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

[HanSolo]

I mean really, it just takes watching the kid to be the difference between someone coming in here excited for what's about to unfold and someone grumbling about how it's only preseason. The kid is very clearly a special talent and should be elite once he really gets going.

I'm a fan of a team that passed on him and a self admitted Leo Carlsson fanboy who just paid extra for a customized new Ducks jersey to get it before it's available for direct purchase, and I'd be quick to admit that it's looking like it's less of a question of will Michkov be the second best player from his stacked draft but more of two questions of how close can Carlsson, Fantilli, and Smith get to his level once they've fully developed and can Michkov be a better player than Bedard once they're fully developed.

Anaheim, Columbus, San Jose, Utah, and Montreal either chose to avoid the perceived Russian factor risk or were told by Matvei not to draft him and Philadelphia is going to benefit immensely from taking the opportunity.

 

[Appleyard]

Those guys are literally scrubs compared to Michkov. How did it work out for the clubs who thought the same about Jagr so picked Primesu, Nedved, and Nolan ahead of him?
When a phenom is in the draft you take him. Trade his rights if you have to later. But never pass on these guys. The clubs who get them become Cup winners. The clubs who pass end up big losers.,

Funny Flyers trivia.

Inge Hammarström begged the Flyers to pick Jagr in 1990... they picked Ricci instead.

The year after he begged them to pick Forsberg and they ceded to him... I guess partially due to Jagr's rookie year.

 

[Agent Zuuuub]

It's one thing to be an athletic freak like McDavid or MacKinnon and dominate.

But seeing guys like Kucherov, Pavelski, Stone and now Michkov dominate by just being smarter than everyone is even more beautiful.

 

[bambamcam4ever]

I’ve made a lot more money than I’ve lost betting on the draft over the years. It’s an event sportsbooks routinely lose on as it’s incredibly hard to stay on top of the latest info and have a better sense of things than the biggest fans and draft analysts. I made thousands betting that Marner would be drafted under 4.5 because I was certain the Leafs with Mark Hunter valuing skill would never pass on him, for a more successful example. Nothing is guaranteed but you are weighing the probabilities and winning ~55% of the time is profitable. Thanks for your condescending advice though!

Probability is that long term you will lose money.

 

[TheDoldrums]

Probability is that long term you will lose money.

Dude, I work for a Sportsbook. I know what expected value is and how to make money betting on sports. You are out of your depth.

Don’t want to derail the Michkov thread tho.
My initial comment about betting on his draft position was on the general board, guess threads got merged.

To be back on topic, will reiterate that Michkov is a future superstar and should’ve easily gone 2nd regardless of any nationality/position/contract issues. Super excited to watch his rookie year, glad he didn’t go to an Atlantic team!

 

[Steve Kournianos]

Yes that's surely the reason he dropped. G.M's all over take their lead from the Canadian media.
They don't make a move without first consulting on what they are saying.

I mean, you would have to be downright stupid to do anything as important as making a high draft pick without knowing what guys like Steve Simmons think about a player.

I never said he dropped because of the Canadian media, but they clearly had an anti-Michkov agenda. It was weird and quite pervasive, but par for the course.

 

[Guadana]

i remember when jon sim had 13 pts in the preseason for the flyers 05-06

Was he best player of his very hockey country on any level every year before?

Not insane when you consider:
1. He's a winger;
2. He's Russian; and
3. He skipped a bunch of team interviews.

1. Lafrenierire was winger. As Slafkovsky.
2. As Ovechkin, as Malkin. As Kucherov, as Kaprisov, as Panarin.
3. He didn’t.

 

[Czechboy]

How is he doing in preseason? Is he making the club right away?

Hoping so.. been dying for michkov vs Bedard

 

[HeadLiceHatty]

How is he doing in preseason? Is he making the club right away?

Hoping so.. been dying for michkov vs Bedard

6points in 3 games, including OT winner last night on a 2 on 1, tied for preseason scoring lead. I think he's making the team lol. Looks like he's going to play with Frost and Tippett, most likely and on PP1. Almost every time he touches the puck it seems like something happens.

 

[Fatass]

6points in 3 games, including OT winner last night on a 2 on 1, tied for preseason scoring lead. I think he's making the team lol. Looks like he's going to play with Frost and Tippett, most likely and on PP1. Almost every time he touches the puck it seems like something happens.

Coach Torts loves to play his top guys big minutes. Very likely Michkov plays over 20 min/game.

 

[RedHawkDown]

guy is insanely good. i think he's going to be better than bedard pretty quickly to be honest

bedard's got the shot and speed but michkov's IQ is on another level .not to make another russian comparison but he is essentially kucherov 2.0 and maybe even better

 

[tade]

How is he doing in preseason? Is he making the club right away?

Hoping so.. been dying for michkov vs Bedard

Yes, he is, this was never in doubt.

 

[Zine]

I never said he dropped because of the Canadian media, but they clearly had an anti-Michkov agenda. It was weird and quite pervasive, but par for the course.

This current Michkov love-fest seems to be, in part, a reaction to the horrible things written about him.....a lot from media armies of certain teams justifying why they didn't pick him.

People are finally seeing his talent first hand and it's in vast contrast to the selfish, lazy, slow, 1-dimensional label the media/social media has created for him.
In truth the kid is something special.

 

[HeadLiceHatty]

This current Michkov love-fest seems to be, in part, a reaction to the horrible things written about him.....a lot from media armies of certain teams justifying why they didn't pick him.

People are finally seeing his talent first hand and it's in vast contrast to the selfish, lazy, slow, 1-dimensional label the media/social media has created for him.
In truth the kid is something special.

My love fest started for him years ago, I knew he'd come here and be this, it was so obvious, I've never seen a more intelligent 16 year old with higher hockey IQ, I'm not pro scout, but it was clear and obvious. When I saw the Flyers got him at 7, I nearly fell the f*** over flipping the f*** out.

 

[SaSaShi]

This current Michkov love-fest seems to be, in part, a reaction to the horrible things written about him.....a lot from media armies of certain teams justifying why they didn't pick him.

People are finally seeing his talent first hand and it's in vast contrast to the selfish, lazy, slow, 1-dimensional label the media/social media has created for him.
In truth the kid is something special.

Another thing is, many people haven't watched full games of michkov. highlight videos, even a full season's worth like his 2022 or 2023 KHL highlight package, don't do his game justice at all. I only started watching more after the draft.

For example his last preseason game, if you watch the highlights, you will see a tap in PP goal, and a 2 on 1 wrist shot goal. Big F'n deal. But what you don't see is the space manipulation, you don't see the tight area stickhandling, anticipation, body positioning, etc.

There was one instance where he tried a cross crease pass and the only way it could reach his target was passing the puck through the tiny area between the goalie's pads and his stick. He pulled it off, and to me that was more impressive than his 2 goals from a skill standpoint.

It's when you watch him shift after shift after shift, the true appreciation comes.

 

[Hockeypete49]

His vision and hockey IQ are off the charts. A player like him coming into the league is great for the Flyers AND the NHL.

 

[Czechboy]

6points in 3 games, including OT winner last night on a 2 on 1, tied for preseason scoring lead. I think he's making the team lol. Looks like he's going to play with Frost and Tippett, most likely and on PP1. Almost every time he touches the puck it seems like something happens.

Thanks

That's awesome
Really happy for him and he he flyers fans.

 

[Fatass]

Calder + 90 points + playoffs + ?
Been watching hockey for a very long time. Only seen a very few players come along with this kind of exceptional iq. Combine this kind of hockey smarts with elite skill and watch out. A superstar is born. The Flyers are now must watch.

 

[antman12]

Another thing is, many people haven't watched full games of michkov. highlight videos, even a full season's worth like his 2022 or 2023 KHL highlight package, don't do his game justice at all. I only started watching more after the draft.

For example his last preseason game, if you watch the highlights, you will see a tap in PP goal, and a 2 on 1 wrist shot goal. Big F'n deal. But what you don't see is the space manipulation, you don't see the tight area stickhandling, anticipation, body positioning, etc.

There was one instance where he tried a cross crease pass and the only way it could reach his target was passing the puck through the tiny area between the goalie's pads and his stick. He pulled it off, and to me that was more impressive than his 2 goals from a skill standpoint.

It's when you watch him shift after shift after shift, the true appreciation comes.

https://x.com/i/web/status/1840202953166111166

 

[HeadLiceHatty]

https://x.com/i/web/status/1840202953166111166

He does this with regularity, it's insane lol. He could have 10 points in those 3 games tbh, you just know what he did is something he can replicate, makes it look normal somehow.

 

[AD1066]

This is not criticism--I hope he's able to add more explosiveness to his skating. I think his IQ is at a level only seen every few years, and with elite skating his ceiling becomes the best player in the world, in five years' time. Not that his game relies on speed or that his agility/edgework is bad. It would just be another weapon in the arsenal.

 

[FlyguyOX]

Coach Torts loves to play his top guys big minutes. Very likely Michkov plays over 20 min/game.

Idk about 20 but he’s def gonna be at 18ish at least

My love fest started for him years ago, I knew he'd come here and be this, it was so obvious, I've never seen a more intelligent 16 year old with higher hockey IQ, I'm not pro scout, but it was clear and obvious. When I saw the Flyers got him at 7, I nearly fell the f*** over flipping the f*** out.

I jumped out of my chair in the room where my wife was giving birth lol

 

[PajamaBoy]

Demidov will be a 100+ point player in the NHL...



Yeah, he was like at the pace for 130 points when played with EEK and Boldy. If Minnesota resigns him and then Yurov comes he will have a chance to prove that he isn't that far behind Kuch if behind at all.

Cool one guys better. Kucherov and Kaprizov are both good. Ones clearly better. That's michkov. Was obvious shouldn't have been a discussion.

 

[Faceboner]

PPG+ season incoming, people will be debating Michkov vs Bedard all over again by this season's end.

Let's not pollute this thread with the Reinbacher talk, that guy might need two seasons in the AHL before he becomes a serviceable TOP4 or TOP6D in the NHL LOL.

In fairness to mtl, top pairing rhd are so hard to come by even then a solid 4 is still hard to aquire. But michkov was a clear tier ahead but if Reinbacher turns out and hits chances are he will have close value to michkov that is him turning into a minute munching two way shutdown guy with some physicality and offense to boot. Both are players you win with and want on your team at the same time. Blueprint is 1c, 1d, 1g, than elite 1 wing but michkov is basically as valuable as a center with how he will drive play.

 

[dendazen]

Another thing is, many people haven't watched full games of michkov. highlight videos, even a full season's worth like his 2022 or 2023 KHL highlight package, don't do his game justice at all. I only started watching more after the draft.

For example his last preseason game, if you watch the highlights, you will see a tap in PP goal, and a 2 on 1 wrist shot goal. Big F'n deal. But what you don't see is the space manipulation, you don't see the tight area stickhandling, anticipation, body positioning, etc.

There was one instance where he tried a cross crease pass and the only way it could reach his target was passing the puck through the tiny area between the goalie's pads and his stick. He pulled it off, and to me that was more impressive than his 2 goals from a skill standpoint.

It's when you watch him shift after shift after shift, the true appreciation comes.

I have seen 3 games of his live this year, including the rookie one in Allentown, the one of the best skills he has is separation from tight opposition, as you mentioned his body positioning towards the puck and defensemen, spacing is just so instinctive it's something you can't teach, reminds me of the best in the league like Crosby, Datsyuk, even i'd compare him to Sergey Makarov. Every time he gets the puck you just have this feeling that something Ronaldo/Messi like is happening in the offense, just exceptional read of the plays and where/when your teammates will be. I don't think he has as good shot as Bedard of course but I believe his fundamental game is much much stronger and I say that having watched a lot of Bedard games