2023-05-11 16:10:19
Since we know that the Canadian will pick fifth in the next repechage, the name of Matvei Michkov has been talked regarding a lot. The young man is full of talent, but doubt hangs over the rest of his situation, he who will spend the next few years in Russia and who might be blackmailed there to stay there.
If Alexander Romanov had been benched a few times in his senior year in the KHL, imagine the pressure Michkov, the local gem, might experience to stay there.
And obviously, opinions differ. Stu Cowan, for example, thinks it’s too big of a risk for the Habs. And his argument stands.
????New Episode????@StuCowan1 joins @TonyMarinaro to discuss:
????If #Habs should draft Michkov
????Trade for PLD?
????Playoffs
????& more!Full pod????????
Watch: https://t.co/ajkjloTnyn
Listen: https://t.co/YmXkjFuz5F#GoHabsGo #thesickpodcast pic.twitter.com/qoCDrBH0pP— The Sick Podcast with Tony Marinaro (@thesickpodcasts) May 11, 2023
That said, the fact remains that the objective of a team is to seek out the most talented player. And aside from Connor Bedard, it’s hard to say that a guy is really very ahead of Michkov in pure talent at the next draft.
And in fact, Kent Hughes speaks (publicly, at least) like a guy who is also looking for that pure talent. Because yes, Michkov has the potential to reinvigorate the entire offensive core of the organization.
Hughes: “we are looking for the most talented player, who can have the greatest impact during his career for the Montreal Canadiens.”
Again, he talks regarding the ‘most talented player’.
These are the words of the one who will make the ultimate decision.
— Anthony Martineau (@Antho_Martineau) May 11, 2023
On the other hand, when we talk regarding the case of Michkov, it seems a little different. Hughes recognizes the immense talent of the Russian striker, but he adds a caveat: if there is a player of equal talent to Michkov, the CH are likely to look elsewhere.
And these are his words, not mine:
ICYMI: @CanadiensMTL GM Kent Hughes joined @MitchyGallo and @Imstilljon following last night’s draft lottery and he discusses the possibility of drafting Michkov.
Full interview: pic.twitter.com/OhiiGhGBu7— TSN 690 Radio (@TSN690) May 9, 2023
If, at the end of the process, the Habs place other players on an equal footing with Michkov, Hughes does not hide it: there is a very good chance that the club will opt for one of the other players.
That said, unless Bedard drops all the way to fifth (which would probably be the surprise of a lifetime, genre), there’s probably no guy who comes close to Michkov’s caliber. One might argue for Adam Fantilli, but either way he seems destined to come out second, so CH probably won’t have to worry regarding that.
So, if Kent Hughes is right, I don’t see CH finding another potentially available fifth-tier prospect to be more talented and promising than Michkov. However, I don’t expect the club to select him for as much, because I think that behind the scenes, the situation of the Russian is more scary than we dare to admit.
Like Corey Pronman, I think the Habs preferred a guy like David Reinbacher (or Dalibor Dvorsky, or Ryan Leonard, etc.) over Michkov if the latter is still available at No. 5.
New post @TheAthleticNHL: My first round one 2023 NHL mock draft
— Corey Pronman (@coreypronman) May 11, 2023
Clearly, then, the case will continue to attract attention over the coming weeks. The decision to select (or not) Michkov might be decisive for the future of CH, and this, both for better and for worse.
It’s up to Kent Hughes and his colleagues to come to the best decision, then.
A lot of
– Talking regarding Reinbacher and the next crop of hopefuls.
Top draft prospects Adam Fantilli, Leo Carlsson and David Reinbacher are among the top players to watch at the 2023 IIHF World Championship
via @TheAthletic
— Corey Masisak (@cmasisak22) May 11, 2023
“And I understand doing so. We don’t bite the hand that feeds us, following all.
friend shock quote @GeorgesLaraque !
At the microphone of @PaulArcand he says he’d be “the biggest hypocrite on the planet” if he said anything else…
???? Listen to the former star of the @LNH_FR ⬇
— 98,5 FM (@le985fm) May 11, 2023
– Jordan Dumais got it.
— TVA Sports (@TVASports) May 11, 2023
– News from Toronto.
Sheldon Keefe says Ilya Samsonov hasn’t skated since sustaining an upper body injury in Game 3
“As of right now, it’s Joe Woll and Matt Murray that are available … it will be Joe once more [in Game 5] at this point” @TSN_Edge
— Mark Masters (@markhmasters) May 11, 2023
Knies feels better and waits for the green light
— RDS (@RDSca) May 11, 2023
– Damage.
The right-hander will miss the rest of the 2023 campaign and part of the 2024 season.
— Passion MLB (@passion_mlb) May 11, 2023
1683829306
#equal #talent #Kent #Hughes
