The Matvei Michkov Thread

[Crab]

Maybe too early for this, but whatever.

Michkov was the consensus 1B to Bedard's 1A for the 2023 Draft for the longest time and regarded as a generational talent. He's now at number 4 or 5 on most of the mock drafts / prospect rankings behind Fantilli and Carlsson. His fall in these rankings seems to have coincided with the political situation in Russia which has brought about concerns over the contract situations of Russian prospects. He is signed in the KHL through 2026, meaning he likely won't debut in the NHL until he is 21 years old at the earliest.

He recently was loaned by SKA St. Petersburg, one of the two biggest teams in Russia, to HC Sochi, the undisputed worst team in Russia. Sochi has 22 fewer points than the next worst team in the standings along with a -114 goal differential.

Since being loaned to Sochi, Michkov has 14 points in 24 games. This might not seem like a lot, but the KHL is a league where teams historically shelter their teenager players' minutes regardless of whether they're a generational prospect. It's also a more defensive-minded league in general as most of top the European leagues are. Anyone who follows the KHL knows that 14 points in 24 games is an eye-catching number, especially given that he is playing on the worst team in the league.

If Michkov was playing in a North American junior league, I have no doubt that he'd be putting up similar stats to Bedard. We also didn't get to see him at the WJC due to Russia's ban from that tournament where he would've absolutely dominated that level of competition like Bedard did. In my opinion, he is a better prospect than any of the #1 overall picks from the past 15 years not named McDavid or Matthews. This is a true generational talent and if a team passes on him at #2, they are going to regret it for a long time.

[cbeauch87]

I wonder if somehow some way he'll end up in the NHL before 2026.

[Inferno]

Looking like another Kaprizov situation.

[kellmuff]

He's very good and anyone that watched the U18s when they played Canada for gold will attest to that. He's Ovechkin lite. A pure sniper.

Curious to see when he finally comes over here.

[kellmuff]

Also, I wonder if a bubble playoff team wins a lottery pick and takes him with a high pick (Buffalo, detroit) knowing that it wont hurt them too bad if he doesnt come for a few years. As opposed to a Arizona, Montreal type team that ideally needs their 1st rounder this year to play next year or the year after.

[Satan]

Originally Posted by Inferno

Looking like another Kaprizov situation.

Michkov's situation is closer to Evgeny Kuznetsov than Kaprizov in terms of pre-draft ranking.

NHL Central Scouting pegged Kuznetsov at 3rd for international skaters in his draft year. Kaprizov was 25th on that list in his draft year. There was no consideration for Kaprizov to be a 1st round pick at all.

Kuznetsov fell because of his KHL contract- similar to Michkov's situation.

I really think Michkov would've given Bedard a run for his money if he had been allowed to play internationally. Definitely would've been a lock for 2 or 3 OA.

[Crab]

Originally Posted by kellmuff

Also, I wonder if a bubble playoff team wins a lottery pick and takes him with a high pick (Buffalo, detroit) knowing that it wont hurt them too bad if he doesnt come for a few years. As opposed to a Arizona, Montreal type team that ideally needs their 1st rounder this year to play next year or the year after.

I'd say if he falls any lower than 4th, he'd should be an automatic selection regardless of your franchise standing or positional needs. There will never be another chance to get this level of prospect at that spot in the draft order.

[jmarascojr]

Don't your "rights" to a drafted player only last for so long?

If someone were to draft him in 2023, he'd still be in the KHL until 2026.

Or do they just have to get him signed to keep his rights?

[troy95]

Originally Posted by jmarascojr

Don't your "rights" to a drafted player only last for so long?

If someone were to draft him in 2023, he'd still be in the KHL until 2026.

Or do they just have to get him signed to keep his rights?

Each league (CHL, NCAA, KHL, Euro Leagues) has different considerations when it comes to how long teams keep a player's NHL rights after being drafted. For the KHL, teams actually keep the player's rights indefinitely. They either sign with the NHL team that drafted them or they don't play in the NHL.

[Crab]

https://twitter.com/HockeyNewsHub/st...47362288906241

https://twitter.com/khl_eng/status/1...118911488?s=20

What a goal this morning! Also has 4 points in the first period, 19 points in 27 games as a draft eligible player. For comparison, in their respective draft eligible years, Ovechkin had 24 points in 53 games, Malkin 12 in 34, Kucherov 5 in 18, Kaprizov 8 in 31.

Get your preorders in for 2026-27 Series 1!

[Satan]

Insane 5 point game from him today.

[bp06km13]

If he played the same amount of games as the rest of the team he'd be leading them by a mile...



Is this considered somewhat generational for a KHL prospect?

[Satan]

Originally Posted by bp06km13

If he played the same amount of games as the rest of the team he'd be leading them by a mile...



Is this considered somewhat generational for a KHL prospect?

I think it's one of the best draft seasons for a KHL prospect in the 2005-present era. Generally 18 year olds just don't play full-time in the KHL, even if they are talented.

There's no doubt in my mind that Michkov is firmly at #2 behind Bedard without the Russian factor- but his 3(?) year KHL contract extension + no international play is going to make him fall at the draft.

[anusinha]

Is scoring in the KHL really low? Barely 0.8 PPG is in the lead.

[Crab]

Originally Posted by bp06km13

Is this considered somewhat generational for a KHL prospect?

No matter the metric (stats, analytics, eye test), he's absolutely a generational talent and worth the 2-3 year wait if it comes to that. The Penguins had to wait 2 years for Malkin to come over to North America and I don't think anyone from that organization is losing sleep looking back on that.

[kingb22]

That was my thought too. An entire league with Sorokin and Shesterkin in goal

[MIRRABB]

Originally Posted by anusinha

Is scoring in the KHL really low? Barely 0.8 PPG is in the lead.

It's a low scoring league overall. Not a whole lot of guys over 1 PPG most years.

[Satan]

KHL hockey is basically soccer on ice. Very structured, not a ton of high danger scoring chances generated in most games. Also something like 50% of the teams play on wider ice surfaces- so there's more space than an NHL rink.

[JohnnyAppleseed]

https://sports.yahoo.com/nhl-prospec...182047735.html

I'm sure there will be nothing but rational discussion and not rampant speculation around this story.

[valleynuckfan]

Originally Posted by JohnnyAppleseed

https://sports.yahoo.com/nhl-prospec...182047735.html

I'm sure there will be nothing but rational discussion and not rampant speculation around this story.

This will be very hard on the kid for sure, but don't see it affecting his draft position this year. He's contracted to the K until 2026.

[anusinha]

This is not suspicious at all.

[Ehawk89]

Sounds like he's coming next season. #Series2officallyhyped

[AVirk51]

Originally Posted by Ehawk89

Sounds like he's coming next season. #Series2officallyhyped

Well, I guess he will be the headliner for Extended in 24-25, with Celebrini for S2 and Gauthier (or Stankoven) for S1

[cbeauch87]

Originally Posted by cbeauch87

I wonder if somehow some way he'll end up in the NHL before 2026.

Welp...

[NotGoSportsBall]

Philly press saying he’s the best flyers prospect since 88