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

[Kshahdoo]

What is terrible about it? It is nothing any other 16 year old would possibly get. Michkov is getting treated according to his talent.

And what about 18 years? 21?

 

[Atas2000]

And what about 18 years? 21?

What about it? Not relevant for Michkov at this point.

 

[Fantomas]

Staying in the KHL into his early 20s is absolutely the best thing for Michkov's development. That's necessary continuity every young hockey player needs. His focus will be on honing his skills, playing with the national team and not uprooting himself in a foreign country.

He'll do that when he's a mature adult. Much like Kaprizov.

As for the money, nobody on this board truly knows what the deal is in full. Whereof one cannot speak, thereof one must be silent.

 

[vorky]

How so?

So let's assume that he's a 1st overall player and performs like one in NHL.

Now:
Season:
1 KHL
2 KHL
3 KHL
4 ELC(2-3mil inc bonus)
5 ELC(2-3mil inc bonus)

If he didn't sign past 22-23:
Season:
1 ELC(2-3mil inc bonus)
2 ELC(2-3mil inc bonus)
3 ELC(2-3mil inc bonus)
4 Extension(10mil?)
5 Extension(10mil?)

KHL would need to pay quite handsomely for it to be beneficial financially, like best-paid player in KHL handsomely. And that's quite unlikely for a player who just turned 16.

What this contract signifies is one of:
1. He's being dumb(most likely)
2. He's not confident in his ability and wants insurance
3. He prefers living in Russia over North America just that much

Any reason why should he be dumb?

He signed a lucrative contract just days after he turned 16. Name just one player in the globe having such a contract at THAT age. As I know there is no such player in North America & Europe. Just underlying, we are talking about a player who just turned 16, not a player at his post-18.

I recommend studying the KHL by-laws on salary cap rules. Michkov will get more money than is rumoured in the media.

And you guys are missing what is going on in Russian hockey. A few days ago I wrote a post in this thread but it got deleted for some reason. The post described the upcoming transfer policy in Russian hockey and was extremely related to Michkov. I will not re-write it, just redirect you here.

Michkov & SKA know what is happening, so they have secured their relationship to be OK with the upcoming law. This contract benefits both, the club & player. He does not want to pay SKA in case of moving abroad. Plus, we do not know what the Russian government is preparing. It would be a bingo if the government developed a scholarship program for talented prospects deciding to play in Russia. Generally, Russian hockey is developing a unique system of U23 players transfers to a foreign league. Michkov is just the first famous/known result of it.

 

[SoundAndFury]

What is terrible about it? It is nothing any other 16 year old would possibly get. Michkov is getting treated according to his talent.

It's a 5-year contract. So will it treat 21 y.o. Michkov according to his talent? No answer needed...

 

[ozo]

Russian hockey is developing a unique system of U23 players transfers to a foreign league. Michkov is just the first famous/known result of it.​

Gotta love how something that doesn't exist yet is already yielding results

 

[vorky]

Gotta love how something that doesn't exist yet is already yielding results

You can use as much as you wish, but the law is going to be approved (legally binding) earlier than Michkov will turn 23.

And Rotenberg, SKA have inside info on the law.

 

[ijuka]

Any reason why should he be dumb?

He signed a lucrative contract just days after he turned 16. Name just one player in the globe having such a contract at THAT age. As I know there is no such player in North America & Europe. Just underlying, we are talking about a player who just turned 16, not a player at his post-18.

I recommend studying the KHL by-laws on salary cap rules. Michkov will get more money than is rumoured in the media.

And you guys are missing what is going on in Russian hockey. A few days ago I wrote a post in this thread but it got deleted for some reason. The post described the upcoming transfer policy in Russian hockey and was extremely related to Michkov. I will not re-write it, just redirect you here.

Michkov & SKA know what is happening, so they have secured their relationship to be OK with the upcoming law. This contract benefits both, the club & player. He does not want to pay SKA in case of moving abroad. Plus, we do not know what the Russian government is preparing. It would be a bingo if the government developed a scholarship program for talented prospects deciding to play in Russia. Generally, Russian hockey is developing a unique system of U23 players transfers to a foreign league. Michkov is just the first famous/known result of it.

So how much more money do you think he's going to earn in the next 2 seasons than he would have earned by signing a 2 year deal?

 

[ozo]

You can use as much as you wish, but the law is going to be approved (legally binding) earlier than Michkov will turn 23.

And Rotenberg, SKA have inside info on the law.

And you don't see the absurd in your original claim? Credit Rotenberg/SKA for holding on to the prospect, and not a law you think will be implemented in next 7 years?

 

[Atas2000]

It's a 5-year contract. So will it treat 21 y.o. Michkov according to his talent? No answer needed...

Every single contract is signed based on the current situation, pojections and two sides agreeing on terms. That's it.

There is absolutely nothing strange about that contract as it is signed with a 16 year old. Talking about when he is 21 is nonsense. Maybe he is Kharlamov, Bure, Ovechkin and Datsyuk in one when he is 21, but maybe not.

 

[Pavel Buchnevich]

Staying in the KHL into his early 20s is absolutely the best thing for Michkov's development. That's necessary continuity every young hockey player needs. His focus will be on honing his skills, playing with the national team and not uprooting himself in a foreign country.

He'll do that when he's a mature adult. Much like Kaprizov.

As for the money, nobody on this board truly knows what the deal is in full. Whereof one cannot speak, thereof one must be silent.

All of that sounds great for a mid round pick, like Kaprizov. It even sounds good for a mid/late first round pick. If Michkov is good enough to play in the NHL as soon as he’s eligible, he’ll be hurting his development to wait a further three years. If Ovechkin or Malkin had to wait three years after being drafted to play in the best league against the best competition, they wouldn’t have developed as well as they did.

 

[SoundAndFury]

Talking about when he is 21 is nonsense. Maybe he is Kharlamov, Bure, Ovechkin and Datsyuk in one when he is 21, but maybe not.

So talking about it is nonsense but signing a contract until he is 21 is smart? Not contradicting yourself at all here, not at all. If you want to "wait and see" you sign a 1-year contract. That's pretty simple.

 

[Fantomas]

If Ovechkin or Malkin had to wait three years after being drafted to play in the best league against the best competition, they wouldn’t have developed as well as they did.

This isn't backed up by anything. Besides Ovechkin was 20 when he made his NHL debut.

If anything, he arrived in the NHL more mature and better equipped to handle its rigours.

 

[vorky]

And you don't see the absurd in your original claim? Credit Rotenberg/SKA for holding on to the prospect, and not a law you think will be implemented in next 7 years?

I am talking about the system as completely as possible. The law is just one piece of a puzzle.

But yeah, credit to SKA.

 

[vorky]

All of that sounds great for a mid round pick, like Kaprizov. It even sounds good for a mid/late first round pick. If Michkov is good enough to play in the NHL as soon as he’s eligible, he’ll be hurting his development to wait a further three years. If Ovechkin or Malkin had to wait three years after being drafted to play in the best league against the best competition, they wouldn’t have developed as well as they did.

One more time. Draft means nothing. For players is much beneficial to get undrafted.

Stop using a draft as an argument. It means nothing to us.

 

[Atas2000]

So talking about it is nonsense but signing a contract until he is 21 is smart? Not contradicting yourself at all here, not at all. If you want to "wait and see" you sign a 1-year contract. That's pretty simple.

I don't understand what is wrong with people thinking differently? Michkov did not want to wait and see. Live with it.

 

[Guttersniped]

This isn't backed up by anything. Besides Ovechkin was 20 when he made his NHL debut.

If anything, he arrived in the NHL more mature and better equipped to handle its rigours.

It would have be pretty difficult for Ovechkin to have made his NHL debut in 2004-05. Considering he scored a 106 points and was absolute beast he would have likely been plenty productive as a 19 year old if had a chance to play.

All that lost time to due to lockouts and now COVID is just takes away Ovechkin’s chance to set NHL records and cement and even greater legacy. It’s up to a player if their potential achievements in the NHL matter to them but no one cares about any KHL records outside of Russia.

This contract is mainly beneficial to SKA and just because the kid is getting paid now doesn’t change the fact that it will cost him money he could have earned by going and becoming a huge star in the NHL earlier. Now if making that money while playing against the best players in world is not a goal because playing in Russia is important to him that’s different.

 

[bagsw]

It would have be pretty difficult for Ovechkin to have made his NHL debut in 2004-05. Considering he scored a 106 points and was absolute beast he would have likely been plenty productive as a 19 year old if had a chance to play.

All that lost time to due to lockouts and now COVID is just takes away Ovechkin’s chance to set NHL records and cement and even greater legacy. It’s up to a player if their potential achievements in the NHL matter to them but no one cares about any KHL records outside of Russia.

This contract is mainly beneficial to SKA and just because the kid is getting paid now doesn’t change the fact that it will cost him money he could have earned by going and becoming a huge star in the NHL earlier. Now if making that money while playing against the best players in world is not a goal because playing in Russia is important to him that’s different.

The contract is mainly beneficial to us, Russians. We will be able to see him playing live and on TV at comfortable time for couple more years. The contract is beneficial to the level of KHL, to development of other players in KHL. The contract is beneficial for U20 national team.

 

[Steve Kournianos]

The lure of the NHL isnt what it used to be and the HRR situation is borderline catastrophic (that why we got retro jerseys, FWIW). The KHL can give these kids a firmer guarantee on a job than the NHL. These kids also know about the Yakupov and Gurianov and Kravtsov situations (among others) and how Vancouver media is drilling home this “Podkolzin is struggling” narrative. On top of all that, Western media has been hammering Russia since 2009, saying they were behind killing US troops, causing mass murder in Syria, and rigging an election. And then on top on that, NHL fanbases are now fractured and hyper impatient and hyper irritated over dumb shit like mask designs or political beliefs. Seems like today’s fans turn on their own teenage prospects without batting an eye. Not saying Russia is perfect, but f*** that shit.

These kids are essentially trading U.S. money for peace of mind and I actually agree with them. Come to the States on your own terms; develop the way you want to develop; show up as polished as you can be.

Bure and Malkin each delayed for two full seasons post-draft. Michkov will set a precedent for a top pick by going at least three, but if I were an NHL team picking first or second, I grab him and wait it out. He’s that good.

 

[seadawg]

The lure of the NHL isnt what it used to be and the HRR situation is borderline catastrophic (that why we got retro jerseys, FWIW). The KHL can give these kids a firmer guarantee on a job than the NHL. These kids also know about the Yakupov and Gurianov and Kravtsov situations (among others) and how Vancouver media is drilling home this “Podkolzin is struggling” narrative. On top of all that, Western media has been hammering Russia since 2009, saying they were behind killing US troops, causing mass murder in Syria, and rigging an election. And then on top on that, NHL fanbases are now fractured and hyper impatient and hyper irritated over dumb shit like mask designs or political beliefs. Seems like today’s fans turn on their own teenage prospects without batting an eye. Not saying Russia is perfect, but f*** that shit.

These kids are essentially trading U.S. money for peace of mind and I actually agree with them. Come to the States on your own terms; develop the way you want to develop; show up as polished as you can be.

Bure and Malkin each delayed for two full seasons post-draft. Michkov will set a precedent for a top pick by going at least three, but if I were an NHL team picking first or second, I gran him and wait it out. He’s that good.

Well said. From my own selfish perspective, I'd love to see Michkov in the NHL as soon as possible. I want to see this kid playing against the best players in the world so we can properly gauge just how good he is and revel in his talent, as we have done with all the great Russians over the years. Some of my all-time favorite NHLers are Russian. Bure, Fedorov, Mogilny, Gonchar, Zubov, Khabibulin, Vasilevskiy, Kucherov, Ovechkin, Malkin...how can you not love these players and the flair, personality, and skill-level they bring to the NHL? That said, the world is changing and we in North America cannot fathom all the reasons why Michkov signed this contract. It is not our place to judge and I hope it all works out for him.

 

[kp61c]

The contract is mainly beneficial to us, Russians. We will be able to see him playing live and on TV at comfortable time for couple more years. The contract is beneficial to the level of KHL, to development of other players in KHL. The contract is beneficial for U20 national team.

If i am not mistaken his family is pretty poor. It is beneficial for Michkov and his family.
I don't think they give a damn about the nhl or "us, russians", some financial stability is paramount for them now.

 

[Kobe Armstrong]

He almost scored a lacrosse goal from behind the net today in the 1st period

 

[Guttersniped]

The lure of the NHL isnt what it used to be and the HRR situation is borderline catastrophic (that why we got retro jerseys, FWIW). The KHL can give these kids a firmer guarantee on a job than the NHL. These kids also know about the Yakupov and Gurianov and Kravtsov situations (among others) and how Vancouver media is drilling home this “Podkolzin is struggling” narrative. On top of all that, Western media has been hammering Russia since 2009, saying they were behind killing US troops, causing mass murder in Syria, and rigging an election. And then on top on that, NHL fanbases are now fractured and hyper impatient and hyper irritated over dumb shit like mask designs or political beliefs. Seems like today’s fans turn on their own teenage prospects without batting an eye. Not saying Russia is perfect, but f*** that shit.

These kids are essentially trading U.S. money for peace of mind and I actually agree with them. Come to the States on your own terms; develop the way you want to develop; show up as polished as you can be.

Bure and Malkin each delayed for two full seasons post-draft. Michkov will set a precedent for a top pick by going at least three, but if I were an NHL team picking first or second, I grab him and wait it out. He’s that good.

I’m not judging the Michkov or KHL fans at all. I’m only judging SKA which signed a kid to a bullshit lowball contract.

The fact that SKA can take advantage of this kid’s worries about his future to sign to this contract doesn’t make it better. This contract only has massive upside for them with no downside, he just turned 16 so that he think’s that this is a good contract doesn’t sell it for me.

I understand why some Russian players would prefer playing at home and why some Russians would much prefer it too. I just don’t like concept that because a kid go through a juniors program that their KHL organization can lock them up until they are 23 with a low ball contract and then sell all this as something specifically meant to benefit Russia rather than benefit the KHL team.

And I like add I don’t view the NHL, a bunch of billionaire team owners, as some force of good either and I typically side with NHLPA, which protects the players’ interests. While I very much admit I’m vastly ignorant about the KHL, I’m curious who’s protecting the collective KHL players interests here. Locking up players in juniors longterm isn’t in the players’ interests, and I don’t buy the “it gives them long term security” song and dance unless they are handing out these contracts to a bunch of junior prospects and not just obvious superstar talents (and they are guaranteed contracts).

 

[vvann]

If i am not mistaken his family is pretty poor. It is beneficial for Michkov and his family.
I don't think they give a damn about the nhl or "us, russians", some financial stability is paramount for them now.

I'm pretty sure they care about their child' two main goals - NHL and Olympic gold.

 

[vorky]

I’m not judging the Michkov or KHL fans at all. I’m only judging SKA which signed a kid to a bullshit lowball contract.

The fact that SKA can take advantage of this kid’s worries about his future to sign to this contract doesn’t make it better. This contract only has massive upside for them with no downside, he just turned 16 so that he think’s that this is a good contract doesn’t sell it for me.

I understand why some Russian players would prefer playing at home and why some Russians would much prefer it too. I just don’t like concept that because a kid go through a juniors program that their KHL organization can lock them up until they are 23 with a low ball contract and then sell all this as something specifically meant to benefit Russia rather than benefit the KHL team.

And I like add I don’t view the NHL, a bunch of billionaire team owners, as some force of good either and I typically side with NHLPA, which protects the players’ interests. While I very much admit I’m vastly ignorant about the KHL, I’m curious who’s protecting the collective KHL players interests here. Locking up players in juniors longterm isn’t in the players’ interests, and I don’t buy the “it gives them long term security” song and dance unless they are handing out these contracts to a bunch of junior prospects and not just obvious superstar talents (and they are guaranteed contracts).

I wrote a few words on this topic, so read my previous post in this tread.

Before judging others, look at yourself. All North American (at least hockey) sport is based on a system when a player, by using your words, is locked up ... do you know how many players would benefit if they were absolutely free to sign with any NHL team? I am saying about draft & RFAs. But fine, it is not illegal in your legal system. On the other hand, it is very negative for players.

The European sports culture is based on a principle that the clubs develop their prospects since a very early age. They finance all this development. It is common practice in European football that young players sign a long-term contract. The sum of that contract can be re-negotiated anytime. Yes, it is not common in hockey because young players use to move to North America as early as possible without taking into account the position of the clubs developing them. I give you just two examples, or three. Tatar, Hertl, Malkin. All had a valid contract with their European club when moving to the NHL. Why is it so much problem for the NHL clubs to pay millions of dollars for the European based player? For example, Russians wanted just one million of dollars for Malkin, still the NHL & their club was greedy enough not to pay it.

You are asking who is protecting the collective KHL players interests. I am asking who is protecting the collective interests of European clubs? The system needs to be balanced, players have rights, but also clubs. And the most principal right of any club is to get fair financial compensation for developing of a player (+ all other potential value of a player).

Coming to Michkov. Is that a problem for NHL club to come to SKA and proposed a few millions of dollars for releasing him? Yeah, the NHL is used to a situation when getting the European players for free. But why should SKA or Russia as a country (you are referring to U23 law) care what the NHL wants?