, but many of us see Smith as a better complementary 2C and not the franchise 1C we need. He's looking more like a Zegras, good but not your centerpiece.

So we're not thrilled as we see the top 3 kicking ass and Michkov tearing it up in the KHL.

I think Smith so far is pretty clearly a tier below any of those players. Only a few of us think sharks should have drafted Michkov though, because of the rumors he told "non hockey market" franchises he wasn't interested. Would be quite depressing and annoying to have to trade the rights to a player who didn't want to play for us. Maybe the same calculus for Arizona... Montreal, not sure why they didn't draft him.

 

[Crazy8oooo]

Maybe the sharks fans are just being typically cynical, but many of us see Smith as a better complementary 2C and not the franchise 1C we need. He's looking more like a Zegras, good but not your centerpiece.

So we're not thrilled as we see the top 3 kicking ass and Michkov tearing it up in the KHL.

I think Smith so far is pretty clearly a tier below any of those players. Only a few of us think sharks should have drafted Michkov though, because of the rumors he told "non hockey market" franchises he wasn't interested. Would be quite depressing and annoying to have to trade the rights to a player who didn't want to play for us. Maybe the same calculus for Arizona... Montreal, not sure why they didn't draft him.

I agree with the Zegras comparison, but personally, I think Zegras could score ppg and even above 90 points. Even at a ppg, that’s a first line center. I think Smith will be a great player for the Sharks. I get it though. It’s disappointing to see teams just above you in the draft, having their picks already look great. I was bummed when the Ducks lost out on getting Bedard despite them still having great players available.

 

[Redpath]

Felt like his first game in a while where he could have easily had 3-5 points.

 

[Kshahdoo]

Felt like his first game in a while where he could have easily had 3-5 points.

Not sure about 5 points, but 3 points he'd have had for sure if his team mates could hit empty nets.

 

[kp61c]

He looks too good for SKA roster already. Has better PPG than any SKA player and would be the second best scorer (and best goal scorer) of the team with the fewest games played...

he can't play defence, phisically weak and looks self-entitled on ice. i can understand why rotenberg discarded him. it's not surprise that Sochi with Michkov is the worst team in the KHL.

 

[Steve Kournianos]

All I know is that in the 10 years I’ve been covering NHL prospects, I don’t ever recall a draft+1 season in the KHL quite like his. I remember writing how Kaprizov’s 11 goals and 27 points in 2016 were a big deal, which they were at the time. But Michkov has now set new standards for draft-year AND draft+1 scoring in the KHL. Nothing short of phenomenal.

The chances that Michkov is anything less than a 30-goal scorer in the NHL become smaller and smaller with every point he records. And scoring wingers like him usually are low maintenance, which means he can fit on any of the first three lines and get 3-5 chances a game once he joins the Flyers. They might even try him at center at this rate.

 

[Kshahdoo]

he can't play defence, phisically weak and looks self-entitled on ice. i can understand why rotenberg discarded him. it's not surprise that Sochi with Michkov is the worst team in the KHL.

Lol, Michkov in the last 6 games: 3+3. All Sochi forwards but Michkov, Tyanulin and Khusnutdinov in the last 6 games: 1+1. It was 0+0 till the last game, where Avershin, who was upped from VHL just a few games ago, scored a goal.

Totally Michkov's fault...

 

[Redpath]

Not sure about 5 points, but 3 points he'd have had for sure if his team mates could hit empty nets.

These plays + his point + his lacrosse attempt were some of the ones I had in mind. Credit and thank you to @Unger9

It is still on him/his teammates to finish some of these, but nice to see him involved with multiple premium opportunities after a slower stretch. He is eventually going to have one of these multi-chance games where the stars align and everything finds its way in the net.

 

[Deep Blue Metallic]

All I know is that in the 10 years I’ve been covering NHL prospects, I don’t ever recall a draft+1 season in the KHL quite like his. I remember writing how Kaprizov’s 11 goals and 27 points in 2016 were a big deal, which they were at the time. But Michkov has now set new standards for draft-year AND draft+1 scoring in the KHL. Nothing short of phenomenal.

The chances that Michkov is anything less than a 30-goal scorer in the NHL become smaller and smaller with every point he records. And scoring wingers like him usually are low maintenance, which means he can fit on any of the first three lines and get 3-5 chances a game once he joins the Flyers. They might even try him at center at this rate.

Torts might be long gone by the time Michkov is actually playing with the Flyers, but that could be a volatile combination.

 

[Kshahdoo]

Torts might be long gone by the time Michkov is actually playing with the Flyers, but that could be a volatile combination.

Torts loved Panarin, Mitchcough at the very least should be not worse than Artemi.

 

[Dr Jablonski PhD]

All I know is that in the 10 years I’ve been covering NHL prospects, I don’t ever recall a draft+1 season in the KHL quite like his. I remember writing how Kaprizov’s 11 goals and 27 points in 2016 were a big deal, which they were at the time. But Michkov has now set new standards for draft-year AND draft+1 scoring in the KHL. Nothing short of phenomenal.

The chances that Michkov is anything less than a 30-goal scorer in the NHL become smaller and smaller with every point he records. And scoring wingers like him usually are low maintenance, which means he can fit on any of the first three lines and get 3-5 chances a game once he joins the Flyers. They might even try him at center at this rate.

I'm well aware that it's a small part of his overall game, but I'm always surprised that there isn't more concern about his shot. I'm one of his biggest fans, but he really.. really needs to figure out his issue with his stick flex and shot velocity. His shot is slower now than it was at the 2022 WJC. I don't think he's a superstar without fixing this issue. But the good news is that I think it's entirely due to his stick flex being way too high/stiff

It even affects his release because he has to recruit so much muscular effort to make his stick flex even a little bit. It sorely needs to be lowered