The Case Against Drafting Matvei Michkov With Any Of The First 6 Picks In The NHL Draft
SOPA Images. Getty Images.Now that the 2022-23 NHL season has come to an end, it's time to turn the page and focus on the upcoming NHL Entry Draft. By all accounts, this 2023 class has the potential to be as loaded as the 2003 NHL Draft. Obviously the boys still need to go out and prove it on the ice. But this is a draft class that is loaded with franchise altering talent. Guys who teams can build a Stanley Cup Champion roster around for the next 10-15 years. Even outside of the top 5 picks in this draft, there are guys who have the ability to be top end players in this league for a lot of years.
One of the most intriguing prospects of them all is Matvei Michkov, an 18-year-old from Russia who would easily be the consensus 1st overall pick in any other draft over the past 5 years.
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The kid is a goal scoring machine. One of the best prospects to come out of Russia since Alex Ovechkin. Pretty decent player if you've ever heard of him. The only issue with Michkov, however, is that he's currently under contract in the KHL through the 2025-26 season. Meaning whichever team drafts him in 2 weeks will have to wait 3 years before he can come over to North America. Patrick Kane scored the game winning goal to win a Stanley Cup for Chicago 3 seasons after he was drafted, so you could see how that's a long time to wait for a top prospect.
With that being the case…here's why each of the teams with the 1st through 6th picks in the draft.
1. Chicago Blackhawks
Listen, I'm not crazy about the Blackhawks ending up with the 1st overall pick again this year. That greedy organization has had enough good fortune when it comes to the lottery draft, and it seems far too convenient for them to just magically move up a couple slots in this year's draft to take another generational talent in Connor Bedard. Right as one chapter ends for the Blackhawks, another begins. It's sickening. But the fact of the matter is that if you have the 1st overall pick, you auto draft Connor Bedard and prepare for the next 10 years of domination. Simple as that.
2. Anaheim Ducks
Again, this is pretty much auto draft. The exact second that Anaheim is on the clock, Adam Fantilli will be a Duck. Kid had an unreal draft year. He won a gold medal with Team Canada at the World Juniors, led the NCAA in scoring and points, won the Hobey Baker as a freshman at Michigan, and also just won gold with Team Canada at the World Championship. Not juniors, but with the big fellas. Adam Fantilli is as good of a 2nd overall pick as there's ever been.
3. Columbus Blue Jackets
Okay so here's where we start to get into the part of the draft where Michkov could start being in play. The only issue with Columbus, however, is that they need to win and they need to win right now. They pretty much gave Johnny Gaudreau every single dollar in the state of Ohio. They traded for Provorov and Severson to bolster the blue line. They have their goalie with Elvis. Columbus doesn't have 3 years to wait around for Matvei Michkov. Someone like Leo Carlsson or Will Smith can come in right away and give them what they're looking for. If not this year, then for sure next.
4. San Jose Sharks
Matvei Michkov is Russian. He's accustomed to the brutally cold Siberian winters. You can't expect him to live out the majority of his adult life in California. It's just not right. Winters in San Jose to him would be like summer. Whoever of Carlsson or Smith doesn't get drafted with the 3rd overall pick will be able to adapt much better to California weather.
5. Montreal Canadiens
There's not a chance in hell that Matvei Michkov is going to learn how to speak French. The reporters in Montreal are going to HATE that. They'll hate it so much that they'd run him out of town within 3 years of being there. 5 or 6 years after the draft pick and you'd have nothing to show for it. David Reinbacher is Austrian, and has been playing in the Swiss league. So I bet he can dabble in French.
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6. Arizona Coyotes
The Arizona Coyotes literally have no idea where they will be playing hockey in 3 years from now. They really don't even have a great idea of where they'll be playing hockey next year. So drafting Matvei Michkov right now for them would be like buying a couch for a home you don't even have yet. You have no idea how or if it's going to fit at all. Plus, he might just sign another contract in the KHL if his options are to stay in Russia or play in a college rink for his entire NHL career.
So there you have it. There is literally no reason whatsoever that Matvei Michkov should be selected with any of the first 6 picks in the NHL Draft. After that, however, I suppose you could take a swing on the kid and wait out the rest of his contract. Let me just take a peek real quick to see who has the 7th overall pick in the draft.
Looks like that honor belongs to the Philadelphia Flyers. So congratulations to future Flyers legend Matvei Michkov. Kid will look pretty dang good in Orange.