David Ettedgui, former agent of Carey Price, is a passionate hockey man known for his exceptional flair and unerring eye for spotting generational talent.
After all, it was he who predicted the arrival of Ivan Demidov in Montreal before anyone else.
And yet, even he failed to convince the Montreal Canadiens to do what seemed obvious: draft Matvei Michkov.
This resounding failure, despite the strenuous efforts of a man who knows the inner workings of the organization and the NHL, resonates today as an ignored warning, a monumental waste.
Yes, Ettedgui tried everything.
In the months preceding the 2023 draft, Ettedgui took steps to influence the direction of the Canadian.
This video extract where Ettedgui recounts his phone call with the leaders of the Montreal Canadiens sends a cold sweat down your spine.
Aware of Michkov’s extraordinary potential, he followed the young Russian closely. Over two years, he observed him play 13 times, including 10 times during the last season, when no NHL scout was allowed to go to Russia.
It was not a simple crush, but a conviction firmly supported by repeated and detailed observations.
He saw everything about Michkov. He saw how special he was. Not just a good player, but a franchise-changing talent. He knew he had to do everything to bring him to Montreal.
Ettedgui even crossed a line rarely crossed in this environment: he directly contacted the leaders of the Canadian.
He told them, bluntly, that they would be making a monumental mistake if they passed their turn on Michkov. But despite his efforts, his warnings fell on the ears of leaders too frightened to listen.
According to sources close to the organization, Ettedgui argued at length that Michkov was a generational talent, the kind of player who cannot be ignored, no matter the perceived risks.
He highlighted his observations: Michkov was not only an elite scorer, but also an intelligent, competitive, and incredibly mature player for his age.
His performances in the KHL, despite often difficult conditions, spoke for themselves.
But the Canadian took refuge behind excuses:
Michkov’s KHL contract until 2026.
The rumors about his attitude.
Fear of the “Russian factor”.
These excuses were not only unjustified, but they demonstrated a lack of vision and courage on the part of the Montreal general staff.
It’s easy to find reasons not to take risks. But the great teams, the ones that win Stanley Cups, are the ones that dare. Montreal chose security.
In a recent interview, Ettedgui shared a video clip where he explains with emotion why he did everything to convince the Canadian to draft Michkov.
His voice almost trembles as he describes what he saw in the young Russian: an inner fire, a will to win that transcends statistics, and a talent so rare it only comes around once in a generation.
Michkov has this thing you can’t teach. He has this look, this fire. When you see him play, you know you are in the presence of something exceptional.
This excerpt struck a nerve among Canadian supporters. They can’t help but wonder what could have been if the organization had listened to Ettedgui.
They were afraid. Fear of the KHL, fear of what they couldn’t control. But in this sport, if you don’t take risks, you never win.
David Ettedgui is not a simple spectator. As a former agent of Carey Price, he knows the Canadian organization intimately, its strengths and its weaknesses.
His testimony on the Michkov affair is therefore all the more impactful.
This decision is a symptom of a deeper problem: an inability to recognize and seize opportunities when they present themselves.
I’ve seen organizations miss out on talent before. But what strikes me here is that all the lights were green for Michkov. And they still said no.
Ettedgui, although bitterly disappointed, hopes that this error can serve as a lesson to the organization.
We still believe in the Canadian’s potential, but we insist that it will take more audacity and less fear if the team wants to become a force in the NHL again.
Montreal is a great organization, but it must learn from its mistakes. Michkov could have been the face of this team for the next 15 years. Now he will be the Flyers.
The decision not to draft Matvei Michkov will go down in Canadian history as one of the biggest “what ifs?”
And for David Ettedgui, it will also remain a personal lesson: sometimes, even the strongest arguments are not enough to convince those who are afraid to look beyond the horizon.
David Ettedgui’s words will resonate for a long time.
And each performance by Mishkov will only strengthen the echo of this historical error.
If only they had listened to the only man who had seen Mishkov play for real. We will never recover from this.
