Matvei Michkov was the talk of the town last year, with the 2023 draft featuring a crop brimming with talent.
Michkov is still piling up points this year in the KHL, one of the best leagues, if not the best league after the NHL.
The 19-year-old Russian has racked up 51 points in 63 games with HC Sochi in the two years to date.
Still impressive, if you compare his stats with those of Alex Ovechkin in his draft year and the year after his draft.
The Great 8 amassed a total of 50 points in 90 games.
Sure, 20 years later, the caliber of play in this league must have changed, but the fact remains that Mishkov has more points in nearly 30 fewer games than Ovechkin did in the same league at the same age.
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Now there’s another Russian hopeful to enter the debate on the best Russian hopeful since Ovechkin.
Some have already heard of him, but he’s Ivan Demidov, who plays in the MHL, Russia’s junior league.
To help compare the different leagues, Patrick Bacon of Towards Data Science has published an article calculating the talent equivalence between each league compared to the NHL.
Here’s a quick overview, but I invite you to read the article to find out more.
Demidov completely dominates the MHL right now, but if you look at the chart above, you can see that the MHL is equivalent to the USHL and also compares to the OHL and WHL.
In 23 games this season, Demidov has no fewer than 20 goals and a total of 45 points in his draft year, or almost two points per game.
By comparison, Nikita Kucherov, who also played in the MHL in his draft year, had 58 points in 41 games, or 1.41 points per game.
As for Michkov, he played in the KHL in his draft year and collected 20 points in 27 games, which is excellent for an 18-year-old.
On the face of it, Michkov and Demidov are two phenomena who will most likely dominate the NHL, but who will come out on top?
A few weeks before the start of the season, Grant McCagg said that Demidov is the best Russian prospect since Ovechkin, and therefore better than Michkov.
During an episode of The Sick Podcast – Recrutes, McCagg gave his opinion on the youngster after some twenty games played on his side this season, and nothing seems to have changed.
Grant McCagg: Every single shift, Demidov did something to make your jaw drop@grantmccagg, @GaumondShayne & @ScoutRocco discuss the prospects of the week!
Full pod👇
Watch: https://t.co/8eHiLg8yqh
Listen: https://t.co/uomlWqOYYp#NHL #NHLDraft #thesickpodcast pic.twitter.com/tT12xJrHXl– The Sick Podcast – Recrutes Draftcast (@sickpodnhldraft) January 28, 2024
In the podcast excerpt above, McCagg made a bold comparison, saying that Demidov can be compared to a more complete, consistent and competitive Alex Kovalev.
Habs fans have all loved Kovalev’s time in Montreal, but have often deplored his lack of consistency and defensive shortcomings. Still, he was the last Tricolore player to score more than one point per game in a season.
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To hear McCagg tell it, Demidov is clearly heavier than the sites show (168 pounds). He believes he’s closer to 190 pounds, as his weight hasn’t been up to date for nearly two years.
He also points out that he’s the most talented prospect in the 2024 crop, even with the likes of Macklin Celebrini and Cole Eiserman.
There’s still a similar scenario between the 2023 and 2024 drafts when there’s a Russian coming in to muddy the waters who’s extremely talented.
The only difference is that Demidov is signed to the KHL until the end of next season, 2024-2025, which is already a year earlier than the end of Mishkov’s contract.
Looking at the stats of Mishkov, Demidov, Kucherov and Ovechkin, it’s very hard to say who was or will be the best, because although they all played in Russia, some played in the KHL at different times, others in the MHL and even in the VHL, which is the KHL’s equivalent of the American League.
The existential question is, where will Demidov be drafted next? Will he fall like Mishkov, or will he make it into the top-3, or even cause a surprise by going first?
Depending on where the Habs draft him, I think that if he’s available, Kent Hughes should jump at it.
After all, who wouldn’t like to see a more complete and consistent Kovalev in Montreal?
In gusto
– Jacques Martin could be the solution in net for the Senators.
The Senators may not have to look far to solve their goaltending issues. Was that all part of the plan? pic.twitter.com/08JT7IYYfy
– Grant McCagg (@grantmccagg) January 28, 2024
– Another questionable move for Tyler Myers.
Vancouver’s Tyler Myers has been fined $5,000, the maximum allowable under the CBA, for elbowing Columbus’ Sean Kuraly.
– NHL Player Safety (@NHLPlayerSafety) January 28, 2024
– Read more.
About Ovechkin’s dipping shot rate, TJ Oshie’s hidden value, Kuznetsov being whatever Kuznetsov is, the ideal defensive pairs, and the Caps’ chances of making the playoffs https://t.co/0KRL8lGjME
– RMNB (@rmnb) January 28, 2024
– A dream season for Boeser
Brock Boeser Hatty last night his 3rd 🎩 🎩 🎩 of the season and career high 30th 🚨 Goal of season. Also 1st ⭐️ in @Canucks #NHL leading 33rd Win. @BBoeser16 is +20 with 22A and 52pts in 49 games heading to @NHL All Star! pic.twitter.com/mxyrS2YoWb
– Ben Hankinson (@BenHankinson) January 28, 2024