Todd: If they’ll't get Bedard, would Canadiens think about drafting Russian phenom?

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“Father of high NHL Draft prospect Matvei Michkov discovered useless.” That headline accommodates nearly all we all know in regards to the story. Andrei Michkov, the 51-year-old father of the participant they’re calling “the Russian Connor Bedard,” went lacking on April 2, a Sunday.

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The elder Michkov had left the house he shared along with his gifted son, saying he could be proper again. When he didn’t return, he was reported lacking and on April 4, his physique was present in a pond close to Sochi, dwelling of the 2014 Winter Olympics.

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Match TV, an area sports activities channel owned by Gazprom Media, reported the information. The Russian Hockey Federation’s English-language Twitter account added that Michkov died “underneath unexplained circumstances.” By Russian requirements, that phrase is virtually a “deep dive” into Michkov’s demise.

That’s the place the story ends. What’s new is that there’s nothing new.

As of this writing, we’re awaiting the NHL draft lottery with bated breath, hoping the Canadiens by some means parlay a one-in-12 likelihood into touchdown the primary choose, which implies Bedard.

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By means inscrutable to my math-befuddled thoughts, the lottery guidelines imply the Canadiens will more than likely draft first, second, fifth, sixth or seventh. Choose second and they might nearly definitely go for Adam Fantilli, the 6-foot-2, 195-pound centreman from Nobleton, a bit city 50 kilometres northwest of Toronto.

Miss out on Bedard or Fantilli and Michkov is prone to be there, ready. A possible famous person, probably no worse than the second most gifted participant in a potent draft. Much more than the Bedard choose, it’s essentially the most intriguing storyline of your complete draft course of.

If he had been Swedish, Slovakian, Slovenian, Czech, Finnish, German, Austrian, American, Canadian or Trobriand Islander, Michkov in all probability goes no decrease than third.

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However Russian? Oy.

The issue is correct there within the possession of the native station that reported Andrei Michkov’s demise: Gazprom Media. Gazprom additionally owns SKA St. Petersburg. Matvei Michkov is underneath contract by way of the 2025-2026 season to SKA St. Petersburg, which implies it could be not less than three full seasons earlier than he performs within the NHL.

Gazprom is the state vitality firm, with headquarters in St. Petersburg. It’s state-owned and the Russian state is run by Vladimir Putin.

On the time of his father’s demise, Michkov was on mortgage to HC Sochi, owned by Gazprom. (To not exit on a limb however I see a sample right here.)

Another hockey nation and Andrei Michkov’s demise is information for a few weeks. There’s an investigation. There are press conferences. There are interviews with the grief-stricken son. There are tales retracing Michkov’s steps earlier than he was present in that pond.

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Lastly we get the reality, or not less than a model of the reality. Was it a coronary heart assault? Alcohol? Or one thing extra sinister? A pond as an alternative choice to being thrown out a window, maybe?

After April 4, there may be nichego. Nothing.

Now you’re Kent Hughes on June 28. You’re on the clock on the draft in Nashville and Matvei Michkov, who outscored Bedard on the solely match during which they each performed, remains to be on the board. Not solely is he a scoring demon, Michkov reportedly has a really excessive hockey IQ.

In the event you’re Hughes, you’re notoriously thorough. You test the whole lot that may probably be checked earlier than you make an enormous determination. However on this case, Russia’s invasion of Ukraine means its groups are barred from the worldwide tournaments the place you may need saved up with Michkov’s improvement.

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So what do you do? Go for broke with a possible famous person who could by no means be allowed to play within the NHL? Or go together with a safer choose in a draft so wealthy, any of the highest six may need been No. 1 final yr?

I haven’t a clue.

Lies, rumours &&&& vicious innuendo: Don’t assume there’s a lot query in regards to the id of Canada’s Staff within the NHL playoffs. Trace: Their stars are Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl, they play in Edmonton and their crew moniker rhymes with “boilers.” …

Even earlier than she was elected to fill out the rest of Nick Bontis’s time period as president of Soccer Canada, the query of Charmaine Crooks’s honesty (or lack thereof) was sufficient to carry Olympic goalie Stephanie Labbé to tears. …

So now that he’s been topped King Chuck of Brexitania, possibly we might get the cranky monarch to do one thing that’s truly helpful, like bringing again the Expos? …

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I swear, James Harden flops greater than Cristiano Ronaldo and Neymar Jr. put collectively. …

Broadcast folks, might we simply wrap the phrase “physicality” in mothballs and be finished with it? It’s a cliché and it sounds such as you’re speaking by way of a mouthful of soup.

Heroes: Stephanie Labbé, Connor McDavid, Leon Draisaitl, Matthew Tkachuk, Petr Klima, Vida Blue, Nikola Jokic, Jimmy Butler, Carlos Alcaraz, Aryna Sabalenka, Iga Swiatek, &&&& final however not least, Patrice Bernier.

Zeros: Charmaine Crooks, Vince Montagliani, Nick Bontis, Soccer Canada, Auston Matthews, James Harden, John Fisher, Claude Brochu, David Samson &&&& final however not least, Jeffrey Loria.

Now and perpetually.

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