He'll be too good for the AHL even in his draft year. More than that, I think he could play in the league right now and be pretty solid point producer.
RW Matvei Michkov - SKA-1946 St.Petersburg, MHL (2023 Draft) Part 2
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EichelFan15
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I think he's probably at the WJC camp at the moment. He'll probably get a few more KHL games this year as he's simply too good for the MHL.
You should ask SKA management about it. And KHL is stronger, than AHL anyway.
Zine
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He plays for SKA, which is one of the deepest rosters outside of the NHL.
That said, as a comparison, Michkov hasn’t looked any worse than NHL/AHL tweener Volkov, and Leo Komarov….both of whom recently signed with SKA.
Fantomas
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The thing is, Michkov is good enough to be a KHLer all season. He can play minimal minutes all season long and keep his ass warm on the bench most of the time.
But his organization prefers to shuffle him around between the KHL and the MHL, because they can and because it's good for his development. I think teams should do this more with their prospects.
It's actually a great arrangement for Michkov. A mix of KHL, MHL and international tournaments. He's taken care of.
But his organization prefers to shuffle him around between the KHL and the MHL, because they can and because it's good for his development. I think teams should do this more with their prospects.
It's actually a great arrangement for Michkov. A mix of KHL, MHL and international tournaments. He's taken care of.
kp61c
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too young and small obviously. and it's not like he'll be much taller than he already is. it seems he is taller than his parents already.
Yeah, great arrangement to score at 2.5 PPG pace in the league, where 1.5 PPG is close to historical maximum. When there is another professional league and affiliated club in it. Really?
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vorky
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EichelFan15
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I just think it is incredibly narrow minded to think that he would be too good for the AHL next season. Most NHL'ers aren't too good for the AHL - sure they would dominate but only the upper tier of players would dominate to the point where you would say "wow they are just too good for this league".
The AHL is probably the perfect level of hockey for him for him right now. On the right team he could play meaningful minutes and get used to playing against men/North American hockey. To be clear, I mean the AHL level and style of hockey - I am in agreeance with a lot of Russian posters who think that Russian prospects should stay in Russia to develop as long as possible. It's a shame that he isn't given more opportunity in the KHL other than if SKA gets a big lead at the end of the game, since he is clearly too good for the MHL. Why no VHL?
Is there a chance that he never comes to the NHL? His remarks and contract extension make him seem indifferent about coming over. Seems like all the really good Russian's eventually come to the NHL nowadays. When is the last time one didn't? Mozyakin?
I watched him playing in the KHL. He thinks the game better, than 90% of KHLers. He almost doesn't make mistakes, always knows, what to do with and without the puck. He scored 5 points in 13 games without any PP time. If he played PP regularly, with his shot and IQ he would have scored about as many points more.
Yeah, he isn't mature enough physically, but he always plays with his head up, it's impossible to hit him because of his skating and vision. AHL game is way more simple, than KHL's. You just need to run and shoot. With his shot and IQ he could have scored quite a few points just playing on PP.
kp61c
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Jovavic
boohoo, Pens "fans", BOOHOO
kp61c
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You mix it up with Yurov and Metallurg Magnitogorsk. SKA has all level teams in St.Petersburg.
The poster you replied to never said he would be too good for the AHL. Just that he is better off in a better league.
And Mozyakin played in NA. Look it up.
I don't know why people keep hearing weird stuff out of his interviews. Stuff he never said. Because NA writers batter you with narratives?
Jovavic
boohoo, Pens "fans", BOOHOO
Ah, Yurov's thread must have been where a read that and got mixed up with this one, my apologies.
EichelFan15
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?????
The 4 games in the Q for Moz? My comment was about coming to the NHL not NA.
I don't think anyone is hearing weird stuff in his interviews but when coupled with the contract extension with SKA, comments about not thinking about the draft and not caring when he's picked made me curious if he will be racing to get to the NHL once the contract expires.
Mix in a water.
Fantomas
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It's fine. A little bit of easy mode, a little bit of hard mode. Best of both worlds.
Why not give him some VHL time though if the team is in the same city? It's a solid pro league that would give him a good challenge, better than any CHL league.
Imo 5-10 min a game in KHL + 15-20 min a game in VHL > 5-10 min a game in KHL + 20-30 min a game in MHL
How is coming to NHL different from coming to NA? The whole general big discussion is about whether Russians care to walk the "usual" NA path, i.e. play in NA minors if needed before entering the NHL. 4 games in the Q mean a player did come over to play in NA. Why it didn't work out is a different discussion. And in case of Michkov it is even more trivial as he probably won't ever have to play in the minors.
I think your problem with Michkov's words and contract is the common NA assumption everybody should be dying to get to NA and NHL ASAP. So it sounds strange to you when he signs that contract or says he does not think about the draft at 16. Thinking and caring are not only different words.
There is nothing wrong with a then 15y.o. signing a contract no one ever signed before in terms of money and term commitment by a KHL team. As there is nothing wrong with not thinking about the draft at 16 when there is literally more than a year and a half till the draft. How it implicates that he might not want to come over is beyond me. Will his contract hurt his draft stock? Sure. Can it hurt it much when talking about a phenom? I don't think so.
I couldn't care less if he goes 2nd or 10th. It would be even better for him to go 10th as he would be with a better team obviously. Won't happen though.
Let's concentrate on the WJC for now. After that we might return to the VHL discussion.
EichelFan15
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Why are you so defensive and making this out to be some big NA vs Russian argument? I never said I had a problem or there was something wrong with Michkov signing the contract or not caring about the draft. I was just genuinely curious if the NHL is the ultimate goal for all Russian prospects or was there a chance Michkov could be happy playing his career out in Russia. Thought some of the Russian posters on here would be able to shed some light on it but it doesn't seem like you are able to have a civil conversation without putting words in my mouth and making this about something that its not.
Not everyone is out to get you.
I am not defensive, but rather tired of hearing the same (false) narratives over and over again. For some reason this one(about Russians not coming over or nor wanting to come over) is very persistent. I simply don't understand why people keep bringing this up, because there is no empirical data to back it up. But it seems you are the one who gets emotional over nothing here.
EichelFan15
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But there is no narrative in this case because I am not implying anything - I’m simply asking a question. A simple “no he will definitely want to go to the NHL once his contract is over” would have sufficed. I assume that’s the answer after all your ranting and raving?
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