Bill Meltzer: Quick Hits: Flyers Daily, Michkov, TIFH (Sobchuk saga ends)

Training camp start soon enough, I just hope Couturier and Atkinson are healthy and ready to go. Meanwhile, college football, LSU crapped the bed.

What is the reasoning behind Michkov being a healthy scratch yet again? Is there a work ethic issue with this kid? Is this Zherdev Jr?

What is the reasoning behind Michkov being a healthy scratch yet again? Is there a work ethic issue with this kid? Is this Zherdev Jr?
- PLindbergh31

No. It's not a hockey issue at all.

Roman Rotenberg is a billionaire oligarch closely tied to Vladimir Putin. The entire Rotenberg family is on the US sanctions list. RR is not a "real" coach in that he never played professionally nor coached professionally before January 2022.

He's the SKA St. Petersburg GM/POHO/chairman of the board of directors/director of the team sponsors (Gazprom Export and Gazprom Bank), and deputy chairman of the KHL board. He never played or coached professionally. Bright guy, highly educated, and a good layperson athlete but not a "hockey person" as people in the West would normally define it.

https://www.themoscowtime...ussian-hockey-team-a75978

https://www.whitehouse.go...ing-putins-war-of-choice/

No. It's not a hockey issue at all.

Roman Rotenberg is a billionaire oligarch closely tied to Vladimir Putin. The entire Rotenberg family is on the US sanctions list. RR is not a "real" coach in that he never played professionally nor coached professionally before January 2022.

He's the SKA St. Petersburg GM/POHO/chairman of the board of directors/director of the team sponsors (Gazprom Export and Gazprom Bank), and deputy chairman of the KHL board. He never played or coached professionally. Bright guy, highly educated, and a good layperson athlete but not a "hockey person" as people in the West would normally define it.

https://www.themoscowtime...ussian-hockey-team-a75978

https://www.whitehouse.go...ing-putins-war-of-choice/
- bmeltzer

Hi Bill, I'd like to get your take on the situation involving Michkov. I know it's not an immediate concern, but do you think it will be an issue to get him over here when the time comes? I know lots can change, but if you had to say at this time are you comfortable that he will be coming to North America when his KHL contract is up?

From the article Bill linked to:

Rotenberg himself defended his expertise, telling the Match TV broadcaster last fall that he had watched 800 KHL and national team games since 2014

What a trainwreck.

If the Rotenberg family decides they don’t want to let Michkov go to the NHL do the Flyers get some kind of compensation for the lost pick?

No. It's not a hockey issue at all.

Roman Rotenberg is a billionaire oligarch closely tied to Vladimir Putin. The entire Rotenberg family is on the US sanctions list. RR is not a "real" coach in that he never played professionally nor coached professionally before January 2022.

He's the SKA St. Petersburg GM/POHO/chairman of the board of directors/director of the team sponsors (Gazprom Export and Gazprom Bank), and deputy chairman of the KHL board. He never played or coached professionally. Bright guy, highly educated, and a good layperson athlete but not a "hockey person" as people in the West would normally define it.

https://www.themoscowtime...ussian-hockey-team-a75978

https://www.whitehouse.go...ing-putins-war-of-choice/
- bmeltzer

I guess that is a good thing that it isn't hockey related. What would you say the odds are of Michkov never coming to the NHL? If it's more than 10% then you simply can't take the chance drafting him.

These rich Russian kids with their unearned confidence based on who their daddy is. Where is John Wick when you need him?

What is the reasoning behind Michkov being a healthy scratch yet again? Is there a work ethic issue with this kid? Is this Zherdev Jr?
- PLindbergh31

Pavel, he was just drafted and he's already a complete bust! You had it right from the beginning.

Pavel, he was just drafted and he's already a complete bust! You had it right from the beginning.


- Letterkenney

Hmm
Don’t be concerned about Michkov coming over
Don’t be concerned about Frost still being unsigned as of Sept 4th
Don’t be concerned about the Flyers rushing thru a rebuild even though they seem to do it a lot
Don’t be concerned that the team President has zero front office or NHL management experience
Don’t be concerned that the aging head coach seems to have way too much influence in the organization


Seems like a lot of things for us not to be concerned about, eh?

No. It's not a hockey issue at all.

Roman Rotenberg is a billionaire oligarch closely tied to Vladimir Putin. The entire Rotenberg family is on the US sanctions list. RR is not a "real" coach in that he never played professionally nor coached professionally before January 2022.

He's the SKA St. Petersburg GM/POHO/chairman of the board of directors/director of the team sponsors (Gazprom Export and Gazprom Bank), and deputy chairman of the KHL board. He never played or coached professionally. Bright guy, highly educated, and a good layperson athlete but not a "hockey person" as people in the West would normally define it.

https://www.themoscowtime...ussian-hockey-team-a75978

https://www.whitehouse.go...ing-putins-war-of-choice/
- bmeltzer

Any young top prospect in Russia MUST know going in what the KHL and it's ownership are about, particularly SKA. Why on earth would any top prospect like MM sign 3 year deals with the likes of these people when they know the NHL is right around the corner? I don't get it.

What is the reasoning behind Michkov being a healthy scratch yet again? Is there a work ethic issue with this kid? Is this Zherdev Jr?
- PLindbergh31

He is a Flyers draft choice and that is all you need to know.

Hmm
Don’t be concerned about Michkov coming over
Don’t be concerned about Frost still being unsigned as of Sept 4th
Don’t be concerned about the Flyers rushing thru a rebuild even though they seem to do it a lot
Don’t be concerned that the team President has zero front office or NHL management experience
Don’t be concerned that the aging head coach seems to have way too much influence in the organization


Seems like a lot of things for us not to be concerned about, eh?
- BiggE

It so comical. You can't make this stuff up. The Flyers seem to do the exact opposite as literally everyone else I the NHL, and they see nothing wrong with that. Why should they? It is not like they haven't won anything in 45 years...

I guess that is a good thing that it isn't hockey related. What would you say the odds are of Michkov never coming to the NHL? If it's more than 10% then you simply can't take the chance drafting him.
- PLindbergh31

I think he'll be over at some point. There's going to be one hell of a transfer fee to negotiate, but i think it'll happen. Thing is, the Rotenberg family is the richest family in Russia, per Forbes. It'll be a delicate negotiation whenever that time comes, but everything is Russia is as transactional as it is politically fraught. It's part of the process. The Flyers know that.

Any young top prospect in Russia MUST know going in what the KHL and it's ownership are about, particularly SKA. Why on earth would any top prospect like MM sign 3 year deals with the likes of these people when they know the NHL is right around the corner? I don't get it.


- Letterkenney

Explanation: Michkov was tied into a five-year contract (which has three years to go) when he was 16. A 16-year-old MHL prodigy is given a contract to sign. He signs it. There is no negotiating it: Sign or don't sign.

Explanation: Michkov was tied into a five-year contract (which has three years to go) when he was 16. A 16-year-old MHL prodigy is given a contract to sign. He signs it. There is no negotiating it: Sign or your parents disappear, or don't sign.
- bmeltzer

Fixed that for you.

Hmm
Don’t be concerned about Michkov coming over
Don’t be concerned about Frost still being unsigned as of Sept 4th
Don’t be concerned about the Flyers rushing thru a rebuild even though they seem to do it a lot
Don’t be concerned that the team President has zero front office or NHL management experience
Don’t be concerned that the aging head coach seems to have way too much influence in the organization


Seems like a lot of things for us not to be concerned about, eh?
- BiggE

Not at all concerned about 1 & 2. Very concerned about the rest.

Any young top prospect in Russia MUST know going in what the KHL and it's ownership are about, particularly SKA. Why on earth would any top prospect like MM sign 3 year deals with the likes of these people when they know the NHL is right around the corner? I don't get it.


- Letterkenney

Money?

It’s interesting that Michkov scratches twice while Demidov the 17 y/o projected to go in the top 5 next draft plays both games. TOI 4:36 today.

Hmm
Don’t be concerned about Michkov coming over
Don’t be concerned about Frost still being unsigned as of Sept 4th
Don’t be concerned about the Flyers rushing thru a rebuild even though they seem to do it a lot
Don’t be concerned that the team President has zero front office or NHL management experience
Don’t be concerned that the aging head coach seems to have way too much influence in the organization


Seems like a lot of things for us not to be concerned about, eh?
- BiggE

Let’s just forget about hockey for one day and switch over to politics. This should liven things up.

Money?
- MJL

I get the money aspect. No doubt. But, this is why you don't take money from the mafia in the first place.

Explanation: Michkov was tied into a five-year contract (which has three years to go) when he was 16. A 16-year-old MHL prodigy is given a contract to sign. He signs it. There is no negotiating it: Sign or don't sign.
- bmeltzer

Are the Flyers in touch with his agent? Obviously the kids needs to play. It’s not like this guy Rotenberg is going to teach him anything. Hopefully he’s moved out so he can get into some games and away from what seems to look like a toxic situation.

Not at all concerned about 1 & 2. Very concerned about the rest.
- MJL

Hmmm...not concerned at all to now not all that concerned? Already changing your tune I see. It's okay.