Insider Makes a Shocking Prediction on Where Matvei Michkov Will Be Drafted

It has been predicted that he will go around 5th or later in the upcoming NHL draft, but one Insider is predicting he will go much higher than that. The speculation around Matvei Michkov is growing.

According to Jeff Marek of Sportsnet, Anaheim Ducks GM Pat Verbeek is not afraid to use the 2nd overall pick on Michkov, and he believes that's exactly what's going to happen.

There is no questioning Michkov's skill level. In fact, some scouts and analysts put him ahead of the consensus number one overall pick Connor Bedard when it comes to pure skill. It's the uncertainty around Michkov that is pushing other GMs away.

While he does have meetings scheduled at the draft later this month, Michkov has not made himself available to scouts and GMs in any great quantity. One scout who travelled to Russia to speak with him said Michkov just didn't seem interested. Whether that is due to the influence on him in his home country of Russia or an attitude is hard to say. Michkov is also under contract in the KHL until the end of 2026. That's not an insurmountable hurdle for a player that wants to play in North America, but it does complicate things. That said, if Verbeek takes him at number two, it appears it will be well worth it.

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