Buffalo, N.Y. (WGR 550) – The NHL Scouting Combine will wind down on Saturday with a full day of testing. Strength and Conditioning coaches from around the league will be evaluating these players on their fitness.
During the week, it was all about the interviews, as teams got to talk to the players they’ve been scouting on the ice. Every team brings their general managers, coaching staffs and scouting staffs.
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One player not there for the NHL Combine this week is Matvei Michkov. In fact, none of the Russian players are in attendance in Buffalo.
There isn’t much question Connor Bedard will be the No. 1 overall selection by the Chicago Blackhawks, but many feel with the talent Michkov has, he’d be right there at No. 2.
The biggest problem with the winger is he has a contract in the KHL through the 2025-26 season. That means he’d be almost 22 when he gets to the NHL, if he gets to the NHL.
The NHL’s Director of Central Scouting, Dan Marr says he is very close to Bedard.
“They are in the same conversation. It’s just difficult when you can’t see a player live,” Marr said when speaking with the media on Friday. “Michkov changed teams. His ice-time was a little different, so he wasn’t put on the same platform his draft year in order to get some of the same recognition, but he’s definitely a first-round prospect. I’m fairly certain he’s going to be taken in the first-round this year.”
It’s going to be very interesting to see how far Michkov may drop in this year’s draft.
“We all like the hype of going as high as you can, but it’s still going to come down to what can you do after you get drafted,”Marr said. “He’s going to be just fine, but he does have contract commitments. But when he gets to the NHL, he’s going to be an impact player.”
Since Matthew Wood is 6-foot-4, 193 pounds and just finished his freshman year at UConn, Many compare him to another former Huskies forward in Tage Thompson.
Wood had 34 points in 35 games played this year, and led his team in scoring. Marr likes what he can do.
“He’s one of the youngest players in the country playing in the NCAA, and what we really appreciated was all our scouts cycled through and watched Connecticut play. He was just getting better by the game,” he said. “What you could see is how he adapted to the level that he was playing at, how he adapted his foot speed. His skating habits changed considerably, and the more it changed, the more his true game came into focus.
“In the offensive zone, he’s a very dangerous player. He can set up plays and sees the ice, and when he has the puck on his stick, he’s got one of the best releases and best shots, and a finishing touch. We just started seeing a lot of similarities to Tage Thompson here.”
Marr says it may take a little longer for him to get to his true form, but he believes the package is there.
