At the risk of some of his comments being lost in translation, the interview provided North Americans with some insight into Michkov\u2019s mindset.<\/p>\n
Preparing For Next Season<\/p>\n
Michkov was loaned to HC Sochi last season but is likely to start the 2023-24 season with SKA St-Petersburg, which is the hockey equivalent of trading in your K-car<\/a> for a Bugatti Veyron.<\/p>\n And while the team on which he plays will improve significantly, which should be healthy for his development, Michkov is not taking anything for granted.<\/p>\n \u201cYou need to be ready for everything,\u201d he said. \u201cWork, develop twice as much. The coaching staff will then notice it. You have to take advantage of your chance. We just need to prepare for everything.\u201d<\/p>\n MUST READ: The Canadiens Cannot Afford To Ignore Matvei Michkov<\/a><\/p>\n The conversation quickly turned toward the 2023 Entry Draft, where Michkov is expected to be among the first players to hear their name called by an NHL team at the podium.<\/p>\n Michkov suggested he will not take part in the NHL combine, however, he did confirm he will be present at the Draft itself.<\/p>\n \u201cI haven\u2019t heard anything about the combine,\u201d said Michkov.<\/p>\n To be clear, the translation suggests Michkov hasn\u2019t heard anything about a harvester, but we can safely assume it confounded the NHL combine with a combine harvester.<\/p>\n \u201cMost likely I won\u2019t be there,\u201d said Michkov about the combine. \u201cAnd I will go to the draft itself at the end of June. I\u2019m just going to watch the ceremony. It happens once in a lifetime. I can\u2019t even imagine what will happen there, and what emotions it will be.\u201d<\/p>\n Michkov would go on to state he doesn\u2019t worry about comparisons to other prospects, such as Bedard, nor is he interested in being the main player in a Bedard-Michkov rivalry, which would essentially replace the Sidney Crosby-Alex Ovechkin rivalry.<\/p>\n For now, the incredibly talented player is simply focused on his own game, though he did already admit his lifelong dream is to play in the NHL<\/a>.<\/p>\n \u201cI don\u2019t think about it,\u201d he said. \u201cDon\u2019t compare yourself to anyone, just be better than yesterday or last season. I will do my best for this.\u201d<\/p>\n It\u2019s always hard to get a read on someone\u2019s tone in a transcribed interview, even more so when said transcription is translated, but it does seem like the 18-year-old winger is all business at this point in his career, which is the type of attitude that tends to impress NHL scouting teams.<\/p>\n A little later in the article SKA coach Roman Rotenberg referenced current Canadiens coach, Martin St-Louis, saying Michkov needs to emulate the Hart Trophy winner by being the strongest player on the ice, regardless of his size, a rather wise approach for any player hoping to find success in professional hockey.<\/p>\n The translated version of the article can be found here<\/a>. The original version of the article is available here<\/a>.<\/p>\n \t\t![\"avatar\"](\"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nhl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/1769010793_688_07ba55ead0c73509df880c421e3023e5ac7c7d9f55b4c9b9a5aeeb184bcdf689.png\")
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