Report: Michkov Now Making Himself Available To Teams As Capitals Finalize Draft Interviews; One Club Ready To Take Him 'Sight Unseen'

The 18-year-old Russian is now making himself accessible ahead of the 2023 NHL Draft, and the Capitals wouldn't dive too much into comments about whether they've met with him.

Matvei Michkov is continuing to make headlines going into the 2023 NHL Draft, and after being almost impossible for NHL representatives to get in touch with, he is reportedly becoming more flexible.

Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman shared on 32 Thoughts that Michkov is now making himself available to teams with the draft just five days away.

Not only that but there's one team that is "willing to draft Michkov sight unseen."

"Someone said to me they think there's a team or teams that will take him sight unseen," Friedman said. "Like they'll just say, 'You know what? we believe in this kid's talent; we can sort it out.'"

Friedman also speculated that the Philadelphia Flyers could potentially be that team, given how general manager Daniel Briere and assistant GM Brent Flahr spoke about Michkov during a pre-draft press conference. Philadelphia picks No. 7 right before the Capitals.

Marek, meanwhile, said that all teams "have their own line" about the Russian and that if he drops to eighth, Washington will surely take him.

"That's where the ball game ends," Marek said.

While Michkov is one of the top talents available in the draft, it would take a long time to see him come to North America, as he is signed with SKA Saint Petersburg through 2026. Meanwhile, other scouts have reported that there are character issues with the 18-year-old.

"Full-fledged information is collected about the player: how he talks to partners, how he communicates with coaches, how he behaves off the ice. Many nuances can be revealed," Washington scout Andrei Nikolishin told the Slippery Ice Podcast last week, as translated by Google Translate. "I can show correspondence when I wanted to meet him and, as a scout, ask a few questions and do an interview... I have not seen such disrespect for other people in my life."

The Capitals are still trying to finalize their draft interviews and have already conducted between 60-70 talks with prospects. Assistant GM Ross Mahoney wouldn't comment on whether or not the club has spoken with Michkov yet.

However, per an expert source close to teams picking in the top 10, Washington is "seriously aimed" at taking Michkov.

Meanwhile, Michkov told MatchTV back in May that going to Washington "would be cool," and some have also wondered if his unwillingness to meet with teams was a ploy to maneuver his way down the rankings to go to a certain team. However, reports also indicated that he was told not to speak with clubs during the season.

The first round of the 2023 NHL Draft is on Wednesday at 7 p.m. ET in Nashville. Michkov will be in attendance.