Grant McCagg explained, "I honestly think he could be the next Yakupov," he stated at the time. "He doesn't impress me... he's not exceptionally fast, nor is he big. I wouldn't label him as a gritty player. He might encounter difficulties in dealing with the NHL, especially during the playoffs."
Despite currently experiencing reduced ice time with his current team, the scouting report's overall evaluation and the general perception of his abilities were quite positive when he entered this year's draft. I believe that if the geopolitical situation in the world were slightly different, it's highly likely that Michkov would have been drafted much higher, perhaps even as the second overall pick.