Matvei Michkov is the NHL draft's man of mystery. The gifted, playmaking winger is probably the best Russian hockey prospect in nearly a decade, but he's no lock to be chosen in the top five.
The gifted, playmaking winger is probably the best Russian hockey prospect in nearly a decade -- and maybe longer, going back to Alex Ovechkin and Evgeni Malkin in 2005. His highlight reel is full of shifty stickwork, nifty moves and shots that leave goaltenders helpless to stop them.
While the political climate has shifted again, the debate over drafting highly touted Russian hockey players is familiar. The Detroit Red Wings won the Stanley Cup twice and became a powerhouse in the 1990s with the "Russian Five," and the Washington Capitals' path to their first championship five years ago included taking Evgeny Kuznetsov 26th in the 2010 draft when other teams were reluctant.
As long as Michkov goes before No. 10, he will be the highest-drafted Russian player since Carolina took Andrei Svechnikov second in 2018. Plus, executives say, it's a similar wait for most players coming out of college or the Canadian junior hockey ranks to become NHL-ready. "He's definitely a first-round prospect," Marr said. "When he gets to the NHL, he's going to be an impact player."
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