“The way Rick Tocchet has talked about and used Matvei Michkov early on I think comes from a place of misunderstanding.
Team is 0-2. Michkov has been neutered. Has played 13 and 14 mins. Coach keeps talking about how he needs to play north and says all of the top players do.” Scott Wheeler of The Athletic said.
He added, “I don’t know how you can watch Kucherov, Draisaitl, Marner, Kane, Panarin, Rantanen, Strome, Reinhart, Stone, Fox, Boldy, Bouchard (the list goes on) and come to the conclusion that the next development step for Michkov has to be downhill pace rather than leaning into strengths.”