The Philadelphia Flyers were able to sign one of their top prospects, Matvei Michkov to a three-year entry-level deal with the organization. This comes as a major surprise and it is a huge day for the Flyers organization. Michkov was the seventh overall pick in the 2023 NHL Draft. He played with SKA St. Petersburg in Russia. One of the biggest surprises about Matvei Michkov is that he came over to America two years earlier than expected. He negotiated an exit from his contract with them and was supposed to be in Russia on that team until after the 2025-2026 season ended.
Michkov is only 19 years old. It is going to be interesting to see if he will start the 2024-2025 season with the Philadelphia Flyers or with the Lehigh Valley Phantoms in the AHL. There is no doubt that he is going to be with the Flyers in training camp and see what else happens during preseason action. Matvei Michkov is going to be a very hot name to watch out for across the NHL before the start of the 2024-2025 season.
Matvei Michkov is a very talented player and many thought he was going to go earlier in the 2023 NHL Draft. He could be one of the best players in that draft class, but we have to wait and see how he will perform at the NHL level. The fact that the Flyers were able to get him to America two years earlier than expected means that they hope to have him in the NHL within the next two seasons.
Daniel Briere Speaks To the Media
Philadelphia Flyers general manager Daniel Briere had a press conference on Wednesday to introduce Matvei Michkov. Briere said to the media:
We started hearing rumblings after the season that there was a possibility of it happening. We talked to his representatives, his agent, and to help us understand what’s going on. They did most of the work. It was definitely exciting when we realized there’s a strong possibility that it could happen.
In 47 games played in 2023-2024, he scored 19 goals and recorded 22 assists. He had a plus/minus rating of -6. Michkov plays the right wing. He also said to the media:
I had a dream to play in NHL. This club SKA make it possible and released me. Now I’m here. The process was long, but I was not involved in it, it was between SKA and the Flyers. My main thing was getting ready for coming over and playing here. I’m very happy to be here.
If Michkov were to make the roster out of camp this season, it would be interesting to see what line head coach John Tortorella would have him on. The Philadelphia Flyers just missed the playoffs last season after getting off to a hot start. Philadelphia appears to be close to being a playoff team once again and being serious contenders for a while. Sean Couturier,, Morgan Frost, and Travis Konecny. Konecny was just recently signed to an eight-year contract extension worth $70 million. He has been one of the key players on this roster over the past several years.
With the Flyers, goaltending has been a major question for them over the years. Samuel Ersson appears to be the number one goalie for them moving forward. Goaltending will need to be good in 2024-2025 if they want to make the playoffs. More importantly, the Philadelphia Flyers can not rush the development of Michkov. If he should be in the minors this season then that is where he should be. There may not be room for him yet to make the 2024-2025 roster, but playing in the AHL won’t be a bad thing.
For More Great Content
Check out all the great content Total Apex Sports has to offer. Check us out on X @TotalApexSports and our other sites: Total Apex Sports Bets and Total Apex Fantasy Sports.
