Grant McCagg, a former scout for the Montreal Canadiens, made a significant statement regarding the 2023 NHL draft during a recent episode of his podcast "Recrutes." Although it may seem unbelievable, here's what he said:
Although there are some issues to consider, if Michkov were a Canadian or American player, he would likely be competing with Connor Bedard to be the first overall pick, or else a solid choice at second overall.
His statistics in the KHL are exceptional for a player of his age, with 20 points in 27 games, including 9 goals. These numbers are comparable to those of Kirill Kaprizov, who now has a career of 100-110 points in the NHL, and much better than those of Nikita Kucherov and Alex Ovechkin at the same age. If Michkov were to fall outside the top 5 in the draft, it would be considered a steal.
If he were to slip out of the top 10, it would be completely ridiculous and one of the biggest heists of the decade. If Michkov were not selected in the first round, it would be a game-changer for any NHL team that managed to acquire him.
