While the Flyers have exhibited numerous positive signs in what could be termed a bounce-back season, former rookie sensation Matvei Michkov hasn’t been one of them.
Michkov, who turned 21 this past Tuesday, lit up South Philly ice in his first year, leading all NHL freshmen with 26 goals.
Great things were predicted for the Russian import and talk of a possible sophomore slump was put on the back burner.
Well, now that gab has sort of been moved to the front burner.
Granted he does have eight goals as he headed into game No. 30, which puts him on a pace for somewhere in the low 20s this season.
Tampa Bay Lightning goaltender Andrei Vasilevskiy stops a shot by Philadelphia Flyers right wing Matvei Michkov as Lightning’s right wing Nikita Kucherov (86) looks for the puck during the third period of an NHL hockey game Monday, Nov. 24, 2025, in Tampa, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris O’Meara)
But hockey people spotted trouble when he showed up for new coach Rick Tocchet’s training camp somewhat out of shape. And if there’s one thing “Toc” won’t tolerate, it’s a player who doesn’t take his fitness seriously.
Then there’s been Michkov’s overall game beyond just goal scoring.
His 30 penalty minutes lead the Flyers roster by a large margin. Tocchet has reduced his ice time to under 15 minutes a game. That ranks 12th among players who have dressed for at least 19 games.It’s not only the number of penalties Michkov takes, but when and where he takes them. There are times when he will take a needless, foolish penalty late in a close game in the offensive zone. One can almost read the exasperation on Tocchet’s face.
To his credit, Michkov has admitted through his interpreter that things haven’t gone his way this season. He vows to do better.
First, though, he has to find a connection with a line that seems a good fit for his all-over-the-place style. Recently he’s been playing with center Sean Couturier and forward Owen Tippett. That group has shown promise on occasion but it still seems to lack cohesion.
A week or so ago, Michkov met with the media and expressed personal dissatisfaction with his performances.
Maybe he needs to connect with a “partner,” sort of like the working relationship that Christian Dvorak and Trevor Zegras have developed.
In the meantime, while it’s all well and good to cherry-pick in the neutral zone and generate an occasional breakaway, Michkov needs to work on his two-way game.
Going into Saturday’s game against Carolina, Michkov was a minus-3 and Bobby Brink was the only forward with a number (minus-4) below that.
Tocchet and Michkov have been in steady communication, we’ve been told, but there still seems to be something lost in the translation.
A lot of eyes will be focused on where this goes from here. Can Michkov perhaps improve his conditioning and overall game during February’s Olympic break? It will be interesting to see if he can lift his game back to where it was last season when the future looked so bright.
Wise decision
The decision by the Vegas Golden Knights not to start ex-Flyer goaltender Carter Hart against his old team the other night was a prudent one.
If Hart had played and been permitted to talk to the media both before and after the game, it promised to be a distraction not only for Hart but his teammates as well.
Vegas Golden Knights goaltender Carter Hart skates during warm ups before an NHL hockey game against the Philadelphia Flyers, Thursday, Dec. 11, 2025, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Derik Hamilton)
It would have been fascinating to experience how Hart might have been received by the Xfinity Mobile Arena faithful.
The guess here is it would been a fairly positive response if he had been in the Vegas nets. After all, he was found not guilty in last year’s ballyhooed trial, so chances are most people are willing to absolve him of any blame.
By the time the Knights visit Philadelphia again next season, maybe the whole situation will be less emotional.
One can only hope.
Wayne Fish is a freelance writer. Follow his coverage at www.flyingfishhockey.com.