Michkov Smokescreen

Team: 2023-24 Montreal Canadiens

Initial Creation Date: Jun. 28, 2023

Published: Jun. 28, 2023

Salary Cap Mode: Basic

So here's a fun Michkov smokescreen theory. Literally nobody in the league thinks that MTL is taking Michkov, here is what Corey Pronman said in his mock draft today:

"The league is convinced Montreal won’t pick Michkov. I am proceeding as if they won’t. It appears it’s coming down to Reinbacher and Ryan Leonard, and I will find people in the league who are confident it will be one or the other. I think they like both players a lot. History says management in these positions favor the defenseman. If one of the four top centers gets to them, I think they will go in that direction."

Now many have also speculated that Michkov (5'10") is too small to fit in MTL's top 6 with Caufield (5'7"). I think that argument carries no weight, but after acquiring Newhook it might... having 3 players 5'10" or less in your top 6 (with a 5'10" Hutson on the blue line) is a legitimate concern. That said, Michkov won't be here for at least 3 years and by then Newhook could be a top 6 forward making $3.25M for one more season and RFA control... a very good trade chip. Hughes helps his former client boost his value and gets rewarded with a good return in the end, win-win.

So, Hughes is either a mastermind of misdirection, or this theory is just ridiculous... either way I thought it would be fun to speculate on draft day.