That can't be the only reason he fell to #7. Sorry I don't buy it for a second bro. You say he has no warts and he's perfect, fine. I doubt GMs and scouts were saying the same though.
The Russian factor likely wasn't as strong as you're making it to be, considering even a Russian Defenceman went before Michkov. The 3 years is a concern sure, but if he's Bedard 2.0 with no warts and clearly generational, then you have to take him at #2 UNLESS there are other things being takin into consideration.
Habs also didn't draft reinbacher to be a #3. His ceiling is #1RD, that's what habs hope he can become. RD>W in terms of value, assuming both are at least elite. Would you rather have a RD like Petriangelo or Weber? Or would you rather Kaprisov? Can't go wrong with either or but I can totally understand why teams would choose the RD.
Okay, don’t buy it. Michkov lighted up on every levels and continuing to do it. He is not the first or second or third Russian player who was drafted later than he should, he is not the last. Year later jabs were lucky to draft player who should be drafted before.
Telling about “Russian factor isn’t big” is fun when we have teams like send or ducks who don’t draft russians from Russia at all.
Ceiling of Michkov is 100-120+ points player. ceiling of Reinbacher is 50-60 points two way defenseman. It’s not even close. RD>W in vacuum, players like Kaprisov, Kucherov, Robertson, Tkachuk are more valuable, cost more. Again player like Makar, Niskanen, Quinn Hughes can be labeled as as important and I understand if someone will call them more important. But Reinbacher isn’t there on his stage. Michkov was there all the time at his stages. Again reason why the pick itself was wrong. As for mtl, as for AC, we can talk about other teams.
If you think that it’s okay to draft Reinbacher over Michkov, imagine if mtl would pass on Demidov for some defenseman this year. Mtl still had Caufield, Slaf, Mesar and centers Suzuki, Dach, Newhook, Beck and drafted Hage after.
Both Michkov and Demidov were too talented to pass them for Reinbacher, Simashev, Yakemchuk, Parekh, Dickinson, Buium or Silayev. Mtl made right decision this year. Ducks? Are we talking about Russian factor?