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

[Fantomas]

You have to be a troll, lmao, your takes are some of the worst I've seen on this board.

"You're all emotional" is classic concern trolling. Not born yesterday.

 

[Sasha Orlov]

No, I just watch closer than you do and think for myself instead of conforming to consensus like a sheep


If I may think as a free individual instead of being a sheep, consider this breakaway attempt by Michkov. This is a regular occurrence for him, this is just the most recent example I can remember

1) telegraphs the shot, no deception
2) shot velocity is poor / release is not that quick
3) shoots right into the glove lol

https://x.com/i/web/status/1837162884532756896

They should trade him while he still has value

 

[OKR]

If Bedard gained any more lean, athletic muscle, he'd be starting to sign up for body building competitions

Is it a impressive starting point for a 18 year old hockey player? Sure, but let’s not act like this is anywhere near his peak athletic physique. He is very disproportionate, as in he is very lower body heavy. That’s why he got outmuscled plenty of times last season, he’ll probably be closer to 200lbs in his prime once he adds upper body muscle and bit of fat to protect his frame from all the blows he’ll get.

 

[Unger9]

Well, we'll see how many goals he scores this season due to shooting ability. Or rather how low his shooting percentage will be in grade A scoring chances farther than 15 ft away from the net

I want him to resolve this obviously. I'm a Flyers fan. There's probably a good likelihood that it does resolve. But it hasn't, yet. That's all I'm saying

 

[FlyguyOX]

View attachment 909312

Is it an impressive starting point for a 18 year old hockey player? Sure, but let’s not act like this is anywhere near his peak athletic physique. He is very disproportionate, as in he is very lower body heavy. That’s why he got outmuscled plenty of times last season, he’ll probably be closer to 200lbs in his prime once he adds upper body muscle and bit of fat to protect his frame from all the blows he’ll get.

To be fair this is how the vast majority of older nhl players look too

 

[OKR]

To be fair this is how the vast majority of older nhl players look too

It’s really not, and especially not at 5’10. They’re not much bigger in terms of mass, but very few players have pecs and lats of a teenager.

 

[HeadLiceHatty]

They should trade him while he still has value

Yeah hopefully they can get a couple 2nds or a late 1st.

 

[NatusVincere]

Using the fact that he produced a lot last season is completely avoiding the issue. He scored essentially all but 2 of his goals from within the hash marks.

Last season his shot objectively struggled. He was a playmaker and a net vicinity goal scorer.

So he scored most of his goals like he did from the very first day?

U15 Michkov in the Russian Junior League:


U16 Michkov at the YOG:


U16/U17 Michkov in the MHL:


And even the video above at the U18:


Michkovs goals were almost always around the net and about timing, position, instinct/iq and hands. He never had a powerfull shot or a strong one timer (I remember one against Canada in a preseason game and maybe 1 or 2 in the KHL).

Again, imo he changed his game against men a little bit because he dont have a speed or physical advantage to skates through 4 or 5 oppenents anymore. And he don't uses his wrist shot from behind as much like here:

https://x.com/i/web/status/1364636394942062594

Or here:

https://x.com/i/web/status/1348569263678885889

Or the 1 or 2 goals in the MHL highlights. But I think that has more to do with his oppenents (and his age/power disadvantage) than anything else. As Michkov once said in an interview, he wouldn't describe himself as a pure goalscorer (at a time when all NA scouts did exactly that). He simply tries to find the best solution...

And the fact that he finds ways to produce till this day is not avoiding the issue but objectivly shows that maybe the issue is not as big as you trying to sell here.

 

[FlyguyOX]

Torts loves this kid already. You can tell by his comments

 

[Rebels57]

Well, we'll see how many goals he scores this season due to shooting ability. Or rather how low his shooting percentage will be in grade A scoring chances farther than 15 ft away from the net

I want him to resolve this obviously. I'm a Flyers fan. There's probably a good likelihood that it does resolve. But it hasn't, yet. That's all I'm saying

Do you not realize that the vast majority of goals in the NHL are scoring from below the top of the circles and that a prospect scoring a lot from there is a good sign that his scoring will translate? On the flip side, a player like Cutter Gauthier scored most of his NCAA goals from outside the tops of the circles. Not many goals are scored there in the NHL and he will need to start shooting closer to the net for his goal scoring to translate.

 

[SaSaShi]

Well, we'll see how many goals he scores this season due to shooting ability. Or rather how low his shooting percentage will be in grade A scoring chances farther than 15 ft away from the net

I want him to resolve this obviously. I'm a Flyers fan. There's probably a good likelihood that it does resolve. But it hasn't, yet. That's all I'm saying

I think you're getting a heavy case of prospect anxiety. I'm a flyers fan too and after the unrealized potentials of our previous THREE top draft picks JVR ( softie) and Lindros, Patrick ( head injuries) plus a 50 year Cup drought, the trauma might be setting in LOL. I can tell you you're not the only one.

Michkov is nowhere close to his ceiling (still lacks strength and his skating will improve). Look at Brink's improvement from last year in skating speed/power. Not only that, the flyers mentioned that Michkov was gassed out before his first preseason game, because Tort's preseason camp regiment was pretty rough on Michkov.

But from watching him in rookie camp/ preseason, his passing and vision are ELITE and much better than I thought. His passing should equal Giroux's at the very least and Hockey IQ is off the charts. You can see he just doesn't play the game, but he thinks the game and at such a high level.

He also has that Kobe Bryant gene of sports obsession which Tortorella already recognized. Take a deep breath and enjoy this kid's development.