VOORHEES, N.J. — Matvei Michkov was Philadelphia Flyers general manager Daniel Briere’s first appointment on Saturday morning.
The 20-year-old winger, two days after the conclusion of his rookie season, showed up with a detailed agenda.
“I was actually shocked by how prepared he was for his meeting, and he knew exactly what he needed to do, and how he wants to conduct himself this summer,” Briere said.
“He’s got a different mind. It’s part of the reason that makes him who he is. He was telling me all the things that he learned this year, and I was amazed. Usually you don’t expect that from a 20-year-old. … I left the meeting laughing to myself — if he accomplishes half of the things he has on his list to do, we’re in really good shape.”
The most encouraging aspect of the Flyers’ generally disappointing 2024-25 season is easy to identify. The 20-year-old Michkov not only exceeded expectations, with an NHL-rookie leading 26 goals and 63 points, tied for second for the rookie scoring lead with Macklin Celebrini, but he stoically handled the sometimes harsh coaching tactics of John Tortorella while seamlessly walking into a tight-knit dressing room and earning the respect of everyone around him.
One player who seemed to form a bond fairly quickly with Michkov was Travis Konecny, who was frequently seated near Michkov on the road and was often seen carousing with the Russian native, who was seemingly able to communicate with those around him despite not having a firm grip on the English language just yet.
Konecny, now the heart and soul of the team, came to realize that Michkov doesn’t just want to become an important cog on the still-building Flyers. He wants to be thought of as one of the league’s best.
And Konecny, whose eight-year extension begins next season, seems invigorated by that.
“He’s probably the one guy that I played with in my career that, he wants to be the best player in the NHL. He believes that he can be,” Konecny said. “You can’t teach that, and that’s just something that he wants, and he believes in. That’s a powerful thing, you know? If he can continue to figure out how to play on both sides of the puck and help us win games that way too, he’s a really big part of this.”
That sort of admiration Michkov already has from his teammates was part of what impressed Briere, too.
“Navigating an NHL dressing room is not easy, especially when you come in as a superstar, trying to fit into a group that’s already kind of looking at you sideways like, ‘OK, here’s the savior coming in,’” Briere said. “This is not an easy room, or any room, to walk into, and at the same time trying to keep his swagger. I’m so glad he went through that this year. I think he earned (his teammates’) respect by how he carried himself.”
Michkov stepped to the podium in the media room at the Flyers’ training center with team staffer and interpreter Slava Kuznetsov on Saturday, shortly after his meeting with Briere concluded. It will be interesting to see whether Kuznetsov is necessary in such situations next season, as Michkov mentioned that mastering English was part of that offseason to-do list.
For now, Michkov was able to convey through Kuznetsov what has both Briere and Konecny excited: he’s anxious, and perhaps even a bit impatient, to improve.
Training will be a part of it. Around the turn of the New Year, Michkov admitted to a Russian-language journalist that the grind of the season in which the schedule was condensed due to the 4 Nations break was wearing on him.
He repeated that sentiment on Saturday.
“No (offseason) plans yet. The first is take a good rest,” said Michkov, who will spend some time back in Russia this summer. “It was truly a hard season.”
The relationship with Tortorella was often in the spotlight. When the coach either benched or scratched Michkov, as he did for two games in November, the young winger responded positively.
Briere said before the season began that he was excited to have Michkov on the roster two years earlier than they expected for the chance to work with Tortorella, and he repeated on Saturday that “learning from Torts and his staff” was beneficial for Michkov, in his view.
And, unlike a few of his teammates on Friday, Michkov suggested he was usually on the same page as Tortorella during what was their approximately seven months together.
“It was a pleasure to work with him,” Michkov said. “I think he’s one of my best coaches. He gave me a lot. I would listen to him all the time. I’m sure in the future it will help me out — not everything, but most of it.”
Torts explains a few things to Michkov, thru Zamula pic.twitter.com/UN2eygHmut
— Kevin Kurz (@KKurzNHL) October 10, 2024
Something that Michkov evidently didn’t agree with was his ice time. It was noticeable that as soon as the change was made from Tortorella to interim coach Brad Shaw, Michkov’s playing time increased from 16:19 per game to 19:36 for the final nine games.
“I don’t like to play not enough minutes,” Michkov said. “If I play more minutes, I will feel comfortable.”
More playing time next season is inevitable. And judging from how Michkov is already preparing for the months ahead, more success and more production probably are inevitable, too.
Those are his own expectations, at least. When asked how he felt about leading all NHL rookies in goals this season, Michkov said: “Truthfully, there were moments in the season I could have scored a lot more,” he said. “I was not very happy with my result.”
He might be the only one.
“The stuff that he was able to do — I’ll be honest, I didn’t think he would score even 20 goals this year. I didn’t think he would get to half-a-point a game,” Briere said. “And there’s so many facets of his game that are not quite there yet. It’s really, really exciting what happened with him this year.”
“He wants to be the top scorer in the league,” Konecny said, “and that’s where his head is at.”
(Photo: Timothy T. Ludwig / Imagn Images)