VOORHEES, N.J. – Much has been made of Russian prospect Matvei Michkov’s arrival in Philadelphia but his star potential doesn’t mean he’s just going to be handed a prominent place in the Flyers’ lineup.
After Thursday’s opening session of rookie camp at the Flyers Training Center, Lehigh Valley Phantoms head coach Ian Laperriere said the National Hockey League is a tough nut to crack, even for the most gifted 19-year-old.
Michkov is scheduled to see his first “game” action when the Flyers’ rookies take on the New York Rangers’ freshmen in an exhibition encounter on Friday night at the PPL Center in Allentown.
Laperriere is anxious to see how Michkov, the Flyers’ first-round pick (seventh overall) in the 2023 NHL Draft, performs.
The coach has seen enough video footage of Michkov performing in Russia’s pro Kontinental Hockey League to know the kid has the goods.
But if Michkov does make the Flyers roster and plays in the season opener on Oct. 11, it’s going to be a rather major step up in competition.
“I’m excited to see him,” Laperriere said. “What I saw today, there’s a reason to be excited. A lot of skill, a lot of intensity. He doesn’t speak much English but you can tell he wants to be a difference-maker. I know it’s one practice but I’m impressed.”
The 5-foot-10, 190-pound Michkov played for Sochi of the KHL last year and registered 19 goals/41 points in 47 games.
Initially, the Flyers thought they were going to have to wait three years for Michkov’s KHL contract to expire. But some behind-the-scenes negotiations had the deal shortened to just one season.
“Everybody’s got so much expectation on the kid,” Laperriere said. “But the NHL is the NHL. He’s going to be great, he’s going to be fine. But it’s going to take time, maybe.
“I don’t care who you are – you don’t come into the NHL and dominate. It’s the best league in the world for a reason. He does have a bright future in front of him. If you get the right coaching staff to teach him how to be a pro. It’s one thing to dominate in the KHL but you go to this level, you need more than just the little flair. You need the full game around it. We have the perfect coaching staff for that.”
Michkov knows he has to earn a spot among the starting dozen on offense to establish a spot on the team.
“I’m going to play a hundred percent every match,” the player said through an interpreter.
The Flyers Training Center was pretty much full, which isn’t usually the case. In fact, there were four TV cameras on hand instead of the normal one or two.
“Unbelievable feeling,” Michkov said. “Words can’t even describe it.”
Laperriere raved about Michkov’s quick hands.
“We saw that on video,” the coach said. “But when you see it live, it’s even more impressive.”
No doubt there are going to be some highs and lows but that’s all part of the development process.
“You’re going to have ups and downs but when you have skill like that, you’re going to have more ups than downs.”
On the ice Thursday, Laperriere had Michkov skating with the Flyers’ 2024 first-round pick (13th overall) Jett Luchanko. How did that pairing come about?
“We all have bosses,” Laperriere said with a grin. “So they told me they (Michkov, Luchanko) play together. I won’t take the blame or the credit for that.”
Donning a Flyers jersey and jumping right into action against the Rangers’ kids should be a neat experience for Michkov and one Flyers fans will have a keen interest in.
“I’m a little bit nervous,” Michkov admitted. “But by the time warm-ups are over, that (feeling) should be all gone.
“Most importantly, it’s important to be confident in yourself and your teammates. If you do, everything else will be resolved.”
