NHL Draft: Rookie GM Daniel Briere Takes a Calculated Risk with Matvei Michkov as 7th Overall Pick

2023-06-29 05:13:55

NASHVILLE — Daniel Briere described his first experience as general manager in the NHL Draft, where he was one of the main players, as intense.

“It was a great experience, being in the heat of the action, seeing the comings and goings between the teams, all the negotiations, he explained. I loved it.

“Today, the day didn’t go by quickly, it was long! We also tried a few times to advance in the first round, but it didn’t work. We said to ourselves that we were going to be patient and that we were going to have a good player anyway. »

READ ALSO: A wait that was worth it for Michkov | The Dubas plan begins to take shape at the Penguins | Summary of the first round of the draft

Briere’s patience was rewarded, and the rookie GM struck a blow by selecting Russian forward Matvei Michkov seventh overall with the first of his two first-round picks.

If he knows perfectly well that he is taking a risk, he considers it a calculated risk.

“We don’t know what can happen,” he admitted. He has a three-year contract in the KHL, but he convinced us. In seventh row, you mightn’t miss him.

“We cooked it. We asked him very difficult questions, and we were very satisfied with his answers. There is no absolute certainty, but we are hopeful.

“We want to have players who aren’t afraid to play in Philadelphia, because let’s be honest, it’s not always an easy place to play,” Brière said. It can be a special experience when you deliver the goods and play with passion. [Les partisans] respect that. However, not everyone can meet this challenge. It was pretty cool to see how Matvei answered our questions. »

Flyers scout in Russia Ken Hoodikoff was an important part of the team’s decision-making process. He was one of the only members of the organization to see Michkov in action this season, and his reports were very glowing.

“What he was telling us was that he’s an exceptional player, a special player, the kind of player who usually doesn’t get any further than second to third in the draft,” Brière said. In the majority of drafts, he would be the first choice. »

The fact remains that it takes a certain amount of courage for a general manager who is in charge of his first draft and who has just undertaken a reconstruction in good and due form to go for such a daring selection.

A general manager with less self-confidence might have chosen a less risky option.

“It’s not regarding me, it’s regarding thinking regarding what’s best for the organization,” he said. We all agreed that it was a risk worth taking for a player of his caliber. »

Brière has not been idle in recent weeks, and the rest does not look more peaceful.

The Flyers have eight other selections in the last six rounds of the draft. They might also continue to rack up prospects and picks by making other trades, they who already traded center Kevin Hayes to the St. Louis Blues on Tuesday for a third-round pick, as well as defenseman Ivan Provorov to the Columbus Blue Jackets in a three-team trade that notably landed them another 2023 first-round pick, used to select defenseman Oliver Bonk.

“You never know what’s going to happen,” concluded Brière. I said it from the beginning, we are open to many things. »

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