The Philadelphia Flyers are abuzz with excitement as they welcome 19-year-old rookie sensation Matvei Michkov to the team. The Russian-born phenom is known for his electrifying offense and infectious enthusiasm, but can he find harmony with coach John Tortorella, a stickler for “playing the right way”? The answer to this question could make or break the Flyers’ season.
General Manager Danny Briere predicts that there will be some fireworks between Michkov and Tortorella, but ultimately, the coach will teach the young player to be a pro. “Torts’ goal is to make Matvei the best player he can be,” Briere said.
Tortorella, notorious for his tough love approach, has a reputation for benching or scratching young talent when they fail to meet his standards. However, he’s also a realist, and the Flyers’ dismal 27th-place finish in goals per game last season (2.82) means they desperately need Michkov’s scoring prowess.
Over the summer, Tortorella and Michkov connected to establish expectations for his rookie season. “I can’t wait to see how he is going to create offense [in the NHL],” Briere said. “We haven’t had this type of player in a long while here.” Tortorella seems willing to let Michkov be himself, for the betterment of the team. “We are starving for the types of instinctive plays that he can make,” he said.
Michkov’s energy is contagious, and his passion for the game is evident in his celebratory antics on the ice. When he scored his first goal of the preseason into an empty net, he jumped into the glass near the fans, hugging his teammates in a display of unbridled joy. Tortorella loves that about him, saying it rubs off on the team.
The Flyers drafted Michkov seventh overall in 2023, despite uncertainty surrounding his availability due to his contract with SKA St. Petersburg of the Kontinental Hockey League. However, he spent only one more season in the KHL before joining the Flyers this summer.
Michkov and goalie Ivan Fedotov, another high-profile Russian player, are critical to the Flyers’ success this season. They’re also products of Russia, entering the NHL at a time when the international hockey community’s relationship with the country is strained.
As the Flyers push for their first playoff berth since 2020 and their first Stanley Cup since 1975, the Michkov-Tortorella partnership will be a crucial component. While there will be bumps in the road, Michkov’s talent is undeniable, and Tortorella is willing to let him fly. “You get happy for a 19-year-old kid, coming from overseas, spotlight on him a little bit, and he just goes and plays,” he said.
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