Matvei Michkov Reportedly Looking for New Start Away from Flyers
Feb 26, 2026; New York, New York, USA; Philadelphia Flyers right wing Matvei Michkov (39) celebrates after scoring a the game winning goal in overtime against the New York Rangers at Madison Square Garden. Mandatory Credit: Wendell Cruz-Imagn Images
One night after Matvei Michkov and Nick Seeler had a verbal argument during a TV timeout in Vancouver, reports have come in that Michkov wants a fresh start away from the Flyers.
The Flyers’ 21-year-old winger would prefer a fresh start elsewhere, pointing to the Flyers’ sluggish start and internal turmoil as reasons why. Michkov is in the final year of his entry-level contract, which makes him a marquee trade candidate heading into the winter if the Flyers have to move him.
NHL insider Kevin Weekes reported the news.
This report caught the Flyers completely off guard, with several sources saying Michkov’s camp has not formally informed the team that he wants a trade, which means the franchise learned about this the same way everyone else did, via social media.
This stings for many reasons, but mostly because Michkov has been the one player who has been exciting to watch, and one of the only bright spots for the Flyers this season. The Flyers are 5-10-5 after opening the season 0-6-3. He leads the team with 10 goals in 20 games. And he finally looks like the player hoped he would grow into hoped he would grow into when they took him seventh overall in 2023.
After a rough sophomore campaign, his offseason work has shown up on the ice with his play and leadership. He has settled in on a line with Denver Barkey and Porter Martone, one of the few consistent players on a lineup that has struggled to score.
That makes the bench flare-up with Seeler hard to ignore. A heated moment between teammates during a stoppage is not unusual on a team that has made losing look easy. With this report that its best young player wants out, it paints a picture that is starting to look dire. It’s starting to become clear that the coaching staff may have lost the locker room.
Michkov is set to become a restricted free agent next summer, and no extension talks have taken place with his camp to this point. The Flyers have historically leaned toward bridge deals for young players coming off their rookie contracts, though they were also reportedly open to exploring other options. Michkov turns 22 next month, and with the salary cap set to climb, his next deal could be a very big one that resets the market for players in his situation.
Playing time has been the source of tension between Michkov and Rick Tocchet since last season. Michkov has not been shy about his desire for more ice time, and his play has shown that he deserves it. Before the game in Calgary, he made his intentions clear.
“I feel so comfortable on the ice,” Michkov said after practice on Nov. 7. “I want to play more. This is my mentality when I play 10 minutes. I want maximum, all shifts, all ice time. I want 60 minutes. I want lots of goals, lots of points.”
If this speculation is correct, those goals and points could be with another team, much to the frustration of a fanbase that has been starved of a legitimate young star. Many thought that there were two young superstars, Michkov and Martone, playing on the same line that the Flyers offense could build around for the future.
Now the Flyers are not just fighting to find their footing; they’re going to be fighting to keep the player on the roster who has provided any offensive stability so far this season.
Steve Hamilton
Steve may have been born in California, but don’t let that fool you. After dating a local woman and clashing with her and her family over sports for decades, he has an affinity for Philly sports. Balancing love for Philly and Bay Area sports teams may seem impossible; we can all agree that the Cowboys are the true evil.
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