Former teammates come to Matvei Michkov’s defense!

Matvei Michkov was selected by the Philadelphia Flyers with the 7th overall selection in last month’s NHL Draft despite reports from an ex-teammate in Russia, claiming that the top prospect “doesn’t listen to anything the veterans tell him, he doesn’t listen to the coaches, he doesn’t hesitate to laugh at them and send them away.”

The former teammate added: “He only does what he wants.”

Michkov is considered one of the best Russian prospects drafted into the NHL since the likes of Alexander Ovechkin and Evgeni Malkin. And with the latest reports from other former teammates, the comment mentioned above might have come from a jealous player. Other former teammates took over to come to Michkov’s defense, explaining how great of a player is he. Alexander Appleyard put together some assorted quotes from players and coaches who have played with Michkov, coached him or coached against him:

Prior to the draft, there were talks that teams had trouble getting in touch with Michkov, but in the end, the prospect met with clubs when he arrived in Nashville ahead of the first round. He was thrilled to be picked by Philadelphia, and if the comments from these former teammates are more accurate than the ones previously made about his character, I am sure the Flyers made the right call to select him with their first-round pick.

I guess only time will tell which former teammates were right about him.

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