The 2023 NHL Entry Draft has been hyped up for months, with many experts touting it as one of the deepest and most talented draft classes in recent memory. And no player has generated more buzz than Russian phenom Matvei Michkov. The 17-year-old forward is considered a consensus top-three pick, and some scouts believe he could be the best prospect to come out of Russia since Alex Ovechkin and Evgeni Malkin back in 2004.

Michkov's impressive resume speaks for itself. He predominantly played for Sochi this season, finishing last in the KHL with just 11 wins in 68 games. However, he still managed to put up an impressive 20 points in 27 games, which is the most ever recorded by a first-time draft-eligible prospect in KHL history.

But Michkov's achievements go beyond his KHL statistics. He also had an incredible performance at the U18 World Championships last year, earning rave reviews for his age-16 display. And in Russia's junior league, he owns the best 17-year-old season on record, with a points-per-game rate that tops even NHL stars Artemi Panarin, Vladimir Tarasenko, and Kirill Kaprizov at the same age.

As a result, Michkov has been praised by scouts and analysts alike. His colleague Scott Wheeler has described him as 'without question or hesitation, the best prospect I've ever ranked at No.' This level of hype is unprecedented for a Russian player entering the draft, given the geopolitical situation between Russia and Ukraine.

So what's next for Michkov? Will he be selected by one of the top three teams in the draft, or will another club take a chance on him later in the first round? One thing is certain: Michkov has the potential to make an immediate impact at the NHL level, and whichever team selects him will be getting a special player.

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