Michkov to miss time with lower-body injury
Matvei Michkov, a contender to go No. 1 in the 2023 NHL Draft, will miss time because of a lower-body injury sustained in a KHL preseason game on Friday.
He is expected to miss two games, according to the Russian Hockey Federation.
Michkov, 17, was skating as part of Russia’s newly-formed under-25 team when he was hit by former NHL defenseman and current Dinamo Minsk blueliner Alexei Emelin after trying to cut towards the slot in the offensive zone.
#2023NHLDraft Matvei Michkov slow to get up after this hit by #DMN Alexei Emelin. #SochiHockeyOpen pic.twitter.com/aTnXMb8wiZ
— Hockey News Hub (@HockeyNewsHub) August 4, 2022
Michkov, a 5-foot-10, 159-pound forward, had 38 points (22 goals, 16 assists) in 22 games with SKA-1946 St. Petersburg of the MHL and five points (three goals, two assists) with SKA St. Petersburg of the KHL in 2021-22. He also helped Russia to gold at the 2021 Hlinka Gretzky Cup, leading the tournament in goals (8) and points (13) in five games.
At this point, Michkov is in contention for first overall in the 2023 draft with Connor Bedard and Adam Fantilli.