The NHL online chatter went into overdrive over the weekend regarding the purported confrontation between Philadelphia Flyers coach Rick Tocchet and young forward Matvei Michkov.
The incident happened during the second period of the Flyers’ Saturday night tilt against the New York Rangers. The purported altercation has fueled even more discussion about a potential trade involving Michkov.
But when looking at the replay, the interaction hardly seems like a confrontation at all. Check out the clip here:
The interaction hardly looked like a confrontation. It looked more like a player frustrated about something. Tocchet, meanwhile, kept his cool and calmly explained something to him. While it’s unclear what the discussion was actually about, it’s evident there wasn’t any ill will between Tocchet and Michkov.
The Flyers’ Russian winger played over 15 minutes on the night, registering an assist in the club’s 5-4 shootout loss to the Rangers. If anything, it was a frustrating game for the Flyers, as they blew a 4-2 lead to lose the game.
Michkov Hasn’t Fit in Well with Flyers
One of the ongoing storylines for the Philadelphia Flyers has been Michkov’s apparent inability to fit in. Last season, Michkov’s run-ins with former coach John Tortorella were well documented.
The coaching change this season hasn’t really unlocked Michkov’s overall potential. The former seventh-overall pick from the 2023 NHL Draft came to North America with justifiable praise. Last season, Michkov delivered on that promise, notching 26 goals and 63 points in 80 games.
Despite the run-ins, the Flyers believed in Michkov’s potential. However, his numbers have been underwhelming this season. His eight goals and 19 points in 34 games have sparked debate about what the future holds for the 21-year-old.
By all means, Michkov is still a very young player. But the eye test suggests he doesn’t quite fit in with Tocchet’s system. Michkov isn’t precisely the most defensively reliable player. That situation has seen Michkov slide down the Flyers’ depth chart.
At the moment, Michkov has fallen to the third line. That’s not exactly what Philly had envisioned for the Russian prospect.
Philly Would Be Foolish to Trade Michkov
The chatter surrounding a potential Michkov trade is a fool’s errand. The Flyers have a talented young player who’s still learning the NHL ropes. As such, trading him now could be a colossal mistake.
Unless the return for Michkov was something substantial, it just wouldn’t make sense. The risk is that moving Michkov to another club could open the door for his potential to shoot through the roof.
As a result, it would be foolish for the Flyers to move Michkov now. The best course of action is to give him more time. Perhaps circling back to this discussion during the summer might be the best course of action.
In the meantime, the Flyers need all the help they can get. Michkov could still be a valuable piece as the Flyers look to get back into the playoff hunt this season. There’s still a long way to go. So, making premature decisions regarding Michkov would be ill-advised.
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