RW Matvei Michkov - SKA-1946 St.Petersburg, MHL (2023 Draft) Part 2

[Kiekura]

Jesus what a shot!

Can't believe this kid is already putting on a show as a 16 year old in the KHL, that's literally unheard of. He's going to be such a treat to watch when he makes the NHL in a couple years.

Jesus wtf. 16 year old...

I was saying to my friends how at the back end of Crosby and Ovechkin's careers that we might get a similar duo to watch in Michkov and Bedard.

This. What are the odds like for real?

 

[Pass the Saitl Sauce]

Jesus wtf. 16 year old...



This. What are the odds like for real?

Born in the same years ovechkin/Crosby were drafted to make it even more special, hopefully they deliver on the hype.

 

[wetcoast]

He’s certainly well on his way to becoming the best European prospect we’ve seen in modern hockey history.

Perhaps but as a prospect it's pretty hard to beat Jagr and that was with the iron curtain still up.

It is very exciting to watch his progress and while Crosby and Ovi are on the back end of their careers the bedard/Michov rivalry is awesome for hockey in general.

 

[alko]

Btw. hos is the SKA Petrohrad young farm build. I see, they have now many good young prospects. It is only their agenda, or did they pick up the best prospects from other teams (regions) and worked with them?

 

[Albatros]

Perhaps but as a prospect it's pretty hard to beat Jagr and that was with the iron curtain still up.

Jágr only went 5th overall though, and wasn't even the highest drafted Czechoslovak player that year.

 

[vorky]

Btw. hos is the SKA Petrohrad young farm build. I see, they have now many good young prospects. It is only their agenda, or did they pick up the best prospects from other teams (regions) and worked with them?

All top clubs taking players (prospects) from other regions, in every country it works like that. So, SKA is the same as well as Lokomotiv, Ak Bars, CSKA, Dynamo etc.

SKA has a great world-class facility in the Hockey Town, more here.

 

[wetcoast]

Jágr only went 5th overall though, and wasn't even the highest drafted Czechoslovak player that year.

That was only because of the iron curtain still being up and the uncertainty of Jagr even playing in the NHL for a very long time.

He was by far the top prospect going into that draft and it wasn't even really close.

 

[Albatros]

That was only because of the iron curtain still being up and the uncertainty of Jagr even playing in the NHL for a very long time.

He was by far the top prospect going into that draft and it wasn't even really close.

Czechoslovakia was already a pro-Western democracy at that point, compared to Michkov's contract such concerns were a non-issue.

 

[PeterCheater]

Czechoslovakia was already a pro-Western democracy at that point, compared to Michkov's contract such concerns were a non-issue.

Allegedly, Jagr wanted badly to be drafted by Penguins, so him and his circle told teams other than Penguins at the top of draft that he doesn't want to come to play in NHL right away after a draft, what was false. So you're right that these situations are hard to compare, and I don't think he was perceived as generational level-talent (Michkov is on trajectory to be the one), but Jagr's position in draft was possibly deflated by off-ice issues as well, he has set WJC record in points for D-season player few months earlier.

 

[Fantomas]

Perhaps but as a prospect it's pretty hard to beat Jagr and that was with the iron curtain still up.

It is very exciting to watch his progress and while Crosby and Ovi are on the back end of their careers the bedard/Michov rivalry is awesome for hockey in general.

Others have commented on where Jagr went in the draft. I would also add that Michkov dominated the U18s at 16, while Jagr was great there at 17 but was outplayed by Robert Reichel.

 

[Atas2000]

Btw. hos is the SKA Petrohrad young farm build. I see, they have now many good young prospects. It is only their agenda, or did they pick up the best prospects from other teams (regions) and worked with them?

All top teams seek for young talent elsewhere, but SKA does it disproportionally a lot, to be mild. They literally are trying to get every young talented Russian they can get their hands on. And only the other powerhouses of the league have the money and persuasion assets to say no to them. They were trying to get Miroshnichenko too for example. It was a mud fight Avangard won.

On one hand it's bad because a huge majority of prospects end up in one place. On the other hand SKA backs up their "foul play" with real and factual effort to give those prospects the best opportunities to thrive. First and foremost they have two MHL teams giving them double the roster spots and ice time to give out. Then their training facilities and staff are top notch. And last but not least lately they do give them youngsters a lot of time in the KHL(which btw hurts their winning chances in the KHL. Half the roster is kids). And they have the best coach for young players there is. Bragin has a nose for talent and knows how to work with young players and implement their skills.

 

[EichelFan15]

Why was he taken off the first line and benched today?

 

[Stewie Griffin]

Why was he taken off the first line and benched today?

He's only 16. Still not a regular first liner in the KHL

 

[wetcoast]

Czechoslovakia was already a pro-Western democracy at that point, compared to Michkov's contract such concerns were a non-issue.

It was an issue as it was in flux, looking at it after the fact doesn't change the dynamics in that draft.

Most scouting services had him as the most talented guy and it wasn't even really close.

 

[Artorius Horus T]

On the bright side, that would give him the best shot to beat Teemu's records

0,000000 % chance in that of happening.
Teemu's NHL rookie season records just cannot be broken, period

132 points, 76 goals and the rest... not possible.

Well.... if the NHL goes back to 300-360 goals for totals, for almost all teams, and they put the goalie equipment back to the 80's ,90's level and they forbid hybrid goalies, yeah, sure

 

[Atas2000]

Why was he taken off the first line and benched today?

Because it was a tough game where their goaltender and Marchenko have put them in a 0-2 hole with two hilarious brainfarts.


Samonov on the PP at 0:21

Marchenko at 0:45 must've thought Samonov needs another confidence boost

So Bragin basically decided to rely heavily on vets to save the game. It was an a case unususal for the KHL with top line forwards playing over 20 mins. In the end it wasn't enough. Bragins was quoted before saying that Michkov is not yet 100% ready for the KHL speed and toughness. Probably a good thing to not throw a 16 year old to the wolves just yet. Let's for all the admiration for Michkov's talent not forget he is still 16.

As I wrote before I fully expect younger guys to sit entirely or get limited minutes in games against better teams and get alonger leash against weaker opposition. The both youngest Michkov and Chibrikov got significantly under 10 mins in that game.

 

[alko]

All top teams seek for young talent elsewhere, but SKA does it disproportionally a lot, to be mild. They literally are trying to get every young talented Russian they can get their hands on. And only the other powerhouses of the league have the money and persuasion assets to say no to them. They were trying to get Miroshnichenko too for example. It was a mud fight Avangard won.

On one hand it's bad because a huge majority of prospects end up in one place. On the other hand SKA backs up their "foul play" with real and factual effort to give those prospects the best opportunities to thrive. First and foremost they have two MHL teams giving them double the roster spots and ice time to give out. Then their training facilities and staff are top notch. And last but not least lately they do give them youngsters a lot of time in the KHL(which btw hurts their winning chances in the KHL. Half the roster is kids). And they have the best coach for young players there is. Bragin has a nose for talent and knows how to work with young players and implement their skills.

When will they start looking also for top Euro prospects?

 

[SoundAndFury]

When will they start looking also for top Euro prospects?

Most likely never since the whole project is supposed to be around developing Russian players for the NT.

 

[Atas2000]

When will they start looking also for top Euro prospects?

They are clearly aiming at developing russian prospects only. So the the answer here is never.

 

[alko]

So the the answer here is never.

IMO, they will do it in some form in future. Just to get NHL angry. If they sign some super Swede in his 16 years old for like 5 years, that could hurt NHL.

Question is, if they Can do it? Legally.

 

[Atas2000]

IMO, they will do it in some form in future. Just to get NHL angry. If they sign some super Swede in his 16 years old for like 5 years, that could hurt NHL.

Question is, if they Can do it? Legally.

Legally they could, but financially it does not make sense. They invest a ton into russian prospects at this point. Spending billions of Rubles just to anger the NHL seems illogical.

 

[Fantomas]

IMO, they will do it in some form in future. Just to get NHL angry.

What a strawman villain you've made up.

 

[TheGreenTBer]

IMO, they will do it in some form in future. Just to get NHL angry. If they sign some super Swede in his 16 years old for like 5 years, that could hurt NHL.

Question is, if they Can do it? Legally.

I would think they would care more about developing Russian prospects than about sticking it to another league thousands of miles away.

 

[EichelFan15]

At what point do they just send Michkov back to the MHL?

 

[wings5]

At what point do they just send Michkov back to the MHL?

Why would they do that ? He seems to be doing fine