Several NHL teams will be looking at a future star in the draft and the CH must take advantage of this opportunity

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MarcO
February 18, 2023 (4:43 PM)

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The 2023 draft is likely to be filled with unexpected upsets.

Aside from Connor Bedard at No. 1 overall, there are almost no other certainties in this highly promising draft.

There will also be a fairly unique situation in the early selections of the auction, and the Montreal Canadiens absolutely must not let this kind of opportunity pass them by.

After Bedard, most experts agree that Adam Fantilli is likely to be the second player drafted today.

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However, in this exceptional draft that includes a generational talent with the WHL phenom, there is also another future NHL superstar in Matvei Michkov, the Russian player currently playing in the KHL.

Always seen as Bedard's biggest rival, he is without a doubt the player with the closest talent to matching that of the Regina Pats' number 98.

Last year, before the world conflict with Russia, Mishkov was clearly the number two player in this draft. Some even dared to say that he could possibly beat Bedard to the finish line.

Now, because of all that is going on in the world right now, he seems to be fading a bit, and technically, there is no reason for him to be. In fact, it's for reasons beyond his control that you all know.

In fact, according to former Montreal Canadiens scout Grant McCagg, many teams will simply refuse to draft Russian players in the next draft.

This means that despite the immense talent of Michkov, he could very well slip into the draft.

Right now, if the picture were to remain unchanged following the lottery, the Tricolore would have the 7th overall pick. Obviously, if the club finally gets their top 5 pick, that's another story, but if Michkov is still available at #7, the organization simply can't turn their nose up at him.

We're talking about a player who has the potential to be the next Kirill Kaprizov, if not more.

Not too long ago, he was seen as the best Russian prospect since Alexander Ovechkin, that's no small statement at all.

Drafting him at #7 would simply be a robbery, even if he technically has two more valid seasons left on his KHL contract.

Since the CH also has the Panthers' first round pick, which could be anywhere from 11th to 20th potentially, there is an opportunity to select a less risky player later on.

So Hughes and Gorton could take a chance on one of the top two talents in the draft, outside of the top-5, and the club could get another top prospect as well.

This is the opportunity of a lifetime for Kent Hughes and Jeff Gorton to hit a home run, should Michkov truly slip out of the top-5 next June.

Let's just say that he would definitely become a damn good replacement plan, should the Habs lose the lottery.

In 26 games in the KHL this year, he has seven goals and 13 points. That's an outstanding performance for an 18-year-old. For example, Kaprizov finished his season with four goals and eight points in 31 games at the same age.

Do you think the CH should draft Matvei Michkov if he is available at #7?

Credit: LetsGoHabs.com

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POLL
18 FEVRIER \| 51 ANSWERS Several NHL teams will be looking at a future star in the draft and the CH must take advantage of this opportunity DO YOU THINK CH SHOULD DRAFT MATVEI MICHKOV IF HE IS AVAILABLE?
Yes	40	78.4 %
No	11	21.6 %
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