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

[Alex K]

At the risk of being unpopular, I've finally done a Michkov video. I'm sure there's a zillion out there about his hands and his shooting, so I took a look at his mental game - mainly his playmaking process. I was not completely sold on his playmaking ability in his DY...not that I thought it was bad, I just thought it fell way short of elite. So, I peaked back at his D+1 season and up to this NHL preseason to see what I could identify both good and bad. I also took note of a specific physical aspect of his game that could lend itself to being a real difference maker.

As usual, this is not a highlight video, nor does it necessarily constitute "hype train"...

Why not use Michkov's post pneumonia back-to-back game vs Kunlun, you could s**t on him even more there.

 

[Michael Farkas]

Demidov and Perreault I sort of agree with. I agree in that I would rate their IQs as good, but I disagree in that I wouldn't grade eithers IQ as elite.

I see some other posts that I assume aren't about me, but just to be sure...I don't think Michkov's hockey sense or passing are bad or weak. Just for the record. I'm just saying that it's exactly what most of the scouting world thought in his draft year - is that it's good/very good. The "generational" talk is the new thing and it doesn't appear to be based on real events.

For the quoted, I did a quick breakdown on Gabe Perreault here - that's more in line with what I want to see when talking about truly elite hockey sense. Not saying that Perreault is a better prospect or any other noise that folks will try to shoehorn into this, but I have no doubt that Perreault is a better thinker than Michkov and most prospects. It might give a little perspective on what I'm looking at, Mr. Person.

 

[Dr Jablonski PhD]

You were using tape of Michkov that was perhaps some of his worst hockey played in the last 2 years. I've taken heat in here but I will stand up for his hockey IQ all day long. If it's not generational it's pretty close. It's what makes him

 

[Guadana]

I see some other posts that I assume aren't about me, but just to be sure...I don't think Michkov's hockey sense or passing are bad or weak. Just for the record. I'm just saying that it's exactly what most of the scouting world thought in his draft year - is that it's good/very good. The "generational" talk is the new thing and it doesn't appear to be based on real events.

For the quoted, I did a quick breakdown on Gabe Perreault here - that's more in line with what I want to see when talking about truly elite hockey sense. Not saying that Perreault is a better prospect or any other noise that folks will try to shoehorn into this, but I have no doubt that Perreault is a better thinker than Michkov and most prospects. It might give a little perspective on what I'm looking at, Mr. Person.

Generational talk isn't new. He broke all numbers in producing. And now he is looking like best flyers as 19 yo. So yeah - his pick is generational player and everybody who watched more than one or two games - knew it all the time. But he needs in good partners and health.

 

[wetcoast]

Draft him and then trade him for a fortune, like what the Nordique did with Lindros. But to pass over a very special player in the draft like 5 teams did is beyond foolish. Each of those clubs are about lesser for their mistake.

Sure but 2 and 3 have their own case and one could easily excuse them.

4 maybe a little bit.

5 and 6 not really

But Michov isn't Lindros and maybe not the instant superstar some were expecting.

Yup. And maybe one? Will Michkov be a minus 50?

 

[MrGuyPerson]

Please do share your essay on michkov from the preseason. Would like to get in depth analysis. Thanks

I started to twice in my last response to Michael. Ultimately though just describing one of the plays that occurred took a paragraph. Then describing Michkov's mental processing vs common place hockey IQ through the play took a much longer paragraph. By play 2 I started phoning it because it is a lot of effort and time for a pointless discussion on the internet. There have been plenty of plays his IQ has shown as unqiure to me.

I can't use the quote function on it, but l ghetto quoted 2 sentences I wrote briefly describing Michkov's IQ. Not an in depth break down, but as I believe we should all draw our own conclusions and more people that use this site have now seen his preseason games, please let me know if you think theses sentences were accurate based on your viewing of the Flyers preseason games through his his preseason games :

"the way he extends plays in the KHL is truly fascinating to see. He almost finds a passing when even spectators don't think there is one"
- MrGuyPerson, Jun 29th 2023

 

[SaSaShi]

"the way he extends plays in the KHL is truly fascinating to see. He almost finds a passing when even spectators don't think there is one"
- MrGuyPerson, Jun 29th 2023

Yes I saw this plenty of times in the preseason, that's why I think highlights do not give his game justice at all.

One play he was receiving a pass in the defensive zone on the boards, and d man pinched to close on him before the pass arrived.

When the puck came, he made a quick onetime redirect pass to a streaking morgan frost besides him.

The michkov one touch pass play is the first play of this highlight video:





Frost had zero clue what was happening and let the pass go thru his stick. If frost was aware, it could have been a 3 on 1 the other way.

But it's hard for frost because 99 times out of 100, a player in michkov's situation would hold the puck and fight to clear it. That is what is taught in hockey 101.

So not only fans but even his teammates don't see what he is doing and aren't prepared to take advantage, and I saw this a number of times in the O-zone in other plays.

I would have come away from the preseason viewings thinking Michkov is a better passer/playmaker than scorer if I didn't know his track record.

 

[C0DITH]

Kid sees different plays at the same time, like 3 steps a head. I would 1000% wager he puts up more assists than goals in the NHL. But I could see his goals being super clutch when he does score.

My guess his prime numbers could be 30-40 goals / 60-80 assists. Definitely around the 100 points marker.

 

[Vinh]

Yes I saw this plenty of times in the preseason, that's why I think highlights do not give his game justice at all.

One play he was receiving a pass in the defensive zone on the boards, and d man pinched to close on him before the pass arrived.

When the puck came, he made a quick onetime redirect pass to a streaking morgan frost besides him.

The michkov one touch pass play is the first play of this highlight video:





Frost had zero clue what was happening and let the pass go thru his stick. If frost was aware, it could have been a 3 on 1 the other way.

But it's hard for frost because 99 times out of 100, a player in michkov's situation would hold the puck and fight to clear it. That is what is taught in hockey 101.

So not only fans but even his teammates don't see what he is doing and aren't prepared to take advantage, and I saw this a number of times in the O-zone in other plays.

I would have come away from the preseason viewings thinking Michkov is a better passer/playmaker than scorer if I didn't know his track record.

Whoa, cool to see one of my videos in the wild.

Michkov's hockey sense is indeed outstanding and his biggest strength IMO. Just has a natural feel for dissecting defenses, getting the puck off the boards and into the middle of the ice, etc. Always creating split-second advantages for his team.

 

[WhiskeyYerTheDevils]

Whoa, cool to see one of my videos in the wild.

Michkov's hockey sense is indeed outstanding and his biggest strength IMO. Just has a natural feel for dissecting defenses, getting the puck off the boards and into the middle of the ice, etc. Always creating split-second advantages for his team.

Yeah, the game just looks easy for him, like things are moving in slow motion. It almost makes him look less impressive because he's not the most physically dominating player, and he makes so many easy looking plays that create small advantages. But the whole reason he's able to make so many easy plays is because he's got that PhD in hockey IQ.

 

[Vinh]

Yeah, the game just looks easy for him, like things are moving in slow motion. It almost makes him look less impressive because he's not the most physically dominating player, and he makes so many easy looking plays that create small advantages. But the whole reason he's able to make so many easy plays is because he's got that PhD in hockey IQ.

Good point about how physically unassuming he is. It's easy to overlook an undersized, average skater who thrives on decision-making above all else (another example would be Adam Fox).