Will Michkov vs. Bedard be the next Ovechkin vs. Crosby?

Connor Bedard and Matvei Michkov were two of the highest-rated prospects coming into the 2022 NHL Draft.

Bedard went first overall to the Chicago Blackhawks and started immediately while Michkov went seventh overall to the Philadelphia Flyers and played in Russia for one year before coming to the United States.

Let's take a look at both players to see who will be better for their program down the road.

Connor Bedard - Ryan Eslinger

The Blackhawks have not seen much success since their three Stanley Cups in 2010, 2013 and 2015. They have not had a winning season since the 2019-20 season where they finished with a 32-30-8 record.

The Blackhawks had the third-best odds to land the first overall pick in the 2023 NHL draft behind the Anaheim Ducks and Columbus Blue Jackets. Fans believed there was no chance the Blackhawks would jump two spots to land the first overall pick.

When NHL commissioner Gary Bettman announced the Blackhawks would get the first overall pick, the Blackhawks knew who they were taking, Connor Bedard.

He tallied his first point against Sydney Crosby’s Penguins and his first goal against the Boston Bruins one game later.

During his rookie year, Bedard missed 14 games from Jan. 5 to Feb. 15 due to a broken jaw.

Despite missing those 14 games, Bedard finished with 22 goals and 39 assists, leading the team in every offensive statistic tallying 12 multi-point games including a five-point performance against the Anaheim Ducks on March 13 where he had one goal and four assists.

Connor Bedard finished with 61 points in his rookie year with the Chicago Blackhawks, winning the Calder Memorial Trophy in the process over Brock Faber and Luke Hughes

Bedard is the third youngest player to score their first goal with the Blackhawks at 18 years and 86 days and he is ranked seventh in points by a rookie for the Blackhawks. He is now the second fastest player since Sidney Crosby in the 2005-06 season to reach 100 career points as a teenager, and he did so in 112 games.

After starting this season slow with only 17 points in his first 23 games, Bedard exploded at the end of the first half with a nine-game point streak. During the streak, he had four goals and eight assists with two multi-point games. In his last 21 games, he has 22 points with eight goals and 14 assists.

After years of mediocrity, the Blackhawks know they have their franchise player who will be the center of this rebuild.

Matvei Michkov - Andrew Matz

The Flyers were ecstatic at the 2023 NHL draft when Matvei Michkov fell to them as the seventh overall pick. The Russian prodigy was in conversation with Bedard to be the first overall pick.

He was one of the best Russian prospects we have seen since Alexander Ovechkin.

There was one problem with Michkov that Bedard didn’t have. He had a contract with a KHL team for three more years which meant he would be unable to come to the team.

While it sucked for Flyers fans, many realized this might be good for the team. They could rebuild for three years and when Michkov came over the team would be ready to compete for the playoffs.

This would all change thanks to Danny Briere.

He was able to talk with Michkov’s KHL team and convince them to terminate his contract and allow him to come to the NHL.

It was some of the most exciting news for Flyers fans. They get their franchise player two years earlier than expected.

In his first season with the Flyers this year, Michkov has not disappointed. He came into the season as a favorite to win the Calder Memorial Trophy and is still very much in the race.

Michkov has 31 points in 43 games this season. He is second on the team for points and tied for second on the team for goals.

He has been a much-welcomed addition to this Flyers team helping them in many aspects of the game.

For starters, the Flyers power-play has been improved this year with the addition of Michkov. Along with this, he has helped the team in overtime scoring three goals in ot this season.

He has stepped into the lineup for the Flyers and has been an immediate difference-maker for a team that has needed it for a long time.

The Flyers seem to have found their franchise player who will lead them for years to come.

Comparing both Connor Bedard and Matvei Michkov are very similar to Alex Ovechkin and Sydney Crosby. One kid from Canada and one from Russia fighting to be crowned the best player in the NHL. Both franchise players came to the NHL around the same time.

Crosby and Ovechkin have had many battles against one another over the years. They played many times in the playoffs most notably in the 2009 playoffs, 2016 playoffs and 2017 playoffs where the Pittsburgh Penguins would beat the Washington Capitals.

Crosby has the edge over Ovechkin in one of the biggest parts of the game. He has three cups whereas Ovi only has one.

Crosby also has more points than Ovi.

Ovechkin gets the edge in scoring. He is considered to be the best scorer in hockey and is currently chasing down Wayne Gretzky's goal record. He is 21 goals short of the record.

Both Crosby and Ovi are coming to the end of their careers and people have been looking for the next battle between players.

Bedard and Michkov are the top candidates to continue the Canadian vs. Russian rivalry. Although they are still young, many believe that the Bedard and Michkov rivalry will be one of the greatest rivalries of all time.

Ryan Eslinger is a fourth-year majoring in broadcast journalism. To contact him, email rve5156@psu.edu

Andrew Matz is a third-year majoring in broadcast journalism. To contact him, email atm5759@psu.edu