NASHVILLE, Tenn. — The biggest question entering the 2023 NHL draft was which team would select Russian winger Matvei Michkov. It turned out to be the Flyers, who determined Michkov was worth the risk at No. 7 overall on Wednesday night.
Michkov, widely considered a top-three talent in this class, began the draft process as the consensus No. 2 pick behind Connor Bedard. But while eventual No. 3 overall pick Adam Fantilli had an outstanding freshman campaign at the University of Michigan, Michkov was far from the eyes of NHL front offices playing in Russia. Fantilli passed him in the rankings, but Michkov remained a top-tier prospect, albeit one with several question marks.
On the ice, Michkov’s offensive talent and upside are rarely questioned, as he’s regarded as the best Russian prospect since Alexander Ovechkin and Evgeni Malkin were drafted in 2004. He possesses several A-level tools, punctuated by his elite hockey sense and vision on the offensive side of the puck. It is all the other context surrounding Michkov that makes him a risk and resulted in him sliding to No. 7 and being available for the Flyers.
