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There have been rumors lately that there’s a chance that the San Jose Sharks could possibly be talked into shifting out of the fourth total choose. With the St. Louis Blues presently proudly owning picks 10, 25, and 29 within the first spherical of the 2023 NHL Draft, it’s potential normal supervisor Doug Armstrong might assemble a aggressive bundle of picks and a prospect or two to make the soar from tenth total to fourth to safe a prospect with the next ceiling.
In this forward-heavy draft class, high prospects Connor Bedard, Adam Fantilli, and Leo Carlsson will probably be off the board throughout the first three alternatives. But an elite-level expertise might nonetheless be obtainable at choose 4: Matvei Michkov. It would take a large haul to be within the place to choose him, and the Blues wouldn’t be the one membership seeking to transfer up if the 18-year-old Russian winger was nonetheless on the board. But in the event that they have been in a position to make a deal occur, they need to be keen to pick out a participant who might alter the course of their franchise for years to come back.
Matvei Michkov Scouting Report
- Age: 18
- Hometown: Perm, Russia
- Size: 5-foot-10, 148 kilos
- Shoots: Left
- Position: Right wing
- Statistics: 27 video games, 9 objectives, 11 assists, 20 factors, 14 penalty minutes (HK Sochi – KHL)
Viewed because the second-best prospect within the class by some, Michkov is considered the best Russian prospect since Alex Ovechkin. Offensively, he’s second to solely Bedard from this class. His creativity with the puck and excessive hockey IQ are maybe his biggest instruments. While he isn’t well-renown for his velocity, he’s in a position to make the most of his creativity and elite stickhandling to maneuver by the offensive zone like a magician.
His creativity with the puck extends to his shot – whether or not it’s a wrister, backhand, or the well-known “Michigan” lacrosse-style purpose you see above. His means to assault the online from any angle is unparalleled, usually leaving opposing the opposition clueless about easy methods to gradual him down.
Related: 2023 NHL Draft Guide
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His dimension (5-foot-10, 150 kilos) is on the low finish of the NHL norm, and never possessing high-end velocity for somebody that small could also be of concern to some. His sport as effectively is just not with out flaw. While he’s a playmaking genius, some scouts replicate that he depends an excessive amount of on making a spectacular play on his personal over using his teammates and establishing scoring probabilities. However, that’s a ability that may be discovered as he will get older and is surrounded by larger caliber expertise than that of SKA St. Petersburg and HK Sochi of the Kontinental Hockey League (KHL).
Related: Matvei Michkov – 2023 NHL Draft Prospect Profile
Ultimately, the difficulty that will trigger him to slide on draft night time is his dedication to play in Russia. He’s presently signed to play within the KHL by the 2025-26 season, that means whoever selects him will probably have to attend a minimal of three years earlier than he can be a part of their membership. So whichever group opts to take an opportunity on Michkov, they’re doing so understanding they’ll need to have an excessive amount of endurance since he gained’t be within the fold instantly.
Where Michkov Fits with the Blues
Michkov would instantly slot in because the Blues’ primary organizational prospect and can be one of many high 10 prospects in all of hockey. If Armstrong have been in a position to swing a deal to maneuver up within the draft to pick out him, he would probably have to surrender at the very least considered one of their high prospects in Jimmy Snuggerud or Zachary Bolduc. Though in gaining somebody of Michkov’s caliber, they’d be tremendous with that trade-off. He wouldn’t be within the group instantly, so he must be monitored by the Blues from afar.
Michkov Would be the Future
If chosen by the Blues, he would be the constructing block of the franchise going ahead. He’s a generational kind of participant that they hope could by no means get an opportunity at acquiring once more if all the things goes proper. The elite skillset he possesses and practically limitless potential might alter this franchise’s course for the subsequent decade or extra. He wouldn’t be capable to be part of the Blues’ “transition” or “re-tooling” on account of his contractual obligations within the KHL. But hopefully, by the point he’s able to name St. Louis residence, the membership can have established a powerful supporting forged for Michkov to hitch and elevate the staff again to glory.
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