Matvei Michkov in Washington, an increasingly discussed possibility

No one really knows what will happen with Matvei Michkov at the next draft.

At least we know he’ll be drafted in the first round, and his exceptional talent should, under normal circumstances, give him the certainty of being chosen (at least) in the top-3.

But that’s not the case, for the reasons we now know. His contractual situation and the geopolitical situation in Russia, combined with the fact that he won’t be talking to all the teams in Nashville before the draft, are causing doubts in just about everyone’s mind…

And that may explain why some GMs are reluctant to draft him, despite the fact that he’s one of the NHL’s brightest prospects of recent years.

Clearly, there will be a team that will try to hit the home run by selecting the young player. That said, when it comes to a potential destination in his case, the Capitals’ name often comes up in the discussion, as they hold the 8th overall pick in the upcoming draft.

After all, we know how many Russian players have passed through Washington during their careers, and right now, there’s still a certain Alex Ovechkin wearing the Caps’ colors. The team captain has an excellent relationship with team owner Ted Leonsis, and Ovi could use his friendship to convince the owner to draft his compatriot.

And let’s not forget that Ovechkin and Vladimir Putin are good friends. I don’t know to what extent this is a factor… But it’s an interesting one to note.

All this leads Bob Hartley to think that if there’s any political play, Ovechkin will definitely be involved. But the former NHL coach makes a good point when he talks about Mishkov’s contract in Russia:

Ovechkin will definitely push, but I’ll tell you this: Ovechkin is not from the St. Petersburg organization. – Bob Hartley

As a reminder, Matvei Michkov is under contract with SKA St. Petersburg until the end of the 2025-2026 season.

We still don’t know if there’s any chance of him landing in the NHL before his contract expires. And, ultimately, even if he is drafted by the Capitals…

Alex Ovechkin won’t have the luxury of making that decision.

In gusto

– I like it.

Bob Hartley thinks the reason the Habs signed Sean Monahan is because the team is confident he’ll be healthy next year. 🔵⚪️🔴

To hear his full column with @PatLaprade: https://t.co/gtVbPJdtyO pic.twitter.com/ZVt9TAyP1t

– BPM Sports (@BPMSportsRadio) June 20, 2023

– Speaking of Michkov.

– Coyotes buy out Zack Kassian and Patrik Nemeth.

– That’s saying a lot.

– Money is beautiful.

– When will baseball return to Montreal?