I don't think he drops that far, but I can see him falling out of the top 10.

Lol literally yesterday, you commented on my post saying:



Now it's Benson lmao....?

https://www.capfriendly.com/forums/thread/706048?post_id=4043108

I definitely see that, but as a GM do you take that kind of risk. Top 20 are too good to give up. Maybe in the lower picks 25-32 you take the risk

I know I did, but reading this article I have my doubts now

When you think like a GM and not like a fan, you have no choice but to worry about this

Coyotes pick at 6 and 12 I believe, zero reason they don’t gamble

Yeah it's a very sad situation, I feel for the kid.

I'd be more than happy to take Michkov at 5, personally. If you're leaning Benson, I'd offer dang near the kitchen sink for that 5th OA.

Bud if he falls to the capitals you know they are certainly taking him.

From yesterday: "Sergei Fedotov, representing the interests of SKA forward Matvei Michkov, said that Matvei will be present at the #2023NHLDraft ceremony, but it is important for him to gain a foothold at the heart of the St. Petersburg team."

The gamble has always been that he's under contract until 2026, and that he might sign again. This changes nothing, aside from the fact that it's conveniently timed to potentially dissuade a few teams from potentially taking him.

Height of stupidity would be the Habs not drafting him if he is available.

A couple of things:

1. The article speculates on the length of Michkov's contract, we already know this is lol.

2. How in the hell would a MTL reporter have any reliable information in on the death of Michkov's father? This is rumors and speculation.

3. If you honestly believe Michkov's father was murdered because he was trying to get Michkov out of his deal, do you think he will take that? He is coming to the draft with his agent Fedorov... if his father was murdered by the organization he is currently under contract with (that's insane) I would expect Michkov would not go back to Russia after the draft the same way Malkin had to escape his organization to join the NHL.

Nah, let him slide to 33OA so that my beloved Ducks can walk away from this with Fantilli and Michkov

That would be too funny, but everyone and their mother knows that if he is available the Capitals LOVE Russians in an almost unhealthy manner.

True, but Fedotov is Kuzy's agent, and is the one pushing the "Kuzy needs a change of scenery" thing too.

Very true, but I would say that is because Kuzy is too into the nose candy and needs to get clean, it is probably happening internally where the Capitals are saying "Listen we need to get him out of here, make it seem like its not a drug thing"

I think the geo-political landscape is a bit different with the war. I also think there is apparently uncertainty to the length of the contract.

I would not draft him. There is a reason he's not going 2nd or 3rd when by all accounts his talent would make that a no-brainer if he lived in say Sweden.

There is not uncertainty as to the length of his contract. It extends through the 25-26 season. This is known and has not changed.

There are teams with multiple 1sts and I doubt any of them pass on the talent in that situation.

Michkov is so insanely talented that someone in the first will take the risk. The top 20 is very strong, but if not for politics the kid goes 2 without hesitation. He's gone by 10 at the absolute latest imo

Firstly, this article is almost guaranteed to by complete b.s speculation, because if there was anything concrete here then more, and more reliable sources would be reporting on it, not just some Montreal sports talk personality looking for something to say in one of the dullest times of the year for non playoff team
Secondly, and most importantly, I don't really think that it is fair or right to see an article like this and think about how the habs can capitalize. This is an 18 yo kid, trying to find his way in the pro ranks as he plays for 5 different teams in a year, getting moved around like a chess piece, used essentially as a political weapon by the russian government to keep away from the states, and worst of all, he just lost his father. I know we all want to see our teams do the best but this is horrible for a child to have to go through, one's first reaction should always be empathy when you see someone struggling like this.
Finally, if you want to talk hockey or the draft, there is no absolute way he falls to the second round. Logan Mailloux had a huge scandal on his hands, was less talented than Michkov and asked not to be drafted, but still got picked in the first. As per russians, neither yurov nor miroshnichenko come close to being on Michkov's level, but were both easy firsts. And finally, if the habs don't take him at 5, it means they don't want him, under normal situation he is the consensus 3rd overall pick (or higher), so this is not about value, it's about being in or out on a horrible situation.