2023 NHL Draft Thread

[The Cobra]

Originally Posted by SuperMatt18

I get taking Bedard, Fantilli, Carlsson, and Smith over him...but IMO the gap between Michkov and the next range is big enough even if you have to wait 2-3 years. If you're drafting top 5 you're probably not a contender soon anyways.

His draft year NHLe is in line with guys like McDavid, Matthews, Crosby, etc. If he falls below 5 I'd be trying to move whatever I could to move up to 6 and take him.

I think the worry (might be?) that he may never come over.

If teams knew for certain he'd be over in 3 years, he'd likely go #2.

[SuperMatt18]

Originally Posted by The Cobra

I think the worry (might be?) that he may never come over.

If teams knew for certain he'd be over in 3 years, he'd likely go #2.

I'd take that risk all day.

If you can get guys like Mogilny, Fedorov, and Bure out of Russia during that time period then you can get Michkov over here now.

[CliffFletcher]

Three years is not nothing. Especially for a Russian who has never played in North America. They tend to have worse culture shock than other Europeans, so his first season might be tough.

So when other top guys have been producing in their new teams (and selling tickets) for 2-3 years already, Michkov will just be getting his feet wet in the NHL.

And he has some question marks as a player. From the Athletic’s scouts and execs:

Executive 3: ”I would let someone else pick him. Between his skating, frame, one-way play and his demeanor there’s too much risk for me at the highest points of the draft before you get into the obvious stuff with his contract and the war.”

Scout 2: “Central has him at 5-foot-10, but that’s unofficial, I think he’s closer to 5-9. So you have a 5-9 not-amazing-skating, average-compete winger. The range of outcomes are narrow. Either he’s what you hope he becomes, which is a legit star scorer, or he’s closer to a very ordinary and replaceable piece if he doesn’t hit.”

Executive 7: “It’s a lot easier to just take somebody else. You may be waiting the full three years, you may be waiting longer. Meanwhile, the guys you passed on are helping your opponents win games against you.”

Scout 3: “Six to 10 is where the debate starts for me. Bedard, Fantilli, Carlsson, Smith are all studs, and you know they’re playing for you and likely going to be excellent. I would seriously wrestle with Reinbacher versus him too. But once all those guys are gone I think you would start to twist my arm to take him.”

Scout 5: “I just don’t see him going at the very top parts of the draft. You guys in the media have overhyped him. An NHL team is not taking him top 5 given the myriad of risks in his profile.”

Executive 10: “He’s very good, but “the best Russian prospect since Ovechkin” hype he gets is over the top. He’s a lot closer to Tarasenko as a prospect than Ovie.”

[iloveicedhockey]

Originally Posted by Tbull8

Take it for what it is but cmpdave on Twitter said Wood is their guy if he’s there at 16

This was in response to someone else claiming to have intel saying Yager is our guy.

[dammage79]

In regards to Twitter folk saying who is the Flames guy, I'm quite happy with any option I've been seeing. Yager is my guy (or, more aptly, one of 3 in a tie). But Wood is interesting too. I love this draft. Just don't out smart yourselves Flames. Take the guy on the top of the list available!


These are good problems to have!!

[Sandman]

Ya know, I like Wood, but I love Musty. If we were going to pick a big player with skating issues, I would go for him over Wood. Musty is more of a multi-dimensional offensive player.

[The Cobra]

Originally Posted by SuperMatt18

I'd take that risk all day.

If you can get guys like Mogilny, Fedorov, and Bure out of Russia during that time period then you can get Michkov over here now.

I think it's a different time period now. He'll come over if Putin lets him come over. And I think it's more likely he comes over sooner if Washington selects him.

[8sPOT]

I wont change my mind, somehow I want ASP to fall to 16.

But its hard to argue there wont be a great player available at that #16 slot. Wood, Yager, Barlow, Perreault, Ritchie, etc. all seem to be pretty good to great prospects.

[The Cobra]

Originally Posted by dammage79

I love this draft. Just don't out smart yourselves Flames. Take the guy on the top of the list available!

When you say "top of the list", I assume you mean the "top of the Flames list".

[dammage79]

I waiver each day between Danielson and Richie and Yager. One day I'm all about Danielson, then I watch some Yager video and I'm all about that one, then Ritchie. All 3 wow me. Dream scenario is to snag two of them.

[dammage79]

Originally Posted by The Cobra

When you say "top of the list", I assume you mean the "top of the Flames list".

Yes.

[midniteowl]

Originally Posted by 8sPOT

I wont change my mind, somehow I want ASP to fall to 16.

But its hard to argue there wont be a great player available at that #16 slot. Wood, Yager, Barlow, Perreault, Ritchie, etc. all seem to be pretty good to great prospects.

I still have ptsd with the name Ritchie.

[Paulie Walnuts]

Big and skating issues would be a pass for me. It just seems like it never works out for us.

Its also surprising to read about so many prospects with skating issues, if you listened to Iggy talk last week he touched on how many skills coaches kids have now days and the different skating techniques that they teach.

[bluejays]

Originally Posted by CliffFletcher

Three years is not nothing. Especially for a Russian who has never played in North America. They tend to have worse culture shock than other Europeans, so his first season might be tough.

So when other top guys have been producing in their new teams (and selling tickets) for 2-3 years already, Michkov will just be getting his feet wet in the NHL.

And he has some question marks as a player. From the Athletic’s scouts and execs:

All sounds pretty scary actually. More than a few have mentioned he's the best Russian since Ovechkin. Didn't realize he has skating issues which is a pretty large red flag in today's NHL.

[CliffFletcher]

Originally Posted by Paulie Walnuts

Big and skating issues would be a pass for me. It just seems like it never works out for us.

If this is a reference to Wood, he’s also said to have compete issues. Not a great skater + meh compete levels = a big red flag.

[ForeverFlameFan]

Originally Posted by Sandman

Ya know, I like Wood, but I love Musty. If we were going to pick a big player with skating issues, I would go for him over Wood. Musty is more of a multi-dimensional offensive player.

I too have Musty high on my list. Seems like a Connor-like under-the-radar pick. Connor should’ve been an easy too 10 pick in 2015.

[The Cobra]

Originally Posted by dammage79

Yes.

Why would they pick anyone else, then who is at the top of their list?

And how would we know otherwise?

[oldschoolcalgary]

Originally Posted by GioforPM

What are the signing rules for a guy like that?

SIAP

As far as I know, if there exists a relationship between the NHL and the league in question, its similar to NCAA: if the player isn't signed in 4 years they are a UFA.

the KHL is a bit of a grey area, as the NHL doesn't have this standing agreement. So rights might be held in perpetuity.

That's how it was the last time I looked last year; not sure if anything has changed.

[Naitix]

Get Barlow and put him on the PP next year with Huberdeau feeding him, he scores 20+

[reddude]

Such a deep draft I change my mind everyday originally I was all about Barlow he will likely be gone
I am now really intrigued by Perrault could be a superstar maybe replace gaudreau kind of talent
But Danielson/yager/musty/wood all would look good I see a dman at 48 morin or price