[Justin Giampietro] Flyers’ Criticism of Michkov Is Hypocritical, Self-Destructive & Wrong
January 13, 2026
[Justin Giampietro] Flyers’ Criticism of Michkov Is Hypocritical, Self-Destructive & Wrong
22 comments
This guy just keeps writing the same article over and over again.
Yes and no.
He is a kid with a lot of pressure on him. It’s not necessarily wrong to acknowledge the difference between his rookie and sophomore seasons. But it’s not right to criticize without offering help.
I motion to ban articles from TheHockeyWriters
Good summary of the situation and I pretty much agree with everything. This excerpt especially sticks out to me..
“In essence, the front office is campaigning for its own demise when it perpetuates overly negative (and oftentimes false) Michkov narratives. The rebuild depends on his ability—making him the enemy is self-destructive.”
Its very telling that nobody on the team, coaches or players, have really stuck up for Michkov or had anything positive to say. The team has also let the “lazy and out of shape” narrative run wild even though thats not really the whole story. Now his confidence is gone and theres nobody helping him build it up. It really wouldnt surprise me if he wants out sooner rather than later.
This article looks to point out Mich’s treatment in contrast to Ersson via what’s said in the media which is a good point. Making the best young talent on your team the scapegoat in the media is tremendously bad in it of itself.
More concerning:
-Tocchet’s inability to utilize Michkov and take advantage of his ability. I.e. not playing at optimal wing position, not leveraging PP1 minutes with Zegras and playing him in 3rd line “North South” role.
-Tocchet’s history of withholding his most talented players from optimal production. His time with Pettersson in Vancouver.. production tanked. His time with Keller in AZ.. production spike after Tocch leaves.
Say what you will. This was very much the wrong coach for developing a player who relies on an east/west hockey sense driven game like Mich. it’s being coached out of him.
He really had this in the drafts ready and waiting for Kurz to write another Michkov criticism piece. Hilarious the lengths people go to defend him. Its ok to criticize a player having a bad season. No one would be writing an article to defend an Ersson or Coots criticism piece.
He’s fuckin 21 years old !
What criticism of Michov? All I see are fanbois groveling at his feet like he is the Fifth Element. I am not down on Michkov, nor am I of the mindset that Tocchet can do no wrong, but people are turning into Michkov zealots and it’s pathetic.
It’s ok, let’s ruin one of two potentially elite players we have. It’s the Flyers way. Look at the results since 2005. They are one of the worst run franchises in all of sports.
He’s sucked this year. Criticism comes with the territory. Hopefully he trains properly and focuses on improving his weaknesses (namely burst speed). Everyone wants to blame everything other than Michkov for his crappy play this year. It’s really up to him and he has the support needed here. I hope he sticks to his word and stays around here this summer so he has the proper training staff and program.
Here’s the Kurz article that was posted this morning:
Interesting timing to post this article the day after the longest losing streak of the season
I’m tired of this whole “The Flyers, coach, and system is holding Michkov back” narrative. Nobody told MM to drive race cars in Dubai and not put on a pair of skates for the entire offseason. If you have eyes, you can see Michkov is having issues that have a lot more to do with him vs. anything else.
But please, somebody please explain what is “stopping” Michkov from succeeding in this system?
This is F tier journalism….
I think we’re at the point where this season is-what-it-is for Michkov. Maybe he improves after the Olympic break, but it’s a throw-away season for him and he has to come back next season ready to breakout.
No point in rewriting the same article every week or two, it’s just clicks at this point.
Amping up Michkov debate from a user named Panarin 🤔
lmao get this slop outta here
by all accounts michkov is a pretty tough, accountable player who wants to be great. The worst part to me is that these articles and this overall narrative make him seem so whiny even though he has nothing to do with pushing any of it.
These takes are so dumb. I saw a pass right on michkovs tape yesterday and he mishandled it and lost it. Is that tocchets fault too?
Friendly reminder that The Hockey Writers pay per click.
Again people just watch the games and you realize Michkov is the slowest player on the ice, takes the most stupid penalties, and turns the puck over the most. Stop blaming the coach just bc we want Michkov to be a superstar so badly. Use your eyes
This Justin guy is always clueless. Hard to take anything he says seriously.
Listen, if nothing else, Mich’s passes are atrocious this year. They are easily read by most defenses. They have no zip, no strength to them. I’m fine with his sophomore slump or poor accommodation by the coaches, or poor prep for the season. That’s all explainable in some way. But the fact he can’t do his simple passes anymore means something’s going on with him and he’s not correcting it. It’s fully under his control where and how to pass. Hes just not doing it.
![[Justin Giampietro] Flyers’ Criticism of Michkov Is Hypocritical, Self-Destructive & Wrong](https://www.rawchili.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/bHEdm65FUD9J8ATcAuCyYVp7iu7UXtMoOODFdHMo1o-1920x1024.jpeg)
22 comments
This guy just keeps writing the same article over and over again.
Yes and no.
He is a kid with a lot of pressure on him. It’s not necessarily wrong to acknowledge the difference between his rookie and sophomore seasons. But it’s not right to criticize without offering help.
I motion to ban articles from TheHockeyWriters
Good summary of the situation and I pretty much agree with everything. This excerpt especially sticks out to me..
“In essence, the front office is campaigning for its own demise when it perpetuates overly negative (and oftentimes false) Michkov narratives. The rebuild depends on his ability—making him the enemy is self-destructive.”
Its very telling that nobody on the team, coaches or players, have really stuck up for Michkov or had anything positive to say. The team has also let the “lazy and out of shape” narrative run wild even though thats not really the whole story. Now his confidence is gone and theres nobody helping him build it up. It really wouldnt surprise me if he wants out sooner rather than later.
This article looks to point out Mich’s treatment in contrast to Ersson via what’s said in the media which is a good point. Making the best young talent on your team the scapegoat in the media is tremendously bad in it of itself.
More concerning:
-Tocchet’s inability to utilize Michkov and take advantage of his ability. I.e. not playing at optimal wing position, not leveraging PP1 minutes with Zegras and playing him in 3rd line “North South” role.
-Tocchet’s history of withholding his most talented players from optimal production. His time with Pettersson in Vancouver.. production tanked. His time with Keller in AZ.. production spike after Tocch leaves.
Say what you will. This was very much the wrong coach for developing a player who relies on an east/west hockey sense driven game like Mich. it’s being coached out of him.
He really had this in the drafts ready and waiting for Kurz to write another Michkov criticism piece. Hilarious the lengths people go to defend him. Its ok to criticize a player having a bad season. No one would be writing an article to defend an Ersson or Coots criticism piece.
He’s fuckin 21 years old !
What criticism of Michov? All I see are fanbois groveling at his feet like he is the Fifth Element. I am not down on Michkov, nor am I of the mindset that Tocchet can do no wrong, but people are turning into Michkov zealots and it’s pathetic.
It’s ok, let’s ruin one of two potentially elite players we have. It’s the Flyers way. Look at the results since 2005. They are one of the worst run franchises in all of sports.
He’s sucked this year. Criticism comes with the territory. Hopefully he trains properly and focuses on improving his weaknesses (namely burst speed). Everyone wants to blame everything other than Michkov for his crappy play this year. It’s really up to him and he has the support needed here. I hope he sticks to his word and stays around here this summer so he has the proper training staff and program.
Here’s the Kurz article that was posted this morning:
https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6965087/2026/01/13/flyers-michkov-sophomore-season-lightning/
Interesting timing to post this article the day after the longest losing streak of the season
I’m tired of this whole “The Flyers, coach, and system is holding Michkov back” narrative. Nobody told MM to drive race cars in Dubai and not put on a pair of skates for the entire offseason. If you have eyes, you can see Michkov is having issues that have a lot more to do with him vs. anything else.
But please, somebody please explain what is “stopping” Michkov from succeeding in this system?
This is F tier journalism….
I think we’re at the point where this season is-what-it-is for Michkov. Maybe he improves after the Olympic break, but it’s a throw-away season for him and he has to come back next season ready to breakout.
No point in rewriting the same article every week or two, it’s just clicks at this point.
Amping up Michkov debate from a user named Panarin 🤔
lmao get this slop outta here
by all accounts michkov is a pretty tough, accountable player who wants to be great. The worst part to me is that these articles and this overall narrative make him seem so whiny even though he has nothing to do with pushing any of it.
These takes are so dumb. I saw a pass right on michkovs tape yesterday and he mishandled it and lost it. Is that tocchets fault too?
Friendly reminder that The Hockey Writers pay per click.
Again people just watch the games and you realize Michkov is the slowest player on the ice, takes the most stupid penalties, and turns the puck over the most. Stop blaming the coach just bc we want Michkov to be a superstar so badly. Use your eyes
This Justin guy is always clueless. Hard to take anything he says seriously.
Listen, if nothing else, Mich’s passes are atrocious this year. They are easily read by most defenses. They have no zip, no strength to them. I’m fine with his sophomore slump or poor accommodation by the coaches, or poor prep for the season. That’s all explainable in some way. But the fact he can’t do his simple passes anymore means something’s going on with him and he’s not correcting it. It’s fully under his control where and how to pass. Hes just not doing it.