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

[WhiskeyYerTheDevils]

Oh dear oh dear. Another swipe at Matvei from former professionals no less. Oh no wait. Beer leaguers.

There are countless examples of top sportsmen and women across a range of disciplines who at a young age outplayed their peer group consistently. It does become boring and a meaningless exercise. They need new challenges and a higher level of competition.

And more often than not rise to it and exceed it. There's no doubt Matvei will do that. He's done it all his career to date, learnt and grown.He wasn't going to win the Gagarin Cup with Sochi but he still showed that winning mentality and desire because the competition challenged him and forced him to adapt and raise his game.

How did I take a swipe at Michkov??

 

[Zine]

Were his team's so successful that winning was too easy for him? Winning was never boring for me, and never easy either.

I lived in Houston for a few years (over a decade ago lol), and the top league there was pretty meh as you can imagine - there were some stronger players from Western Canada (oil connection) and we had some former CHL and NCAA guys, but there were also a lot of weaker players. I was one of the league's top scorers, but we had a pretty weak team overall which made winning an accomplishment. Hockey is a team sport, it's really tough to single handedly win games even in weaker leagues.

But you were emotionally invested to care. A lot of players aren't when they drop down to lower levels.

You think every NHLer cared about winning when they joined the AHL or European teams during lockouts?
I just looked up Scott Gomez in the ECHL. He won the point race by only 6 points. 4 points in 4 playoff games too. I imagine he couldve steamrolled everybody tenfold had he actually gave 100%. Derian Hatcher likewise had 5 goals in 27 games in the UHL, a league i dont even know what it is.

Not absolving Michkov's laziness, but I imagine going from the best player on your KHL team to the MHL is a huge comedown for someone his age.

 

[Czechboy]

But you were emotionally invested to care. A lot of players aren't when they drop down to lower levels.

You think every NHLer cared about winning when they joined the AHL or European teams during lockouts?
I just looked up Scott Gomez in the ECHL. He won the point race by only 6 points. 4 points in 4 playoff games too. I imagine he couldve steamrolled everybody tenfold had he actually gave 100%. Derian Hatcher likewise had 5 goals in 27 games in the UHL, a league i dont even know what it is.

Not absolving Michkov's laziness, but I imagine going from the best player on your KHL team to the MHL is a huge comedown for someone his age.

I remember when Necas was a highly touted pick and went to U20's and got 3 points in 5 games. At the time, one of the best Czechs in Junior (we were really bad). Then he went to the U18s in April (after the U20) and I thought he'd absolutely dismantle the tournament! 10 points in 5 games at a minimum!

3 points in 5 games and hardly noticeable.lol

A different example was legend Pierre McGuire pointing out that Sidney Crosby kept giving all world passes to his teamates but they didn't finish and his comment was 'when those passes are hitting professional adults they will be in the back of the net'.

 

[Kshahdoo]

 

[HawksDub89]

Future Blackhawk.

If we take him at 3/4 then win the lotto next year with Eiserman or Celebrini we’re basically set with our new franchise pillars.

I don’t understand the hesitation with taking Michkov. He’s gonna come over.

 

[Stewie Griffin]

I like him at number 3 over Carlsson. If the Sharks don't get lottery luck I'm praying for Michkov.

 

[waitin425]

We missed out not having him in the WJHC this year. He is a fraction off of Bedard. I have him as #2 in this draft.

 

[dj Mahoney]

He's right there with BEDARD

 

[ClarkBolzano]

We missed out not having him in the WJHC this year. He is a fraction off of Bedard. I have him as #2 in this draft.

Only one question. If Russia Played wjhc and Michkov outscored Bedard, you still would consider clear Number two or May be at the Same Level of Bedard? Just curious.

 

[Mathieukferland]

Only one question. If Russia Played wjhc and Michkov outscored Bedard, you still would consider clear Number two or May be at the Same Level of Bedard? Just curious.

In purely hockey terms perhaps, but given his contract and the ongoing political situation I doubt he would be picked first

 

[waitin425]

Only one question. If Russia Played wjhc and Michkov outscored Bedard, you still would consider clear Number two or May be at the Same Level of Bedard? Just curious.

If he was clearly better than Bedard in the WJHC, then that would have been something to behold. It may have pushed him above Bedard, yes. But....never happened, so we are left with what we can see which is less than the direct comparable of playing in the same tournament against the same competition. Bedard is #1.

Also, what Mathieu above said. Political situation and such.

 

[Kevin Musto]

Future Blackhawk.

If we take him at 3/4 then win the lotto next year with Eiserman or Celebrini we’re basically set with our new franchise pillars.

I don’t understand the hesitation with taking Michkov. He’s gonna come over.

Blackhawks cancelling pride night every year for the next decade so they don't hurt Michkov's feelings?

No thanks.

 

[Caser]

Blackhawks cancelling pride night every year for the next decade so they don't hurt Michkov's feelings?

No thanks.

Yeah, that most likely just means them signing Staal brothers in the offseason.

 

[Czechboy]

Yeah, that most likely just means them signing Staal brothers in the offseason.

I was making a joke that a guy like Don Cherry absolutely loved the staals and Reimer. 'good ole boys!'... I expect the next person to refuse the pride jersey is nicest guy in the league... Jack campbell.lol.

 

[Kshahdoo]

Blackhawks cancelling pride night every year for the next decade so they don't hurt Michkov's feelings?

No thanks.

They will cancel those prides anyway so it's better to cancel them with Michkov than without...

 

[macbowes]

Just because Michkov is Russian doesn't mean he's a bigot. He very well could be, but no sense in assuming. Plenty of Russians are gay, and plenty of North Americans are bigoted homophobes.

 

[lanky]

I was making a joke that a guy like Don Cherry absolutely loved the staals and Reimer. 'good ole boys!'... I expect the next person to refuse the pride jersey is nicest guy in the league... Jack campbell.lol.

I've heard glowing character references about James Reimer, from people who know him outside of hockey.
I believe inclusivity has room for people to stick with traditional values. Alienating him for his values is the opposite of inclusivity in my opinion.

 

[Fantomas]

Just because Michkov is Russian doesn't mean he's a bigot. He very well could be, but no sense in assuming. Plenty of Russians are gay, and plenty of North Americans are bigoted homophobes.

Thread on good course, I can see.

 

[Czechboy]

I've heard glowing character references about James Reimer, from people who know him outside of hockey.
I believe inclusivity has room for people to stick with traditional values. Alienating him for his values is the opposite of inclusivity in my opinion.

I tired 3x to respond to this but gave up. Don't want the mod to kick me out or to upset Fantomas.

I think Michkov has a better shot than Bedard and, at their NHL peak, will be a greater goal scorer. Based on his second half after the Jr's though.. I think Bedard is slightly better. I don't think who's ever 3rd is on their level.

I still wouldn't draft a guy that won't come to my organization for several years.. that includes Sale, Fantili or Carlson. If I draft a guy and I'm a GM on a lottery team.. I doubt I have 3 years left and want to see him, market him, combine him etc. Nothing to do with Rusophopia.

But, on merit, I think they are damn close and a notch above everyone else.

 

[Kojo]

This kid is going to be a steal. His ceiling is sky high and he's not even going to be drafted in the top 2.

 

[HawksDub89]

I tired 3x to respond to this but gave up. Don't want the mod to kick me out or to upset Fantomas.

I think Michkov has a better shot than Bedard and, at their NHL peak, will be a greater goal scorer. Based on his second half after the Jr's though.. I think Bedard is slightly better. I don't think who's ever 3rd is on their level.

I still wouldn't draft a guy that won't come to my organization for several years.. that includes Sale, Fantili or Carlson. If I draft a guy and I'm a GM on a lottery team.. I doubt I have 3 years left and want to see him, market him, combine him etc. Nothing to do with Rusophopia.

But, on merit, I think they are damn close and a notch above everyone else.

I’ve been a huge Michkov guy, but no he absolutely does not have a better shot than Bedard. That’s ridiculous.

There might be 2-3 guys in the world that have a better shot than Bedard.

 

[Kevin Musto]

I think Michkov has a better shot than Bedard

Bedard would lead the KHL in goals scored

Nice try

 

[Gold Standard]

Bedard would lead the KHL in goals scored

Nice try

and total points. and by a wide margin, I would imagine.

 

[Caser]

Bedard would lead the KHL in goals scored

Nice try

and total points. and by a wide margin, I would imagine.

You should try at least watching some KHL games first before getting to these conclusions lol.

Bedard would be buried on the 4th line at first (because older players need to play too), greeted by some borderline dirty hits (just because why not), get some VHL/MHL stints (because they need some help too) and then maybe would get a consistent roster spot in the second half of the season, which obviously wouldn't be enough to adjust to KHL hockey that much to lead the league, but he might still leave a good impression.

 

[Kevin Musto]

Bedard would be buried on the 4th line at first (because older players need to play too)

Or he could whine about not getting special treatment and force a loan to Sochi. I hear that works these days.