It’s important to dive into the tape to see whether the tools that make him a game-breaking talent can translate to the NHL, some of the reasons for pause with his game, and whether it makes the risk of drafting him top five worth it. On the one hand, that means he produced with very little help around him, but on the other, he probably wouldn’t have earned prime even-strength and power-play opportunities to put up those types of numbers on a stronger team.ĭespite the impressive resume, numbers will never tell the full story. This year, Michkov predominantly played for Sochi, who finished last in the KHL with just 11 wins in 68 games and a minus-112 goal differential. Michkov’s done it on the international stage too, with one of the best age-16 performances of all time at the U18 World Championships in 2021. He also owns the best 17-year-old season in Russia’s junior league history.
It’s a points-per-game rate that tops Artemi Panarin, Vladimir Tarasenko and Kirill Kaprizov when they were in the KHL at the same age. He scored 20 points in 27 KHL games, which is the most that a first-time draft-eligible prospect has notched in league history. Michkov’s statistical profile is historical.
It’s easy to understand why he’s been heaped with praise. 3 in advance of any draft and the best Russian prospect since Alex Ovechkin and Evgeni Malkin back in 2004.” Colleague Scott Wheeler has described Michkov as “without question or hesitation, the best prospect I’ve ever ranked at No. Any club outside of the top three that passes on him needs to be very careful because the decision could bite them long term. Michkov is going to test the patience and risk tolerance of many teams at the top. Some teams might wonder: Why take a big gamble on Michkov when there are other enormously talented prospects available? Then there’s the fact that the teams picking in the top five this year have no shortage of elite prospects to choose from because of the strength of this draft class. Some teams have also been hesitant about drafting Russians in general because of the geopolitical situation pertaining to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
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