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Hell Yeah: Matvei Michkov Just Watched the New Minions Movie in a Pretty Empty Movie Theater
By Matt Schultz
Published:
Here’s the tweet with a screenshot of Matvei Michkov’s Instagram Story:
Hell yeah. This is what’s up. As a Michkov believer and optimist, I’m very glad to see this. We all know he had a disappointing year last year. We’ve all heard the questions from critics that have only gotten louder through the offseason: Was last year just a sophomore slump, or was that who Michkov really is? Will he ever put in a real effort in the defensive zone? Can the guy come into the season in shape? Can he stop forcing passes that aren’t there? Can he take better care of the puck? Can he be a reliable playmaker in the playoffs, or will he shrink again? Does he take this job seriously enough? Is he committed to getting better? Etc., etc., etc…
There’s a lot of noise out there, and I, for one, am happy to see Michkov’s not letting it get to him. It’s the offseason. He’s resetting. He knows that right now, his job is to get his mind right for the long slog that is the NHL season. He knows that self-care is critical in performing your best. He knows that to get good output, you first need good input. Nourishment. Sustenance. And he is finding that fuel in the form of Minions & Monsters in what looks like an empty movie theater. That’s great. That’s refreshing. He’s becoming refreshed.
And beyond the simple R&R of it, I’m particularly pleased to see he’s spending his time watching the Minions specifically — a film that I believe offers many lessons that can be easily applied on the ice next season, including:
How to be a good teammate: The Minions are nothing without their fellow Minions. One Minion is a freak. Many Minions are a force.
Having a positive attitude: You never see the Minions pout. Minions are chipper, excited, and always open to the possibilities each new day brings.
Putting ego aside: One word you’ll never hear a Minion say is “credit.”
Communication: Like Michkov, the Minions do not speak fluent English, but that doesn’t stop them from communicating their feelings directly and efficiently.
Helping others is the best way to help yourself: The Minions are always willing to help those around them, even if the job is as unglamorous as back-checking or clearing a body out from the front of the net.
I’m confident Michkov walked away from the film thinking about all of these lessons and more. I doubt he would’ve excitedly posted it to his Instagram Story unless he found the movie’s messages and, most of all, its characters insightful, inspirational, and aspirational.
I think it’s safe to say we have a big Michkov season coming. He just watched the Minions. Hell yeah. Hope he enjoyed.
Matt Schultz is a comedy and sports writer from Philadelphia. He’s written extensively for ClickHole, The Onion, and Conan O’Brien’s Team Coco. His work has been featured in Vulture, Deadspin, The A.V. Club, Paste Magazine, and other publications. Much of his sports journalism can be found on college basketball websites that don’t exist anymore (PhilaHoops Heads rise up…) email: M.Schultz@sportradar.com