'NHL Hasn't Seen Players Like This For Long.' Ovechkin, Demidov, and Others on Matvei Michkov's Upcoming NHL Debut

5 min read
Sep 5, 2024, 9:33 AM
Matvei Michkov

Matvei Michkov // Credit: philadelphiaflyers.com

 

Philadelphia Flyers forward Matvei Michkov is one of the most intriguing hockey players in the NHL this season. The 19-year-old winger arrived in the NHL two years earlier than expected after the final two seasons of his contract in the KHL were terminated. Michkov, selected by the Flyers as the seventh pick in the 2023 draft, has spent the last two years in the KHL. Last year he played 47 games with HK Sochi, scoring 19 goals and adding 22 assists.

Many are waiting for Michkov's debut in the NHL, including Russian hockey players. Over the past month, RG.org asked players to express their opinions on Michkov, his debut in the NHL, and expectations from it.

Alexander Ovechkin, Washington Capitals forward:

"The most important thing is to avoid injuries and play his hockey. Not to stop there and only move forward. I know Matvey is very talented, scoring a lot in the KHL for his age. Let him always have self-confidence. Philadelphia will support him, and I hope his development will go well."

Alexander Radulov, Ak Bars Kazan forward, ex-NHL player:

"Michkov has a good shot and excellent vision of the ice. He has become stronger compared to the season before last. He has become stronger physically, which is good for him. He still has a young body, and he will only improve. The main thing is to stay healthy. He is a very good hockey player, and he'll have a very good coach [John Tortorella]. It is unlikely that he will be criticized for no reason. Everything is in his hands. The Flyers have a good and young team, he will probably be given a lot of playing time."

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Ivan Demidov, forward, Montreal Canadiens prospect:

"Both the team and the whole city were really looking forward to his arrival. He is a new hope for Philadelphia, there haven't been such players in the NHL for a long time. Unsurprisingly, he was greeted so warmly, and everything was done to make him comfortable. He even sent me several videos from the locker room and the ice. As for his game, I'm sure he will succeed. Matvey is a versatile player who is always focused on the goal, but can also make passes. Moreover, he can play in the center, and we have had such an experience. The main thing is that he needs good partners, and in Philadelphia there will be no problems with that."

Evgenii Dadonov, Dallas Stars forward:

"I only know him from the news, so I'm very interested to see him in person. I'm curious to see how his level matches the hype around him."

Danila Yurov, forward, Minnesota Wild prospect:

"It's great that Matvey managed to break out of the KHL and go to Philadelphia. I think he has every chance to prove himself. He has a scoring instinct that I have never seen before. He knows when to pass. He feels when to shoot and where the puck will go. You are born with such qualities, you can't acquire them. In the highlights, you can see how he arrives at the far post, and the puck seems to bounce to him on its own. But I think it's not luck, but rather a scoring instinct."

Ilya Nabokov, goalie, Colorado Avalanche prospect:

"One of Michkov's main qualities is deception. He makes decisions that are impossible to predict. I wish him success in the Flyers. The main thing is to avoid injuries."

Igor Chernyshov, forward, San Jose Sharks prospect:

"Michkov is a master of his craft. A great professional. I hope he can prove himself from the very first season and gain a foothold in the Flyers. Good luck, Matvey!"

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Arseni Gritsyuk, forward, New Jersey Devils prospect:
"I was very happy to see how the Flyers greeted Michkov when he arrived in America. Thus, they let him know that they are counting on him. Mich is a tip who will come out at the game's decisive moments and do something out of the ordinary. Just give him the puck, and he will know what to do. It is just very important that he has good partners. He is not very fast, but even in a limited space, he can create moments for his partners."

Mikhail Gulyayev, defenseman, Colorado Avalanche prospect:

"I'm glad that Matvey got a chance to go to the NHL, and he took advantage of it. He can score 30 goals in his first season. He's a very smart hockey player who can create a scoring opportunity out of nothing. Everyone in the NHL understands hockey well, so they'll give him playing time gradually. So that he can develop calmly."

Egor Surin, forward, Nashville Predators prospect:

"The NHL style of play suits Michkov. He should be able to make a good debut and start scoring points right away. He has a nose for scoring. He knows how to score goals. And they'll teach him how to play defense."

Sergey has been in sports journalism since 2007 as a reporter, editor, and manager. He has covered the Olympic Games, soccer World Cups, the World Cup of Hockey in 2016, the European championships, the Stanley Cup Finals, IOC events, and many others. Sergey interviewed the sport's greatest athletes, coaches, and executives. Since 2016, he has been an Independent Senior Editor of NHL.com/ru.

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Paruyr Shahbazyan began his business career in 2000 as a private entrepreneur. Over thirteen years, he developed a deep understanding for business and leadership, laying a solid foundation for his professional journey.

In 2013, Paruyr stepped into the sports and betting industry as the founder and president of Bookmaker Rating. This online mass media platform, which he led until 2020, focused on providing in-depth analysis and insights in sports betting, earning a reputation for its quality content. 

Continuing his innovative approach in 2022, Paruyr co-founded Azuro, a decentralized betting protocol. This venture showcases his dedication to integrating advanced technology in the evolving landscape of sports betting. Through these diverse experiences, Paruyr has continuously influenced and shaped the betting industry, driving new trends and setting high standards.

 ExperienceYear
Engaged in private entrepreneurship2000-2013
Founder and President at Bookmaker Rating, an online platform focused on sports and betting2013-2020
Co-founder at Azuro, a decentralized betting protocol2022

"Innovation in sportsbetting comes from a deep understanding of both technology and the human element of sports." 

- Paruyr Shahbazyan, Founder, RG

 

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Paruyr Shahbazyan's core beliefs lie in the power of informed decision-making and integrity in the betting industry. He understands that the foundation of successful betting is not just about odds and predictions, but also about the trust and reliability of the information provided. Paruyr advocates for a betting environment where transparency and knowledge are paramount, ensuring that bettors are well-equipped with accurate data and insights.

Strategic Vision

Paruyr's vision is to revolutionize the sports betting industry through the integration of technology. He sees the future of betting as a blend of traditional sports knowledge with innovative tech solutions, like decentralized protocols, to enhance user experience and fairness. His aim is to create platforms that are not only user-friendly but also uphold the highest standards of ethical betting, contributing to a more responsible and enjoyable betting culture.

Future Perspectives

Looking towards the future, Paruyr envisions a betting landscape that is more inclusive, technologically advanced, and globally connected. He anticipates a significant shift towards more decentralized and transparent betting systems, driven by blockchain technology. Paruyr is committed to being at the forefront of this change, continuously exploring new possibilities and innovations that can redefine what it means to engage in sports betting in a digital world. His focus is on building systems that prioritize user empowerment, fairness, and the global growth of the sports betting community.

 

Sol Fayerman-Hansen
Sol Fayerman-Hansen
Editor-in-Chief

Sol has over 20 years of experience in writing for diverse industries including sports, gambling, regulation, technology, and startups. As the Editor-in-Chief at RG.org, Sol brings a wealth of knowledge and expertise to the role, focusing on delivering transparent, evidence-based content grounded in thorough research. Sol's mission is to empower readers to enjoy gambling responsibly and make informed decisions, enhancing their overall experience through insightful and engaging content. Under Sol's leadership, RG.org prioritizes the highest standards of integrity and reliability, ensuring that all information provided is accurate and trustworthy. Sol's dedication to transparency and research-based writing helps create a responsible gambling environment where readers can truly benefit from the content. This commitment to excellence has positioned RG.org as a leading source of information in the gambling industry.

Experience:

  • Over 20 years in writing and editing across multiple industries
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Cristina Varela Galan
Cristina Varela Galan
Problem Gambling Expert

Cristina used to work as a Psychology Assistant in the Bizkaia Pathological and Risky Gamblers Association. She was also part of a research team in Deusto University, specializing in pathological gambling area. While working there, she managed to develop her own project 

 “Exploring the association between emotional regulation, alexithymia, stressful life events and gambling in adolescent and young adult women”.

Nick Ashbourne
Nick Ashbourne
Senior Writer

Nick has been fascinated with sports since he was first taken to a Toronto Maple Leafs game back in 1998, and he's written about them professionally since 2014.

Nick has covered baseball and hockey for outlets like The Athletic, Sportsnet, and Yahoo Sports, and his sports betting expertise has grown since its legalization in Ontario in 2022. 

Between 2022 and 2023 he worked for a betting startup called NorthStar Bets, and in 2024 he contributed to Oddspedia before joining the Responsible Gambling team.

Sergey Demidov
Sergey Demidov
Head of News Department

Sergey has been in sports journalism since 2007 as a reporter, editor, and manager. He has covered the Olympic Games, soccer World Cups, the World Cup of Hockey in 2016, the European championships, the Stanley Cup Finals, IOC events, and many others. Sergey interviewed the sport's greatest athletes, coaches, and executives. Since 2016, he has been an Independent Senior Editor of NHL.com/ru.

Anna Kravtcova
Anna Kravtcova
Problem Gambling Expert

Ph.D. in organizational psychology, an internationally certified psychologist (EuroPsy 2022, Cognitive behavioural therapy of mindfulness 2020, International Society for Emotional Intelligence 2017, Russian Psychological society 2014, American Psychological Association(Society for Industrial and Organizational Psychologist) 2011), speaker of many international conferences (USA, Brazil, Portugal, Czech Republic, Russia, etc.). TEDx speaker.

Mark Medina
Mark Medina
NBA Reporter

Mark Medina is a longtime NBA reporter that includes stints as a Lakers blogger with The Los Angeles Times (2010-12), Lakers beat writer with the Los Angeles Daily News (2012-17), Warriors beat writer with Bay Area News Group (2017-19) as well as an NBA reporter/columnist for USA Today (2019-21) and NBA.com (2021-23). Medina is also an NBA insider with Fox Sports Radio and frequent contributor to CBSLA's SportsCentralLA with Jim Hill and with Spectrum Sportsnet.

Daria Tuboltseva
Daria Tuboltseva
Hockey Reporter

Daria went to St. Petersburg State University and earned a bachelor of international journalism. Working as a sports journalist from 2014, from 2016 as a hockey journalist. Covered 5 World Championships, 2022 Winter Olympics, 2020 World Juniors, 6 Gagarin Cup Finals. 

Owner of a telegram channel Coolest Game on Earth.

Integrative nutritionist specializing on sports nutritionology.

Paul M. Banks
Paul M. Banks
Sports Reporter

Paul M. Banks is a professional Content Creator whose career has seen bylines in numerous publications, including the New York Daily News, Chicago Tribune, USA Today, Yahoo, MSN, FOX Sports and Sports Illustrated.

Banks has made scores of guest appearances on live radio and television, featuring regularly on NTD News, WGN-TV, CCTV, ESPN Radio, the History Channel, SiriusXM and CBS Sports Radio.

He is the Founding Editor of The Sports Bank.net, which has been featured and linked in hundreds of leading media outlets all across the world.

He has also authored two books, one of which, "No, I Can’t Get You Free Tickets: Lessons Learned From a Life in Sports Media," became an assigned textbook in journalism courses at State University New York-Oneonta.

Marco D'Amico
Marco D'Amico
Hockey Reporter

Marco D'Amico is a beat reporter covering the Montreal Canadiens and the NHL Draft, while also being a recurring guest on TSN690 and BPM Sports. His work primarily on NHL CBA breakdowns and prospect analysis, all while covering the Montreal Canadiens on a day-to-day basis.

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