“Which team dares to take the risk?”

Canadian super promise, 17 years old Connor Bedard has taken the biggest headlines before the NHL booking event, the first round of which will be held the night before Thursday Finnish time in Nashville.

In addition to Bedard, the Russian winger is also an interesting name Matvei Mitskov18.

In 2021, the Russian won the goals and points exchange (12+4) of the Under-18 World Championships before Canada Shane Wright and Bedard. He was chosen as the most valuable player of the games.

In the following games, which were interrupted due to the corona virus, Mitškov had time to play two matches, in which he scored three goals.

The world has changed in a couple of years, and now the future of the Russian promise is shrouded in darkness.

Has led the NHL’s talent search in Europe for over 40 years Goran Stubb estimates that in a normal world situation Mitškov would be booked second, right after Bedard.

– If Russians were free to move and you could go scouting in Russia, Mitškov would certainly be an even hotter potato than now, Stubb estimates.

– He is an absolutely brilliant and special player. A bit undersized, sure, but he can do almost anything with the puck.

The creative Mitškov is very dangerous in the attacking zone and can also defend. Puck handling and skating under pressure are top class.

The striker from the KHL club SKA St. Petersburg suffered a knee injury at the beginning of the season and played the rest of the season on loan in Sochi, where he scored 9+11 in 27 matches.

Uncertainty in the air

Mitškov and other Russian players have been difficult to watch because they have not made it to international tournaments. Getting to Russia has been difficult for player observers. Observation has had to be done on the basis of videos.

– For example, none of my staff, except for the Russian talent scout, has been to Russia. Quite a few western players’ observers have seen Mitškovi play on the spot, Stubb says.

The NHL clubs have had difficulties in getting in touch with Mitškov, who has not wanted to answer the clubs’ contacts.

A source close to the top bookers told the Russian media According to Match.TVthat Mitškov is forbidden to speak to representatives of foreign clubs.

The Hockey News, on the other hand speculatethat not speaking can be a tactic with which Mitškov tries to fall further back in the booking queue in order to end up with a certain club.

Washington Capitals scout Andrei Nikolishin toldthat the young person’s behavior is bad.

– I wanted to meet him and ask him a few questions. I have never seen such a lack of respect in my life. In my opinion, he is the first or second in the first round in terms of his skills, but his character, his relationship with teammates, coaches, the leadership ladder and fans… He has sunk very low on the lists of scouts and coaches, ex-NHL player Nikoliš said.

In 2020, Mitškov had a fight with his junior national teammate.

The big question mark is whether Mitškov will be able to leave Russia and, if so, when. His contract with the KHL club SKA Pietar extends until the end of the 2025–2026 season.

– My dream is to play in the NHL one day. For now, I’m focusing on working on my own game and developing as a player at home, Mitškov said in March.

Mitškov’s father passed away suddenly in April, and that may also affect the player’s choices.

Ovechkin’s apprentice?

Which clubs would be willing to book a Russian player who has been difficult to monitor, almost impossible to approach and has a contract with a KHL club until 2026? Stubb doesn’t speculate.

– It’s about which NHL team dares to take that risk. I have no idea what his agent has done. Has he got Mitškov out or does Mitškov want out. Only the player himself and his agent know what the truth is at the moment, says Stubb.

– When the booking ceremony takes place, the clubs booking among the first five will probably know quite precisely what Mitškov’s near future is in terms of playing in the NHL.

Canadian media TSN said on Fridaythat Mitškov’s agent has arranged meetings with NHL clubs for the days before the draft.

Source of Match.TV by the player will “with 99 percent certainty” end up with the well-known Russian players and Aleksandr Ovechkin to star in the Washington Capitals.

– It will not bother anyone that Mitškov did not want to meet the representatives of the NHL clubs who came to meet him. Washington, which is ranked eighth, will not get a player who is immediately ready for the NHL. The club is waiting for the construction phase anyway, so it is ready to work with Mitškov for a long time, the source said.

The fourth-ranked San Jose Sharks and the seventh-ranked Philadelphia Flyers have been considered in the American media, along with Washington, as the most likely destinations for Michkov.

Reputational damage is not important

Despite the war of aggression in their country, Russian players have been able to win big bucks.

The booking event a year ago was the first during the war, but Russian players were booked as in previous years. In the opening round, three Russians were booked and a total of 23. Before the war in 2021, 29 Russians were booked, one of which was a first round booking.

Stubb estimates that the attitude of NHL clubs to the world political situation varies. However, the NHL is an organization that wants to see the best players on the field.

– You only have to look at how Ovechkin is praised, and he is with 100 percent certainty Vladimir Putin man. Clubs mainly think of their own interests. If there is a chance to get a good Russian player, the clubs will take him.