The Philadelphia Flyers may have lost the great battle of Pennsylvania the last time it happened. However, the team is still positioned at the top end of the standings, just behind the dominant Carolina Hurricanes. Besides the on-ice performance, the media spotlight has found a parallel subject of attention in forward Matvei Michkov.

Flyers HC Rick Tocchet has faced multiple pressing questions about Michkov and only recently decided that he had had enough, firmly handling the Philly media. Amid all the noise about Michkov, a former NHL player promptly appeared on the scene with his opinions.

Chris Pronger Comes Out in Matvei Michkov’s Defense

It is easy to believe that all might not be well between Tocchet and former first-round pick, Michkov. The 21-year-old has witnessed his minutes being slashed dramatically and has so far accumulated 20 points in 36 games.

Questions about the forward have repeatedly burdened Tocchet. In a media availability before the Flyers’ game against the Vancouver Canucks, he made it aptly clear that he was done with the excessive media interest in the forward, highlighting that Michkov is not the sole person playing: he is part of what is, more crucially, a team effort.

“…you know, we’ve got (Dan) Vladar having a great year, (Jamie) Drysdale playing really good five-on-five, (Cam York’s) doing a really good job. We’ve got a lot of other players playing a good team game. I mean, this is the fifth question (about Michkov),” Tocchet bluntly stated.

Tocchet’s sentiments resonated with The Athletic’s Kevin Kurz, who highlighted the fact that if the Flyers intend to make the playoffs, the last thing they want is to single out one player and ignore the rest of the roster.

“Tocchet and his assistant coaches can’t spend an outsized amount of time working with one player. They’re trying to make all the other guys on the roster better, too, individually and as a team,” Kurz wrote in his recent contribution to the columns of the magazine.

Former Flyers defenseman Pronger also believes that the 21-year-old forward still needs time to polish his game, and the last thing they want right now is excessive media hankering. “100% agree Kevin. Too much focus on one player who needs time to continue to develop and mature. Lots of good things going on with this Flyers team,” Pronger wrote, sharing his view on social media.

Pronger also drew upon his time in Philly and experience with the media there. The blueliner stated that the media has a tendency to target younger players like Michkov. “They were very good to me. I found them to be Fair and we held each other accountable. however I can see how they can eat up a young player.”

Moreover, the media have also been trying to create something out of nothing, looking for signs of disagreement between Tocchet and Michkov. The issue gained a lot of attention, especially after an exchange between Tocchet, Juraj Svefkovsky, and Michkov during the Flyers Vs. The New York Rangers game came to light.

The Flyers HC categorically dismissed the issue as a routine conversation. “It happens all the time. It’s just a story because it was Michkov.”

Tocchet’s frustration with the excessive media fiasco surrounding Michkov has become palpable. As the HC has made clear, his focus lies on propelling the entire team forward, not just a single player.