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Craig's List: Plenty of intrigue surrounding Michkov ahead of NHL Draft

Matvei Michkov Matvei Michkov - Ryan McCullough/HHOF Images
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Regina Pats centre Connor Bedard is the runaway favourite to be taken first overall by the Chicago Blackhawks at the 2023 NHL Draft on June 28 in Nashville but don’t be surprised if Matvei Michkov ends up being the biggest talking point.

Michkov, who hails from Perm, Russia, is both one of the most talented prospects available in the upcoming draft and its biggest wild card. The ongoing war between Russia and Ukraine and the fact that he has three years remaining on his KHL contract with SKA St. Petersburg has left NHL teams weighing the risk of his situation versus his tremendous upside.

TSN Director of Scouting Craig Button has Michkov at No. 4 in his final draft ranking of the season and compares his goal-scoring style to that of seven-time Ballon d’Or winner and World Cup champion Lionel Messi. 

“Michkov’s got that striking ability,” said Button. “He’s probing, [then] boom, he strikes. He’s lightning quick at recognizing whenever the opportunity arises.”

The 18-year-old scored nine goals with 11 assists in 27 games on loan with HK Sochi in the KHL this season. Button ranks Michkov as the second-best scorer available in the draft, second only to Bedard and ahead of USNTDP forward Will Smith, Owen Sound’s Colby Barlow, and UConn’s Matthew Wood in that order.

“I think that Bedard has a better shot, better shot variety, [but] I think that Michkov is a little more stealth,” said Button.

The IIHF has banned Russia and Belarus from international tournaments for the foreseeable future, which prevented Michkov from going head-to-head against his peers on the big stage this season. He also did not attend the NHL Combine in Buffalo.

But Michkov has already proven he is a force to be reckoned with in previous international tournaments. Canada won gold at the 2021 U18s in Texas, but Michkov was the best player at the tournament, winning MVP and best forward honours after scoring 12 goals and 16 points in seven games. In five games at the 2021 Hlinka Gretzky Cup, he helped lead Russia to gold with eight goals and 13 points. He also had three goals in two games at the 2022 World Juniors as a 17-year-old before the event was cancelled.

Knowing he will not suit up in the NHL until at least the 2026-27 season due to his contract, questions have arisen over when or if Michkov will come to North America. Button is unconcerned, citing the Columbus Blue Jackets signing forward Dmitri Voronkov and the Washington Capitals inking 2022 first-round pick Ivan Miroshnichenko to entry-level contracts in May.

“I see zero risk in Matvei Michkov,” said Button. “Russian players are coming to the NHL; we’re seeing that happen. All you got to do is wait three years and there’s a lot of teams that should be in no hurry to have a player coming to the lineup.”

Button said teams that are years away from contending can continue to build out their rosters in anticipation of Michkov’s arrival as a 21-year-old. He noted the Chicago Blackhawks built a championship-winning squad when Jonathan Toews and Patrick Kane were still on their entry-level contracts. 

“If you are a team that knows [its] not in a rush, in three years’ time when he does come, and he’s 21 on an entry-level contract, he’s going to be an elite player that has got massive value.”

Centres Adam Fantilli and Leo Carlsson are No. 2 and 3 respectfully on Button’s final ranking but he believes the Anaheim Ducks, who hold the second-overall pick, should consider taking Michkov.

With their forward core already consisting of Trevor Zegras and Mason McTavish and with notable defensive prospects on the way like Olen Zellweger and Pavel Mintyukov, Button sees an opportunity for a team still early in the rebuilding stage.

“I like Adam Fantilli [and] Leo Carlsson but is the fit not Matvei Michkov right there?” said Button. “Are you not trying to get some excitement into your program there? Now, the argument against Michkov for Anaheim is he’s a couple years away from coming here, but the Anaheim Ducks are a few years away from being anywhere.”

 

Craig's List - June 12

 
RK Player Team POS HT WT GP G P
1 Connor Bedard Regina (WHL) C 5'9 ¾ 183 57 71 143
2 Adam Fantilli Michigan (NCAA) C 6'2 195 36 30 65
3 Leo Carlsson Örebro (SHL) C 6'3 198 44 10 25
4 Matvei Michkov St. Petersburg (KHL) RW 5'10 172 30 9 20
5 Axel Sandin-Pellikka Skelleftea (SWE J20) D 5'10 ¾ 176 31 16 36
6 Will Smith USA NTDP (USHL) C 5'11 ¾ 178 60 51 127
7 Eduard Sale Brno (CZE) LW 6'2 174 43 7 14
8 Tom Willander Rogle (SWE J20) D 6'1 ¼ 180 39 4 25
9 Dalibor Dvorsky AIK (SWE-Als) C 6'1 201 38 6 14
10 Colby Barlow Owen Sound (OHL) LW 6'0 ¼ 193 59 46 79
11 Matthew Wood Connecticut (NCAA) RW 6'3 ½ 193 35 11 34
12 Ryan Leonard USA NTDP (USHL) RW 5'11 ½ 190 57 51 94
13 Calum Ritchie Oshawa (OHL) C/RW 6'1 ¾ 187 59 24 59
14 Zach Benson Winnipeg (WHL) LW 5'9 160 60 36 98
15 Gabe Perreault USA NTDP (USHL) LW 5'10 ¾ 165 63 53 132
16 Oliver Moore USA NTDP (USHL) C 5'11 188 61 31 75
17 Ethan Gauthier Sherbrooke (QMJHL) C 5'11 ¼ 176 66 30 69
18 Brayden Yager Moose Jaw (WHL) C 5'10 ½ 162 67 28 78
19 Nate Danielson Brandon (WHL) C 6'1 ¼ 185 68 33 78
20 David Reinbacher Kloten (SUI) D 6'2 185 46 3 22
21 Otto Stenberg Frölunda (SWE J20) LW 5'11 ¼ 180 29 11 26
22 Samuel Honzek Vancouver (WHL) LW 6'3 ½ 186 43 23 56
23 David Edstrom Frölunda (SWE J20) C 6'2 ¾ 185 28 15 28
24 Carson Bjarnason Brandon (WHL) G 6'3 186 47 3.08 .900
25 Kasper Halttunen HIFK (SM Liiga) RW 6'2 ¾ 207 18 18 24
26 Michael Hrabal Omaha (USHL) G 6'6 ¼ 209 29 3.00 .907
27 Theo Lindstein Brynäs (SWE J20) D 6'0 ½ 180 32 1 2
28 Danny Nelson USA NTDP (USHL) LW 6'3 202 62 21 47
29 Anton Wahlberg Malmo (SWE J20) C/LW 6'3 ¼ 194 32 14 27
30 Daniil But Yaroslavl (MHL) LW 6'5 203 26 15 26
31 Quentin Musty Sudbury (OHL) C/LW 6'1 ¾ 200 53 26 78
32 Koehn Ziemmer Prince George (WHL) RW 6'0 ¼ 204 68 41 89
                 
33 Trey Augustine USA NTDP (USHL) G 6'1 183 33 2.13 .926
34 Easton Cowan London (OHL) RW 5'10 ½ 170 68 20 53
35 Andrew Cristall Kelowna (WHL) LW/RW 5'9 ½ 167 54 39 95
36 Aydar Suniev Penticton (BCHL) LW 6'1 ½ 198 50 45 90
37 Riley Heidt Prince George (WHL) C 5'10 ½ 182 68 25 97
38 Dmitri Simashev Yaroslavl (MHL) D 6'4 200 29 1 10
39 Juraj Pecarcik Nitra (SVK) LW 6'0 ¾ 183 16 9 20
40 Gavin Brindley Michigan (NCAA) C/RW 5'7 ½ 158 40 12 38
41 Mikhail Gulyayev Omsk (MHL) D 5'11 172 22 2 25
42 Roman Kantserov Magnitogorsk (MHL) RW 5'9 176 45 27 54
43 Oliver Bonk London (OHL) D 6'2 174 67 10 40
44 Nico Myatovic Seattle (WHL) LW 6'2 ¼ 182 68 30 60
45 Oscar Fisker Molgaard HV71 (SWE J20) C 6'0 163 21 6 23
46 Bradly Nadeau Penticton (BCHL) RW/LW 5'10 161 54 45 113
47 Gracyn Sawchyn Seattle (WHL) C 5'11 157 58 18 58
48 Tanner Moldendyk Saskatoon (WHL) D 5'10 ¾ 184 67 9 37
49 Jakub Dvorak Liberec (CZE) D 6'5 202 24 0 2
50 Mathieu Cataford Halifax (QMJHL) C/RW 5'10 ¾ 188 68 31 75
51 Maxim Strbak Sioux Falls (USHL) D 6'1 ½ 205 42 5 19
52 Denver Barkey London (OHL) C/LW 5'8 ½ 155 61 22 59
53 Felix Unger Sorum Leksand (SWE J20) RW 5'11 ¼ 170 42 10 46
54 Etienne Morin Moncton (QMJHL) D 5'11 ¾ 181 67 21 72
55 Lukas Dragicevic Tri-City (WHL) D 6'1 192 68 15 75
56 Caden Price Kelowna (WHL) D 6'0 ¼ 186 65 5 40
57 Andrew Gibson S.S. Marie (OHL) D 6'2 ¾ 196 45 7 21
58 Jason Shaugabay Warroad High (USHS) RW 5'9 ¼ 153 31 33 96
59 Lenni Hameenaho Pori (SM Liiga) RW 5'11 ½ 173 51 9 21
60 Jesse Kiiskanen Pelicans (SM Liiga Jr) RW 5'10 ¾ 178 31 20 43
61 Hunter Brzustewicz Kitchener (OHL) D 5'11 ¼ 188 68 6 57
62 Emil Jarventie Ilves (SM Liiga) LW 5'9 ½ 167 21 8 19
63 Coulson Pitre Flint (OHL) RW 6'0 ½ 172 59 25 60
64 Ethan Miedema Windsor (OHL) LW 6'3 ¾ 206 68 20 52
                 
65 Nick Lardis Hamilton (OHL) LW 5'10 ½ 165 69 37 65
66 Carson Rehkopf Kitchener (OHL) LW 6'1 ¼ 195 68 30 59
67 Rasmus Kumpulainen Pelicans (SM Liiga Jr) C 6'2 191 41 11 34
68 Charlie Stramel Wisconsin (NCAA) C/RW 6'3 212 33 5 12
69 Albert Wikman Farjestad (SWE J20) D 6'0 ½ 191 43 2 12
70 Axel Landen HV71 (SWE J20) D 6'1 ¼ 185 44 10 16
71 Noah Dower-Nilsson Frölunda (SWE J20) LW 6'0 174 37 26 54
72 Alex Ciernik Sodertalje (SWE J20) RW 5'9¾ 163 18 9 21
73 Scott Ratzlaff Seattle (WHL) G 6'0 ½ 175 34 2.15 .918
74 Kalan Lind Red Deer (WHL) LW 6'0 ¼ 158 43 16 44
75 Andrew Strathman Tri-City (USHL) D 5'10 190 48 3 36
76 Will Whitelaw Youngstown (USHL) C/RW 5'9 173 62 36 61
77 Quinton Burns Kingston (OHL) D 6'1 ¼ 180 54 2 29
78 Drew Fortescue USA NTDP (USHL) D 6'1 176 62 1 26
79 Aram Minnetian USA NTDP (USHL) D 5'11 192 62 7 31
80 Carey Terrance Erie (OHL) C 6'0 ¼ 175 67 30 47
81 Adam Gajan Chippewa (NAHL) G 6'2 ½ 167 30 2.51 .920
82 Jaden Lipinski Vancouver (WHL) C 6'3 ½ 204 66 19 51
83 Cam Squires Cape Breton (QMJHL) RW 5'11 ½ 165 67 30 64
84 Brad Gardiner Ottawa (OHL) C 6'0 ½ 178 68 19 39
85 Carson Musser USA NTDP (USHL) G 6'4 215 28 3.07 .890
86 Luca Pinelli Ottawa (OHL) C 5'8 ½ 165 67 29 63
87 Samuel Urban Sioux City (USHL) G 6'0 ¾ 196 4 2.80 .918
88 Jayden Perron Chicago (USHL) RW 5'9 163 54 21 63
89 Paul Fischer USA NTDP (USHL) D 6'1 190 56 4 21
90 Zachary Schulz USA NTDP (USHL) D 6'1 195 52 1 10
91 Luke Mittelstadt Minnesota (NCAA) D 5'11 185 38 5 21
92 Rodwin Dionicio Windsor (OHL) D 6'1 ½ 207 50 15 50
93 Michael Hagens Chicago (USHL) D 5'11 170 60 9 26
94 Beau Akey Barrie (OHL) D 5'11 ½ 170 66 11 47
95 Luca Cagnoni Portland (WHL) D 5'9 180 67 17 64
96 Cameron Allen Guelph (OHL) D 6'0 194 62 5 25
97 Noel Nordh Brynäs (SWE J20) LW 6'1 ½ 196 38 13 27
98 Tyler Peddle Drummondville (QMJHL) LW 6'0 ½ 195 64 24 41
99 Connor Levis Kamloops (WHL) C 6'1 ½ 189 68 27 67
100 Tristan Bertucci Flint (OHL) D 6'1 ½ 172 63 11 50