I'm curious, how do you know so much about Michkov?
- jd250

Because I read scouting reports, watch videos, and games when the chance arises.

The only POV I have posted is that Michkov might fall because of the situation with Russia and the US, and given several other players include one for the Flyers that have been held up in Russia. I don't think this is a controversial take, in fact its quite an obvious one. It you and others that are making it more than it is. But yes, I am quite confident that there is a real possibility Michkov falls and as I stated, if he really falls then might be the time for the Flyers to make a trade back into the first round and get him, since the risk is much lower. Again, this is obvious, not controversial.
- jd250

Yes he may fall a few spots for all the reasons you mentioned. But you also stated he would fall out of the first round. That is where your opinion went off the rails.

Good morning Frost haters!

How is life treating you all on this lovely day?
- Bob Habib

they are in a state of constant ire

Good morning Frost haters!

How is life treating you all on this lovely day?
- Bob Habib

Good morning! I’m good. How are you?

they are in a state of constant ire
- corduroy

Frost has put them in shambles

I remember the days of 3C seanie ruining people's days
And now we have AHL frosty wreaking havoc on their lives

The sun is shining brightly today, even as a flyers fan

Seeing york, frost and Tippett grow this season has been the highlight of the whole year.
But... having a ping-pong ball bounce our way would be the new highlight if that happens

Really curious to see what Frost's next contract will be in the summer. As a somewhat comparison Tippett got 2 yrs @ 1.5 million/yr. Tippett did not have near the production Frost had this season. Do they do a 2 yr bridge or go 4 yrs and try to lock in a potential 2nd line center for below market value? Going to be interesting.

Good morning! I’m good. How are you?
- SuperSchennBros

I am fabulous! Thank you for asking, good sir!
I'm about to hit the gym and then for an extended hike!
I hope that you have an equally fabulous day! Any big plans?

Because I read scouting reports, watch videos, and games when the chance arises.
- MBFlyerfan

The internet is not for everybody, I suppose.
That's usually the only way I can watch highlights and games of the draftees. Some of the games are exciting to watch, though. Then again some are boring AF, too...

Frost has put them in shambles

I remember the days of 3C seanie ruining people's days
And now we have AHL frosty wreaking havoc on their lives
- Bob Habib

At least with Couturier he had played a few seasons in the NHL when the dummies were saying he could never be more than a 3C (even though he was already the 2C on a playoff team). With Frost, the bad takes about him being the next Jason Akeson came before he had even played his first full NHL season.

Maybe with Bobby Brink we can let him get some proper NHL experience before we decide he's a bust?

I am fabulous! Thank you for asking, good sir!
I'm about to hit the gym and then for an extended hike!
I hope that you have an equally fabulous day! Any big plans?
- Bob Habib

Finish work. Yoga. Probably tell myself I still have a young man’s energy to get through an episode of ”the wire” post yoga but inevitably fall victim to passing out on the coach.

They are not. Michkov is clearly better. If he were Canadian he would be the clear cut #2 pick over Fantilli according to many.

And yes, if he falls out of the top three whatever team who does get him will be getting a gift from the Hawkey Gawds.

In fact, if the Flyers have a chance to get him and pass, it will be a failure on the level of not picking Makar IMO. They simply can NOT pass on a player of his caliber up if he is available at 7.

That being said, if Michov is not there at 7, I would be happy to get Benson. However if they are both available I take Michkov all day every day.
- MBFlyerfan

It would be very shortsighted not to take Michkov in the top 3. Fantilli and Cooley are comparable. Basically, they play the same schedule in the Big Ten. They’re both among the 3 finalists for the Hobey Baker. Their point totals are close and their.teams are close talent wise. Fantilli looks to be more a scorer with size while Cooley is a playmaker with finesse.They’re age difference is 5 months.

It doesn’t matter much that Michkov can’t be here before age 21. No one from the 2022 draft is making an NHL impact now and only 4 players from 2021 are making an impact.

Really curious to see what Frost's next contract will be in the summer. As a somewhat comparison Tippett got 2 yrs @ 1.5 million/yr. Tippett did not have near the production Frost had this season. Do they do a 2 yr bridge or go 4 yrs and try to lock in a potential 2nd line center for below market value? Going to be interesting.
- Trox88

Frost doesn't have arb rights which is lucky for the Flyers. ~45 points would get you a decent AAV in arbitration.

Frost doesn't have arb rights which is lucky for the Flyers. ~45 points would get you a decent AAV in arbitration.
- Feanor

So what do you think? 2 yrs with what AAV? Is Chytil's contract a potential frame work for Frost on a longer deal?

Really curious to see what Frost's next contract will be in the summer. As a somewhat comparison Tippett got 2 yrs @ 1.5 million/yr. Tippett did not have near the production Frost had this season. Do they do a 2 yr bridge or go 4 yrs and try to lock in a potential 2nd line center for below market value? Going to be interesting.
- Trox88

I am thinking in the range of 3.5-4.5 aav based on what Filip Chytil just signed for in New York.

Chytil has 22 goals and 22 assists this season in 69 games. Doubling his career high.

Tippett will also be in that range or higher if he repeats or improves his numbers next season.

So you mentioned that if Michkov fell out of the top 3 it will be a no-brainer to select him no matter what the situation is? So if you are a GM and you have to decide between Zach Benson and Michkov, both similar sized players with similar skills, you are picking Michkov? I'd pick Benson all day long.

And I am already MJL's daddy, just wait until Hayes ends up in Boston and then you will see shock-n-awe!
- jd250

are they similar skill?

I am thinking in the range of 3.5-4.5 aav based on what Filip Chytil just signed for in New York.

Chytil has 22 goals and 22 assists this season in 69 games. Doubling his career high.

Tippett will also be in that range or higher if he repeats or improves his numbers next season.
- MBFlyerfan

2nd line center with a cap.hit in that range is great value. Of course, there is risk whether Frost can maintain this current arc of growth. Not sure what they do.

York is in a similiar situation. If the rebuild is truly happening I would hope these guys do not get bridge deals. In a few years, those cap hits on longer term will look like bargains if they continue to grow.

2nd line center with a cap.hit in that range is great value. Of course, there is risk whether Frost can maintain this current arc of growth. Not sure what they do.

York is in a similiar situation. If the rebuild is truly happening I would hope these guys do not get bridge deals. In a few years, those cap hits on longer term will look like bargains if they continue to grow.
- Trox88

The main thing is Briere or Torts or whoever becomes the official GM must remain mindful that this is a rebuild. Taking too much of a leap and risk with term and money could sabotage the rebuild. Frost needs to prove that he can continue to grow as does Tippett and York before any sane GM would or should give them term. It’s a balancing act that seems to work for successful GMs, not so much with the Flyers. Tippett, Frost and Laughts have similar stats. We know exactly what Laughts is and what he’s worth at like age 27 or 28. The trick is to accurately predict where Tippett and Frost will be in 4-5 years. For me, seems like way to small if a sample to give them anything but a bridge deal unless they take a ludicrously low salary coupled with term.

Frost has put them in shambles

I remember the days of 3C seanie ruining people's days
And now we have AHL frosty wreaking havoc on their lives

The sun is shining brightly today, even as a flyers fan

Seeing york, frost and Tippett grow this season has been the highlight of the whole year.
But... having a ping-pong ball bounce our way would be the new highlight if that happens
- Bob Habib

They shook

It would be very shortsighted not to take Michkov in the top 3. Fantilli and Cooley are comparable. Basically, they play the same schedule in the Big Ten. They’re both among the 3 finalists for the Hobey Baker. Their point totals are close and their.teams are close talent wise. Fantilli looks to be more a scorer with size while Cooley is a playmaker with finesse.They’re age difference is 5 months.

It doesn’t matter much that Michkov can’t be here before age 21. No one from the 2022 draft is making an NHL impact now and only 4 players from 2021 are making an impact.
- Minnyhock

The most significant concern would be the status of Russian players who are on record that they hope to play in the NHL some day. We saw what happened to Fedetov so teams might be a little shy to draft the player. Not necessarily related but certainly something which could impact this poor kid, his father just disappeared and turned up dead under what are being described as “unexplained circumstances.” Condolences to the kid and his family. In Russia ya never know.

I don't think this is a controversial take
- jd250

Your problem is you don't know how to moderate your hot takes.

You could say something like... Michkov may drop out of the top-4 in the draft. That would be a little spicy but still grounded in reality.

But you have to go and say wild poop like "I don't see Michkov going in the 1st round" and that "...actually he is below an AHL player" when you admit you haven't even watched him play and you obviously don't understand the difference between his situation and Fedotov's.

The main thing is Briere or Torts or whoever becomes the official GM must remain mindful that this is a rebuild. Taking too much of a leap and risk with term and money could sabotage the rebuild. Frost needs to prove that he can continue to grow as does Tippett and York before any sane GM would or should give them term. It’s a balancing act that seems to work for successful GMs, not so much with the Flyers. Tippett, Frost and Laughts have similar stats. We know exactly what Laughts is and what he’s worth at like age 27 or 28. The trick is to accurately predict where Tippett and Frost will be in 4-5 years. For me, seems like way to small if a sample to give them anything but a bridge deal unless they take a ludicrously low salary coupled with term.
- mikeyo27

You make the point precisely. With Frost"s one year of production that's how you get him signed for around 4 million/yr up until his free agent years- 4 yr term. My assumption is Frost had similiar production last season, his cap hit is over 5.5 million. The organization would have to pay for that longer production. I would assume a bridge deal would be 2 yrs @ 3 million/yr.

Out of all the people who follow the draftees and create the mock drafts, who do you think is the most accurate judgement of talent?
Pronman, etc....?

Out of all the people who follow the draftees and create the mock drafts, who do you think is the most accurate judgement of talent?
Pronman, etc....?
- Bob Habib

Bob McKenzie tends to be the closest thing there is to a true consensus since he's actually polling team scouts and execs.

If you wanna do a nerdy deep dive into the draft class Elite Prospects is where it's at. They do their own seasons-long scouting and evaluations, then hold draft meetings to debate their rankings. You'll learn a LOT more about the prospects from them than you will from the usual mainstream sources that try to pigeonhole prospects into lazy archetypes.

The most significant concern would be the status of Russian players who are on record that they hope to play in the NHL some day. We saw what happened to Fedetov so teams might be a little shy to draft the player. Not necessarily related but certainly something which could impact this poor kid, his father just disappeared and turned up dead under what are being described as “unexplained circumstances.” Condolences to the kid and his family. In Russia ya never know.
- mikeyo27

The world is an unstable place. Every GM has that baked in. I’m not getting into a political discussion. But the US has been in a proxy war with Russia for 2 years. It could escalate or de escalate. No one knows.

I don’t know the details of the Fedotov situation. But I do know that all the guys that matter from a talent perspective (kucharov, Ovi, Kaprizov, etc) are all here now despite a volatile and fluid situation.

If I’m a GM my risk assessment would have me taking Bedard 1st even though I think Michkov will be better. I couldn’t justify passing on him at #2.

The world is an unstable place. Every GM has that baked in. I’m not getting into a political discussion. But the US has been in a proxy war with Russia for 2 years. It could escalate or de escalate. No one knows.

I don’t know the details of the Fedotov situation. But I do know that all the guys that matter from a talent perspective (kucharov, Ovi, Kaprizov, etc) are all here now despite a volatile and fluid situation.

If I’m a GM my risk assessment would have me taking Bedard 1st even though I think Michkov will be better. I couldn’t justify passing on him at #2.
- Minnyhock

Not really a great comparison of guys who all have been in the league for 3 plus seasons. Are there any Russian rookies this year ? That would be interesting