Matvei Michkov’s Maturity, Hard Work on Full Display as Flyers Camp Opens: ‘I Think This is so Good for Me’

Flyers training camp opened on Thursday, and the tone in the building couldn’t possibly be different than this time last year. Nearly 300 fans were there to watch the first on-ice session, split across three practice groups. It was compelling to see the young, exciting group back on the ice. However, Matvei Michkov stood out among the rest.

He was undeniably faster than everyone else on the ice. He carried himself with a noticeable swagger that showed not only on the ice but afterwards in the press conference; he fielded questions and answered in English for the first time.

“I think this is so good for me,” Michkov said. “I feel right now lighter on the ice. More speed. Every skill, more speed, better speed. … I eat right now just good food. No fast food. No sugar. Little bit. I like chocolate, but just day off.”

On another day, that by itself would have been the headline. For the past two seasons, Michkov needed a translator to get through a media session, and even then he was giving rather boilerplate answers. In this presser, he showed the personality that he showed off in his social media posts during the offseason, though this time in English.

In addition to this, he showed up in great shape, and it showed. Last season, the way Michkov entered camp dominated his entire season, and it became the narrative that Michkov was immature and not focused. This season, there is no questioning that. He won’t have to field those questions all season, and that will definitely help his ability to focus on hockey.

“He’s got a pep in his step,” general manager Daniel Briere said. “He feels good. He looks good. So I’m excited about Matvei’s season.”

The contrast in his game was just as sharp. He wasn’t only better from a pure skills perspective, but he was hustling to win pucks along the boards and taking on Trevor Zegras in two-on-two drills without backing down at all. He carried himself like a leader, shooting with accuracy, beating Daniel Vladar high on the glove side, which wasn’t easy all season. What was most impressive was his touch on the passes. He put his teammates in positions to succeed. The line with him, Denver Barkey, and Zach Aston-Reese was the best unit on the ice, and head coach Rick Tocchet noticed.

“He looks quick out there. Him and Barkey were buzzing around there,” Tocchet said. “They were doing the concepts that we talked about, upgrading the middle. Not just him, Barkey and all those guys, it’s good to see.”

This is a stark turnaround from how Tocchet spoke about Michkov last season, when Tocchet’s message was about patience and tough love regarding his talented young winger. Now his coach is describing him with words of praise, and complimenting his hard work in the off-season.

“Lke I said, it’s just the first day, but you could tell he’s lighter and he and he looks stronger skating wise,” Tocchet said. “His stride’s longer. I know if you watch the laps, when guys start getting tired, their stride gets choppier and his was still it was elongated. That’s a good sign.”

The stakes couldn’t be higher for both Michkov and his teammates this season. He is at the end of his contract and will be playing for his future in Philadelphia. For the Flyers, they won’t be sneaking up on anyone this season, and the likelihood of them being overlooked is going to be very low, so they will need to step it up, and having a locked-in Michkov will go a long way to keeping the Flyers in the race in the Metropolitan.

Michkov is doing it for himself and for his “second home.”

“I think Philly is my second home,” Michkov said. “I feel the same about my first home and my second home. I feel the same, so good. Thank you everybody for support. And the atmosphere.”

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