Former Habs Scout Provides Harsh Assessment of Michkov

The controversy surrounding the Flyers' selection of Matvei Michkov continues long after his pick on May 8th. Several teams chose to pass on him, including the Montreal Canadiens, who placed him in the 7th overall position, while the Flyers ultimately selected him.

While most teams have not disclosed their reasons for passing on him, a former Habs scout offered a scathing assessment and report regarding the issues surrounding Michkov.

Grant McCagg explained, "I honestly think he could be the next Yakupov," he stated at the time. "He doesn't impress me... he's not exceptionally fast, nor is he big. I wouldn't label him as a gritty player. He might encounter difficulties in dealing with the NHL, especially during the playoffs."




Despite currently experiencing reduced ice time with his current team, the scouting report's overall evaluation and the general perception of his abilities were quite positive when he entered this year's draft. I believe that if the geopolitical situation in the world were slightly different, it's highly likely that Michkov would have been drafted much higher, perhaps even as the second overall pick.

It's reasonable to conclude that attaching too much importance to the opinions of a former Habs scout regarding a current Flyers player might not be wise. Only time will reveal who is correct in their assessment of the selection.