According to the excellent Gio Palermo, it wasn't because of Michkov's contract that Montreal ignored him at the draft, nor was it due to his attitude. It was simply because of Cole Caufield.
So, they didn't want to draft another player like Cole Caufield.
Another reason the Canadiens ignored Matvei Michkov in 2023 is simply because they loved David Reinbacher.
Anyway, let's say that the Canadiens' non-selection in 2023 doesn't bother most fans anymore, now that we've drafted Ivan Demidov in 2024.
And David Reinbacher could become an extremely solid defenseman in the National Hockey League. If he becomes "a Moritz Seider," as some analysts predict, it will have been a strong selection for Kent Hughes and the Canadiens.
Reinbacher, 19, is a 6-foot-3, 210-pound right-handed defenseman. Montreal's fifth overall pick in 2023, he scored 5 points in 11 games with the Laval Rocket last season (with a +6 differential).
Michkov, 19, is a 5-foot-10, 155-pound winger. Philadelphia's seventh overall pick in 2023, he scored 41 points in 47 games with Sochi HC last season (with a -6 differential).
It will be interesting to follow their progress over the coming months and years.
POLL | ||
AOUT 5 | 672 ANSWERS Nick Bobrov announces the real reason why the Canadiens ignored Matvei Michkov Are you still disappointed by the Canadiens not selecting Matvei Michkov in 2023? | ||
Yes | 137 | 20.4 % |
No | 535 | 79.6 % |
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