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

[SoundAndFury]

I don't really think that a couple extra years in a low(er) pressure environment is a bad thing for most prospects, especially when that environment is still the second best league in the world by a landslide.

I agree it's perfectly fine for most prospects. We are talking about the best prospect in the country in almost 2 decades though.

Ovechkin scored 106 points in the NHL during D+2. Assuming Michkov is a similar level prospect... Spending D+1 in the KHL would still be sensible, D+2 - maybe... D+3 is just a waste of time.

 

[Fantomas]

All top Russian players should stay home until their mid-20s. It's good for their development, good for the national program and they'll be paid handsomely.

The NHL can frankly suck it.

 

[SoundAndFury]

They say, his contract is worth 85M rubles ($1.16M)/5 years. Laughable money, actually. He should fire his agent and leave his parents, if the site is right.

Huh? He becomes 5th highest paid KHL player at the age of 16. Laughable money? Jesus.. Amirov is likely asking for half that for his extension.

For 2 years he will likely spend on the very fringes of the KHL he is getting paid 1,16M even though they are really worth almost nothing. So it's realistically almost 6M dollars for 3 years. That's prime Mozyakin contract. I have no idea what world does one have to live in to call it "laughable". And, considering the whole tax situation, pretty much matches maxed out ELC. Plus he will likely still get performance bonuses.

 

[deejb]

So it's realistically almost 6M dollars for 3 years.

Its 85M rubles for 5 years. Not per year. Either this guy is not as good as people think, either he's an idiot.

 

[wings5]

Its 85M rubles for 5 years. Not per year. Either this guy is not as good as people think, either he's an idiot.

He just turned 16, blame the people advising him instead

 

[Eternal Leaf]

Its 85M rubles for 5 years. Not per year. Either this guy is not as good as people think, either he's an idiot.

Yikes.

So he's making 200k a year?

Sounds brilliant at 16, but becomes quite sad when you're 20-21 and could have been closing in on a $60+ million NHL contract.

Just the ELC + Sponsorships (especially for a top pick) would be worth more in the NHL.

 

[Habs76]

I agree it's perfectly fine for most prospects. We are talking about the best prospect in the country in almost 2 decades though.

Ovechkin scored 106 points in the NHL during D+2. Assuming Michkov is a similar level prospect... Spending D+1 in the KHL would still be sensible, D+2 - maybe... D+3 is just a waste of time.

Yeah.... three years is a bit much.

 

[Atas2000]

A 4th liner in the NHL is going to make more than Michkov in his prime. Look at his potential and consider how silly that is.

The kid is on track to be among Russia's finest prospects.

Let's say he wants to give back to his country (lol). Why not play up to 27-28, rake in the cash, and then go back? He doesn't even have to turn into a generational superstar and could still make loads of money as an average NHLer.

A 4th liner in the NHL? LOL He's have to sit with an ELC on his hands for three years first. And the way the negotiations are going right now NHLers are going to have a hard time seeing big money in the upcoming years.

Again, somebody who laughs at giving back to his country is lost in life. Just a money processing apparatus with no purpose.

And again, an average NHLer does not make "loads of money".

 

[NJ DevLolz]

A 4th liner in the NHL? LOL He's have to sit with an ELC on his hands for three years first. And the way the negotiations are going right now NHLers are going to have a hard time seeing big money in the upcoming years.

Again, somebody who laughs at giving back to his country is lost in life. Just a money processing apparatus with no purpose.

And again, an average NHLer does not make "loads of money".

Hmm. I think some sort of spectrum exists in the "meaning of life" continuum. There has to be some middle ground between duty to country and "money processing apparatus". Again, he can still "serve his country" by playing for the NT and playing his twilight years in the KHL like Datsyuk and Semin. Wanting him to stay in an inferior league longer than necessary is odd.

 

[Eternal Leaf]

A 4th liner in the NHL? LOL He's have to sit with an ELC on his hands for three years first. And the way the negotiations are going right now NHLers are going to have a hard time seeing big money in the upcoming years.

Michkov is earning 200k a year now. Maybe a little more with certain bonuses.

Lafreniere just signed for 925k per year + 2.85M in performance bonuses. That ELC is well worth sitting on.

Again, somebody who laughs at giving back to his country is lost in life. Just a money processing apparatus with no purpose.

No one is laughing at giving back to your country. Just the idea of this contract being some sort of national service.

Taking a massive pay cut isn't helping anyone. You can do a lot more with the extra money including helping impoverished families or investing in Russian hockey.

And again, an average NHLer does not make "loads of money".

The average NHLer makes $3 million. That's more than the highest salary in the KHL.

 

[vvann]

Taking a massive pay cut isn't helping anyone. You can do a lot more with the extra money including helping impoverished families or investing in Russian hockey.

Or he can just stay and play in Russia for a few years. It's so much better for hockey here and for kids than him sending his extra money.
I'm not saying he's signing this contract for some charity or patriotism (that would be strange), it's more for his own comfort (don't need to move to another country, don't have to think about anything but hockey). Also young players always say in interviews that chasing money at this stage of their careers is not right.

 

[Fantomas]

So generous of folks here to be worried about Michkov's financial situation. LOL.

 

[Atas2000]

Michkov is earning 200k a year now. Maybe a little more with certain bonuses.

Lafreniere just signed for 925k per year + 2.85M in performance bonuses. That ELC is well worth sitting on.



No one is laughing at giving back to your country. Just the idea of this contract being some sort of national service.

Taking a massive pay cut isn't helping anyone. You can do a lot more with the extra money including helping impoverished families or investing in Russian hockey.



The average NHLer makes $3 million. That's more than the highest salary in the KHL.

Michkov just turned 16. How much was Lafreniere making at that age?

I can't tell you exactly how much Michkov will be making in three years, but I know Lafreniere will be makin exactly the same money. Michkov will probably make more than Lafrenier by that time. And we are disregarding taxes too. Lafrenire real money will be roughly half of that contract.

It is national service to play in fromt of your fans, not some North Americans in the middle of the night.

The average NHLer is not making the average NHL salary. People always get caught up in those average salaries mistakes. If 9 guys make a million and one makes 13 the average of their salaries is 2.2 Mil. But the average guy in that situation makes 1 Mil, not 2.2.

So the whole point of the ELC argument here is that Michkov is projected to be the guy who would make a ton of money in the NHL... but only after the ELC. Before that he can make the same amount of money or more in the KHL easily.

 

[Atas2000]

So generous of folks here to be worried about Michkov's financial situation. LOL.

In fact that's the only argument people can find to justify them being unhappy with a russian projected superstar not packing his bags to leave for NA as soon as possible. Some really take it as an offence to the prestige of the NHL. How dare anyone not want to be in the NHL ASAP?

The most hilaious part is though that it is likely much ado about nothing and if Michkov develops as projected he will go to the NHL after the draft(unless there is another outbreak/dispute/lockout/whatever which people forget might influence how young players see the NHL perspective nowadays. If the NHL is back to normal for at least a couple of seasons, it's one thing, but what if the following seasons will somewhat resemble the current situation? It would be safer then to have a contract in the KHL it seems).

 

[covfefe]

He’ll easily clear a million pre-draft and a lot can/likely will change post-draft.

Total win-win for the kid, don’t really see the flaming house here.

 

[Kshahdoo]

Michkov is earning 200k a year now. Maybe a little more with certain bonuses.

It's actually starting from next year, and even then his salary structure is different:

2021-22 - 5M rubles in the KHL/ 2.5M in the MHL/VHL
2022-23 - 10M/5M
2023-24 - 15M/7.5M
2024-25 - 25M/12.5M
2025-26 - 30M/15M

So he'll get 85M/5 year only if he plays in the KHL.

On the other hand there are bonuses, and as an U21 player through the whole contract, his bonuses don't count against the cap. It probably means, they can be huge. And the last, but not the least - the Olympics. He won't obviously make 2022 roster, so the 2026 Olympics are probably his only chance, because it's a big question, will NHLers participate at the tournament or not.

 

[Fantomas]

It's actually starting from next year, and even then his salary structure is different:

2021-22 - 5M rubles in the KHL/ 2.5M in the MHL/VHL
2022-23 - 10M/5M
2023-24 - 15M/7.5M
2024-25 - 25M/12.5M
2025-26 - 30M/15M

So he'll get 85M/5 year only if he plays in the KHL.

On the other hand there are bonuses, and as an U21 player through the whole contract, his bonuses don't count against the cap. It probably means, they can be huge.

This money also buys so much more in Russia.

 

[ag3r]

Michkov has a chance to be a top10 player in the world at 21. In this case he will be bored in KHL and stagnate in his development. Of course, I will watch him play if I still be in Moscow in 2024-26, but I want him maximize his potential and become top 1 in the world.

 

[vorky]

The average NHLer makes $3 million. That's more than the highest salary in the KHL.

After deferral, escrow & taxes?

 

[Kshahdoo]

SKA played so bad, but Michkov somehow scored the only team's goal. 3 goals in the last 3 games for the kid.

 

[Caser]

 

[lilmaxo]

Is he going to be at the world junior this december? If not, why?

 

[Vasilevskiy]

You would think any NHL team would buy out that contract gladly in order to have him a couple years earlier, if he wanted, that is.

 

[Kshahdoo]

You would think any NHL team would buy out that contract gladly in order to have him a couple years earlier, if he wanted, that is.

They would, but they can't. It's strictly prohibited by NHL rules.

 

[Fantomas]

Is he going to be at the world junior this december? If not, why?

He won't, as he's just turned 16.