Why ‘Matvei Michkov vs. Ivan Demidov’ is an utterly pointless exercise that we have all wasted our time by engaging in
Who’s better: Artemi Panarin or David Pastrnak?
Stop. Don’t answer that question because nobody cares. It is worse than trivia. We are one step from becoming a comic book forum that is absolutely adamant that Batman can beat Superman with [X] amount of prep time.
In truth, that’s Matvei Michkov vs. Ivan Demidov. It is an utterly pointless exercise that we have all wasted our time by engaging in. And I include myself in that chastising statement.
Now, if we REALLY want to engage in fantastical debates, it’d help if both sides understood the arguments of the other side. So I’ll lay that out for everyone.
If you’re really engaging in good faith in the Ivan Demidov vs. Matvei Michkov debate with the firm opinion that Demidov is a step above as a talent? It’s because you place displays of individual skill above all.
That isn’t a bad thing. Elite Prospects has begun largely operating on this basis, and they do great work.
The logic is that the offensive side of the game revolves around 1 player beating his defender and forcing the defense to commit additional resources on the same puck carrier which will create playmaking opportunities elsewhere on the ice.
So, if you do that kind of thing more? Then you’re a better offensive player.
Those who stake this position will use players like McDavid and MacKinnon and Artemi Panarin to support their argument.
You’ll notice I haven’t mentioned anything about a “more complete game.”
That’s intentional. I don’t think it’s a serious argument. I’m gonna be frank: neither of these players have a Selke coming up in their near future.
Maybe Montreal really values that Demidov was more apt to make a hustle play, but it isn’t like he makes a ton of them.
Even that advantage is negated by Matvei Michkov’s freakish efficiency. It’s a cliche, but the best defense is controlling the puck in the offensive zone, and Michkov is the best in the business at ensuring his team does that.
Demidov has a more laissez-faire approach to offense in hockey. If he sees a play, he’ll try it. He won’t think very much about the consequences or the implied efficiency of these choices. He’ll just do it. And that’s fine. It won’t hold him back from stardom in the NHL, but it negates much of the “complete game” discussion.
Meanwhile, if you support Michkov in this argument, you’ll probably have an opinion resembling the following:
Dangles are not the only way you can break apart a defense.
Matvei Michkov absolutely can dangle and stickhandle in a phone booth. This is not something that’s off limits to him. He can and will use his individual skills to draw additional resources onto him and open up the rest of the ice, just like Demidov.
On top of that, he’ll attack defenses in an entirely different manner. He’ll attack them when he doesn’t have the puck.
Michkov simply sneaks into open space in a position where he can score. He plays with his pace and his routes, crossing over defenders even while he doesn’t have the puck.
And when Michkov gets the puck in a dangerous area with that much room to operate… well, he’s probably going to score. But even if he doesn’t?
The defense has now reacted and probably sent multiple players to converge on the urgent threat.
At that point, the same advantage that would have occurred with a dangle has now been created in an even more efficient way.
Michkov has the kind of poise and processing to punish those overcommitments.
Right place. Right time. Right play in a hurry. That’s a lot of Matvei Michkov’s offense.
Even at the KHL level, Michkov’s mere presence is generally enough to create a gravitational pull on defenders and open up space for teammates.
Besides. It’s not like he can’t do it the old fashioned way.
Seriously. It’s not a limitation.
The people who argue for Matvei argue for the diversity in his attack. He doesn’t just break defenses in one way. He is a constant threat, whether he has the puck or not.
Not only does that create more opportunities for offense, but it also creates a level of resistance to Michkov’s offense as defenses become more advanced.
Which brings me to the real point people have when they talk about Demidov not having played pro hockey for any significant time yet.
He’s yet to streamline his game. No player looks exactly the same in the pros as they do in juniors unless they already play a streamlined game, which isn’t always a great thing.
Demidov doesn’t. He’ll dangle your grandma for the Gram while he has a wide open net just to prove he can.
It’s not like Michkov didn’t need to streamline his game. He’d get so bored in juniors that he’d start shoveling pucks from the corner behind the goalline to see if he could bank the puck off the back of the goalie’s helmet… just because he could.
If you’re so certain that Demidov is another level of creativity and 1 on 1 skill… are you sure that advantage doesn’t disappear when he streamlines his game to produce in the pros?
That won’t stop Demidov from being an amazing player. It won’t interfere in a path to stardom.
But how can you be so sure that this advantage you cling to is actually lasting?
Maybe it is. Or maybe Michkov’s versatility will rule the day.
At the end of the day: who cares?
But in case you care, then I hope you found this helpful for understanding both sides of the argument.
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