On Saturday, Nov. 23, two of hockey’s most promising children will face off for the primary time within the NHL. This matchup, between Connor Bedard of the Chicago Blackhawks and Matvei Michkov of the Philadelphia Flyers, each 19 years outdated, has been a very long time coming.
What precisely makes this sport, which shall be at Wells Fargo Heart in Philadelphia, such a particular one? Although taken six spots aside within the 2023 NHL Draft, they’ve been huge names for fairly a while. This received’t be the primary time they’ve performed in opposition to each other, both.
2021 Underneath-18 World Championship: Bedard and Michkov Conflict for Gold
The final time we have been uncovered to a Bedard and Michkov showdown was in Might 2021 (minus a pre-tournament sport forward of the 2022 World Junior Championship). However for context, let’s rewind a bit.
Of their 2020-21 seasons at 15 and 16 years of age, these two have been already top-end gamers for his or her junior leagues. Bedard was one of many prime scorers within the Western Hockey League (WHL) as an distinctive standing participant. Albeit over a shortened marketing campaign, he put up 12 objectives and 16 assists for 28 factors in 15 video games. Good for a charge of 1.87 factors per sport, he was already within the 99th percentile for scoring in a league with gamers as much as 5 years older than him. Bedard’s unprecedented scoring tempo made him a generational prospect—no person has ever touched these numbers.
Michkov, alternatively, lit up Russia’s Junior Hockey League (MHL) to the tune of 38 objectives and 56 factors in 56 video games, placing him first within the goal-scoring class regardless of being among the many minority of gamers of their age-16 marketing campaign. For reference, solely three gamers within the MHL have scored not less than 20 objectives at that age: Michkov, 2025 draft-eligible Ivan Ryabkin (29), and reigning Artwork Ross Trophy winner Nikita Kucherov (24). Moreover, these are the one gamers with not less than 5 video games performed to achieve a point-per-game tempo at 16 years outdated.
This arrange the 2021 World Championship for under-18 gamers, which came about from April 26 to Might 6, 2021. How did our two famous person prospects carry out, chances are you’ll ask? The 2 “rivals” dominated.
Connor Bedard says he and Matvei Michkov speak and textual content generally. They will face one another tomorrow.
“It is humorous: If you’re enjoying in opposition to individuals, you attempt to create a rivalry, however often you are mates otherwise you need to see the opposite man succeed. I am all the time rooting for him.”
— Ben Pope (@BenPopeCST) November 22, 2024
Ultimately, the World Championship’s prime three scorers have been the next: Michkov (16 factors; 12 objectives, 4 assists), Bedard (14 factors; seven objectives, seven assists), and Shane Wright (14 factors; 9 objectives, 5 assists). Due to their unbelievable showings, Michkov’s Russian membership and Bedard’s Canadian membership confronted off for an opportunity at gold to seal what was a tremendous match. The youngsters put collectively one of the vital intense hockey video games you’ll ever see.
In a back-and-forth contest that noticed each nations lead, Canada pulled away with the victory, 5-3. Michkov scored the opening aim and tallied two assists for 3 factors, whereas Bedard answered Michkov’s aim with a great thing about his personal and arrange Wright for an empty-net heartbreaker within the last minute.
Whereas he needed to accept silver, Michkov was nonetheless named the match’s MVP for his jaw-dropping performances. Bedard led his nation to the last word prize and put up related numbers, so each side confirmed the world that they’d be a enjoyable duo to go first and second total within the 2023 NHL Draft.
Blackhawks and Flyers Hit the Jackpot
Besides, the final half didn’t occur. Bedard went first total to the Blackhawks, a staff on a mission to land him, however Michkov wasn’t taken till seventh total by the Flyers. Why?
Nicely, it definitely wasn’t efficiency. Bedard cruised to 143 factors in 57 video games in 2022-23 within the WHL, the very best point-per-game whole for a 17-year-old in historical past. He was a human spotlight reel for the Regina Pats, placing on a clinic for a relatively underwhelming staff (they barely received half of their video games).
As for Michkov, he moved on to the Supreme Hockey League (VHL), enjoying with professionals. In 12 video games, his 10 objectives and 4 assists for 14 factors made him among the finest gamers within the league regardless of his younger age. Amongst gamers with not less than 10 video games performed, he was first in objectives per sport and second in factors per sport. Clearly too gifted for the VHL, he moved on to Russia’s prime league, the Kontinental Hockey League (KHL). There, he put up one of the best point-per-game tempo (0.67) of a participant of their draft yr in historical past, with 20 factors in 30 video games.
If we simply have a look at the numbers and the expertise of Michkov as a participant, he most likely ought to’ve been thought to be extremely as Bedard. Nonetheless, there have been quite a lot of explanation why he wasn’t. Russian politics, being underneath contract by way of the 2025-26 season within the KHL, seen as a foul teammate, and in a draft class with many high-end skills who had decrease threat hooked up to them, the Flyers obtained to scoop him up at seventh. However that doesn’t erase the historical past.
Associated: Flyers’ Matvei Michkov May Soar in 2024-25 Primarily based on Historic Developments
In 2023-24, Bedard obtained a head begin on his NHL profession, successful the Calder Trophy by placing up 61 factors in 68 video games with the Blackhawks. Serving his contract within the KHL, Michkov had 41 factors in 48 video games, placing him within the 96th percentile in factors per sport (0.85) amongst forwards with not less than 10 appearances. Bedard was pulling forward, however Michkov was nonetheless on a famous person trajectory.
Bedard and Michkov within the Current
Fortunately for the NHL world, Michkov’s KHL contract was terminated two years early. This meant he was capable of be part of the Flyers in 2024-25, setting us up for the place we’re right this moment—awaiting his duel with Bedard.
Now that they’re in the identical league, we will evaluate the 2 children. Michkov has been red-hot, placing up six objectives and 9 assists for 15 factors in 18 video games with a minus-3 ranking. Bedard is true there with him, sitting on three objectives and 12 assists for 15 factors in 20 video games with a minus-6 ranking. Each the Flyers (8-10-2 document) and Blackhawks (7-12-1 document) have had underwhelming offenses thus far, however these two have executed all they will to repair that.
This matchup may very well be one among many. Although it’s a contest between golf equipment on the backside of the standings, there shall be eyes on each Bedard and Michkov as they face each other for the primary time in three years.
Stats courtesy of QuantHockey
