Interesting development: Matvei Michkov is coming and it could impact his selection

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David St-Jean
June 22, 2023 (9:33)

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The highly acclaimed TSN journalist, Bob McKenzie, has just confirmed a very interesting news today as he mentioned that the Russian phenom Matvei Michkov will be arriving to North America in the coming hours.

Michkov's arrival is especially noteworthy as it means that he will have time to meet with several NHL teams before the draft, mostly those from the top 10, including of course the Montreal Canadiens.

"Max Moliver, his agent, has scheduled interviews with several clubs, aiming to accommodate as many as possible within reasonable limits (teams with picks around the Top 10 for instance)." - Bob McKenzie

Russian forward Matvei Michkov is widely expected to be a very high pick in the 2021 NHL Entry Draft. This upcoming meeting between the Montreal Canadiens and Michkov could be very decisive for both parties, since Jeff Gorton and Kent Hughes will certainly take advantage of the opportunity to get as much information as possible before making their fifth overall pick.

This meeting could not only influence Montreal's choice but also those of the other teams selecting in the top 4. If Michkov is chosen in these ranks, it would mean that Hughes could potentially put his hands on Smith or Carlsson with the fifth overall pick.

Without factoring in current geopolitical issues, as well as his three-year contract with KHL, Michkov would likely be the second picked player from this draft class. Most experts agree that he has generational talent potential, similar to that of Connor Bedard.