NHL Draft Betting: Will Matvei Michkov Be a Top-Five Pick?

With the Stanley Cup Finals over, the next big date on the NHL calendar is the NHL Draft. The first round of the draft will take place on June 28th at 7:00 p.m. Eastern Time on ESPN.

Betting on the draft has become big in other sports, and now, the NHL has its turn. NHL Draft betting odds are available on FanDuel Sportsbook.

Let's dive into the draft position market for Matvei Michkov. He is one of the most interesting cases in recent draft memory. His talent certainly warrants a top-five selection, but his situation may not fit every team.

Michkov Selection Odds:

• Before 5.5: +104
• After 5.5: -134

The Case for Michkov to Go in the Top 5

Matvei Michkov is one of the best prospects we've seen from Russia in the last decade. In the Russian under-20 league, he set a record for the most points in a season, and he did it when he was just 16.

He's already made waves in the men's league in Russia, as well. He spent time on loan with HC Sochi, and despite that team finishing in last place, he set the record for the highest points-per-game average (0.67) for a draft-eligible player in the Kontinental Hockey League.

Michkov also dominated internationally when Russia was allowed to play. He had a stunning 20 goals in 12 games across two different tournaments at the under-18 level.

Michkov is a special talent and certainly the best winger available in the draft. A team that is taking a more patient approach to their rebuild could select him, knowing that he could possibly become the best player in this class in due time.

We could see a team move up to the top five to pick him, as teams like the Washington Capitals have been rumored to do. They know exactly what a goal-scoring Russian winger can do for a franchise, and the Caps may need to trade up to ensure they get him.

The Case Against Michkov Going in the Top 5

The only question mark about Michkov is his situation. He has a contract with St. Petersburg until 2026. Those three years are a long time for a team to wait for a potential franchise player.

Geopolitics have played a role in the NHL draft for decades, and the current situation in Russia could scare teams off. NHL teams like to place an emphasis on certainty when drafting, and what's going on in that country doesn't seem to have much of that.

Also, this is a strong draft class, with at least three players who could have a case for going first overall in other years. Michkov is one of those players, but Connor Bedard is considered a generational prospect, and Adam Fantilli just had one of the best seasons ever for a freshman in college hockey.

The likes of Leo Carlsson and William Smith have generated a lot of positive buzz throughout the predraft process. They also play center, which is a more valuable position than winger.

In the NHL, some general managers are looking for self-survival rather than the long-term health of the franchise. If a GM takes Michkov, the GM may not be around for the day when Michkov is actually in the lineup.

Where Michkov does is highly dependent on the team and GM, but for a team like the Columbus Blue Jackets and GM Jarmo Kekalainen, he seems unlikely to select Michkov at fourth overall given the win-now type of moves he's already made this offseason.

A team with the hopes of trading up to get Michkov might not need to pull the trigger if they get good intel about the top five picks.

This is one of the more fascinating prospect situations we've seen in the draft. The range of outcomes for where Michkov may go is pretty dang wide.

The above author is a FanDuel employee and is not eligible to compete in public daily fantasy contests or place sports betting wagers on FanDuel. The advice provided by the author does not necessarily represent the views of FanDuel. Taking the author's advice will not guarantee a successful outcome. You should use your own judgment when participating in daily fantasy contests or placing sports wagers.