The utter lack of luck that has befallen the Detroit Red Wings in seven years of the draft lottery means that this year, they miss out on Connor Bedard, projected to be a franchise-defining player and the consensus No. 1 pick.
But perhaps a Russian version will be available to the Wings, whose first pick in the June 28-29 draft in Nashville, Tennessee, arrives at No. 9.
Matvei Michkov (5 foot 10, 172 pounds) is a right wing who is rated second among European skaters; Bedard is first among North American skaters.
"They are in the same conversation," NHL director of central scouting Dan Marr said during the combine in early June.