Matvei Michkov and Rick Tocchet Pull Together Amid Conflicts in Win Over Washington
Oct 28, 2025; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Philadelphia Flyers right wing Matvei Michkov (39) reacts against the Pittsburgh Penguins in the third period at Xfinity Mobile Arena. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Ross-Imagn Images
Although a huge victory from the Philadelphia Flyers over the Washington Capitals is all-important on its own, there’s more to the win on Tuesday night than just the four goals and the outstanding performance from goaltender Daniel Vladar; the struggles between a rising star and a new head coach were put on pause after the win. The relationship with head coach Rick Tocchet and Matvei Michkov came into the game on what many would call “thin ice,” as Michkov’s minutes had been heavily limited, as well as his time on his preferred side in the right wing.
On Saturday, Michkov played a total of 10:21, a season-low for the Russian winger. This, however, was only salt to the wound, as Michkov and Tocchet’s challenging relationship has been a constant theme of the Flyers since training camp. With this battle going on, Tocchet has been questioned even more after his answer at the Carnival on Sunday regarding Michkov’s 10 minutes on Saturday.
“Matvei [Michkov] did not come into camp in shape,” Tocchet said on the PHLY Flyers podcast. “It’s hard to play yourself into shape.”
Tocchet received massive backlash from this answer, as the story of Michkov’s fitness coming into camp does not seem to fit, leading to the complaints and the controversy. Many claim that Tocchet is against Michkov, and some say it’s worse than how Matvei communicated with former head coach John Tortorella.
With all of the drama at its worst, Flyers’ general manager Daniel Briere addressed the media prior to puck drop on Tuesday. He knows that his head coach wants the best for a great young athlete, and he knows that Michkov’s issues right now will not stay.
“Matvei Michkov is not going anywhere,” Briere said, “[He’s] here for the Flyers.
“[Tocchet] wants Matvei to succeed. He wants to develop him to be the best player he can be. Along the way, there’s tough lessons that come with that. It’s like raising a child…Sometimes, they’re fiery. Sometimes, when you’re not winning, things are done and said, but they always come back to their table. They want the best for this team.”
With all of the drama, a lot of pressure was also put on Briere, as he would have to consider what to do in this situation. Briere did a great job addressing the media, as he was able to cool everyone down for the time being. He suggested that this step is more than likely a step that leads to a successful relationship between the player and the coach.
But whether it was the chanting of the fans, the questions from the media, or a word in the locker room, Tuesday night’s win over the Capitals was a different story. Though everyone is happy when the Flyers win, the box score shows that there might be another reason for the satisfaction.
To start, Michkov played a total of 15:54. In that time, Michkov skated for 21 shifts and tallied an assist on the opening goal.
Not only was Michkov able to shift to his desired wing on the play, but he was also given another look on offense, showing that Tocchet cares about the production and the opportunities for the youngster.
Tocchet does not want to slow down Michkov’s development. Whether “bullying works,” and the fans were able to push him to give Michkov more minutes, or Tocchet is developing the kid his way, the conflict from the past is only a learning curve, and the two were able to bounce back, along with the rest of the team.
Luke Raidy
Luke has covering the the Flyers and Phillies for Philly Sports Reports since 2025. He is a junior at North Penn and being a huge Philly sports fan has brought so many experiences, such as going to the NLDS, NLCS, and even the World Series in 2022. He has also met former superstars in the city of Philadelphia, such as Wayne Simmonds from the Flyers. Though being a student-athlete, Luke enjoys his time where he is writing and reporting on Philadelphia sports.
Get New Articles Emailed Right To Your Inbox:
