So he ended up at #7 and Philly, I'm happy.
About the "he shoots like Matthews and skates like McDavid... you can't overhype him!" no 1 OA - I'm convinced that purely by talent, Michkov is the best player of the draft. Bedard has a super professional attitude/approach and is already very well trained. Michkov has still has a lot of room to grow here. And besides his shot, Bedard has imo no exceptional skill. Even his highlights were relatively unimpressive with most of him destroying German speaking teams. But Bedard deserved the #1 and Chicago did everything right.
The Ducks and Jackets took the easy, low-risk path from their point of view. But Carlsson and Fantilli will not be the bus drivers on the way to a possible cup. However, I did enjoy Carlssons interviews. I like his natural confidence, he certain has some kind of boss aura. Maybe the Ducks picked their next Getzlaf here. Otherwise the Jackets staff and probably half of Ohio can look forward to being invited by Fantilli to his birthday parties - but that's all there will be to celebrate.
The Sharks should have picked Michkov. Strange preferring this year's U18 MVP to the two years ago, who was already dominating the tournament 16 years old. Smith is nowhere near Michkovs level. But you could play the fresh prince and create good vibes.
The losers of the draft are clearly the Habs. Price pulled himself out for the last seconds, but even that didn't help. Luckily for them, Reinbacher will make sure that no one forgets his name ever again. We could see that right in his face. And he has the talent and attitude to do so. Only a Michkov he is not.
The Yotes clearly picked accidentally the wrong Russian and thought we wouldn't notice if they just pick another Russian winger. I feel sorry for my Russian brothers who now have to serve in a gulag in the desert. But Im glad its not Michkov… who was already wearing the Yotes suit.
Congratulations Philly. Imo the winner of the draft.
