“Poor Canadian. Choices one, two, three and four remain so much simpler. At five, you find yourself in a serious dilemma.”
• Read also: Four players who will interest the CH … if they ignore Michkov
This text message is from a Western Association scout. When he describes a simplicity for the first four chosen, the hockey man refers to Connor Bedard, Adam Fantilli, Leo Carlsson and Will Smith.
And the dilemma is called: Matvei Michkov.
Strictly talent-wise, Michkov should know his destiny in the top-five draft in Nashville. However, it’s not just talent that comes into the equation with the Russian-born right winger.
“If any prospect can become a franchise player after Bedard, it’s him,” said another out West scout. What he’s done in the KHL is commendable against men.”
“When we saw him at the U18 World Cup in Texas, he was no worse than Bedard,” he continued. There is the Russian factor. But as a recruiter, I can’t take it into consideration. Whether the guy comes from Baie-Comeau, Russia or the United States, my job is to evaluate the players.
Aged 18 since December 4, Michkov has amassed 20 points (9 goals, 11 assists) with the Sochi team in the KHL. This is the best point average for a player who played his 17-year-old season at the KHL level since the league’s inception in 2008.
Michkov has not donned a Russian uniform since the start of the war with Ukraine in February 2022. At the Under-18 World Championship in May 2021, he had 16 points ( 12 goals, 4 assists) in seven games, helping his country to the silver medal.
Bedard, who beat Michkov with Canada in the grand final, finished the tournament with 14 points (7 goals, 7 assists) in 7 games.
• Read also: The Habs came very close to Connor Bedard
And the doubts
While the potential in Bedard’s case is unmistakable, there are several factors that will make NHL GMs think twice, starting with his Russian passport.
Contractually, Michkov also has an agreement with SKA Saint Petersburg until the end of the 2025-2026 season. Technically, it won’t land in North America for another three seasons.
In another register, we must also remember the death in nebulous circumstances last month of his father. Andrei Michkov, 51, was found dead in a pond in Sochi after being missing for two days. If an investigation was launched, the young hockey player for his part published a photo and a touching word on his Instagram account: “You were the best dad, I am proud of you. I like you!”
• Read also: A hope for the top 5 praises Kent Hughes, his “favorite coach”
Calculate the risks
In videoconference a few minutes after the unveiling of the lottery, Kent Hughes spoke about the Michkov case.
“We know where we’re talking,” Hughes said. In the front row, we would not have had to inform ourselves in the same way. We will seek to understand. It’s hard to predict. It’s a risk, but you have to calculate the reward. If we ever come to our rank and there are two players with the same talent, we would go with the one with less risk. But I can’t say that now.”
“It scares us more than another hope because of the obvious stuff, chained the CEO of CH later. If it is determined that Michkov is more talented than another player, we would look for him.
Hughes and Jeff Gorton also have an important card in their game in the person of Nick Bobrov. Originally from Russia, but settled in the United States for a long time, Bobrov has its antennas in this country in order to properly analyze the risks.
A next Kaprizov?
In Minnesota, the Wild waited five years before seeing Kirill Kaprizov in an NHL uniform. Kaprizov is now one of the very best forwards on the circuit with seasons of 51 points in 55 games, 108 points in 81 games and 75 points in 67 games.
File photo, Getty Images via AFP
Kirill Kaprizov
But there is an important difference in the case of Kaprizov. He was a pick of 5e tower (135e in total) at the 2015 auction. We were therefore very far from a selection in the top five.
The bet of the team that will claim Michkov will therefore be much bigger.