One of hockey’s best prospects, Matvei Michkov, is coming to the NHL earlier, which could have several teams kicking themselves for passing on the talented Russian.
Half of the six players selected ahead of Michkov in the 2023 NHL Draft have made their NHL debuts. However, aside from the Chicago Blackhawks’ No. 1 pick, Connor Bedard, it’s hard to argue that any have the offensive ceiling of the Philadelphia Flyers’ new star.
With limitations and questions about his defensive effort, Michkov is not the perfect player, but the hype surrounding his offensive potential isn’t hyperbole.
Michkov averaged 2.2 points per game in the under-18 World Championships for Russia. That equaled what Alexander Ovechkin recorded at the same level while surpassing other future stars, like Ilya Kovalchuk (1.6) and Evgeni Malkin (1.4).
During that time, he also flashed his skills in Russia’s top professional league, the KHL. Over 91 games with SKA St. Petersburg and Sochi, he notched 66 points (30 goals, 36 assists) in 91 games.
His unique blend of skill and anticipation with and without the puck makes him a must-watch talent this season. Not only should he immediately improve the Flyers’ fortunes, but he’ll also likely be a top contender for the Calder Trophy.
Meanwhile, there are doubts about his competitive level on the other end of the ice. But at a slender 5-foot-10, 147 pounds, Michkov often outhustles opponents to loose pucks and shows a tenacity that should be easy to instill in him on defense as his game matures.
Largely considered the second-best talent behind Bedard, Michkov was surprisingly still on the board when the Flyers picked seventh in 2023. The hesitation from teams wasn’t a knock on his talent but over concerns regarding when he’d jump to North America.
At the time, the common belief was that Michkov wouldn’t join the NHL for at least three years due primarily to his contract with SKA. That led the Anaheim Ducks, Columbus Blue Jackets, San Jose Sharks, Montreal Canadiens and Arizona Coyotes (remember them?) to go in another direction, allowing a potential generational talent to fall to Philly.
It remains to be seen whether those teams regret passing on Michkov. But they’ll all find out sooner than expected.
