Matvei Michkov's Team Has Already Moved On From Him

Matvei Michkov has found himself facing adversity as the season kicks off, with signs that his team and coach may have lost faith in him.

In SKA St. Petersburg's first KHL game of the season today, Michkov, a highly-touted 18-year-old talent, surprisingly found himself benched as a healthy scratch. While his absence from the lineup may be justified given his age, the real eyebrow-raiser was the presence of 17-year-old Ivan Demidov as the 13th forward, effectively replacing Michkov.

SKA coach Roman Rotenberg didn't mince words when questioned about Michkov's absence, hinting at potential character concerns. Rotenberg's comments highlight two critical points. Firstly, Michkov failed to secure a spot in SKA's starting lineup on this particular day. Despite possessing remarkable skills, it seems Rotenberg is demanding a more well-rounded game or increased effort from the young talent.

Secondly, it's apparent that if Michkov does manage to make the team, he'll be competing with Demidov for the 13th forward position throughout the season. Demidov, a defensively responsible player and a highly-regarded prospect for the 2024 draft, promises to keep this intriguing battle alive, raising the possibility of one of them being loaned out.

It's hard to say whether this will continue throughout the season or if Michkov will soon be back in his coach's good graces but it's definitely a situation to watch.

As Read On House of Hockey - "REPORT: Michkov's Team has Already Given Up on Him"