Flyers assistant general manager Brent Flahr, who oversees talent development for the team, likes what he’s seen so far from the top draft picks of the past two years.
Both Matvei Michkov (2023) and Jett Luchanko (2024) showed some excellent potential in the Rookie Series against the New York Rangers over the weekend in Allentown.
Right now it looks like Michkov has the ability to crack the Flyers’ lineup for NHL regular season play next month.
Luchanko has an outside chance of making the team but Flahr noted he just turned 18 and might need some time to make the jump.
“I was very happy with Luchanko (who was involved in the winning overtime goal in Saturday’s game),” Flahr said on Sunday at the Flyers Training Center in Voorhees, N.J. “He’s very good and very skilled for a young player.
“We know he has to get stronger but his size, range, mobility and the poise that he plays with is exciting, especially in that environment. There are a lot of positives.”
Chances are he will return to Guelph of the Ontario Hockey League for a little more seasoning.
“I think he just does his thing,” Flahr said. “He’s a real mature kid for his age. He knows what he is and what he has to do. We don’t want to ask him to be anything more. He’s going to be a big leader on that team (Guelph). Play a ton of minutes in all situations. We just want him to take care of himself, get better everyday.”
However, Flahr did leave the door slightly ajar.
“We go through this a lot with certain players,” Flahr said. “There are still some things in his game he can improve on. Hopefully he generates offense but at the same time take his game to another level, which is hard to do at the pro level when you’re 18 years old.
“The junior level will be good for him but he’s unlike a lot of other kids. They get a little complacent. I just don’t think he has that in him.”
Technically, Luchanko could get a nine-game audition in the NHL and then be sent back to juniors.
“You can always talk about it,” Flahr said. “That’s a big stretch. But I guess it’s possible. I wouldn’t say no but again it (a trial) is more for a 22-year-old than someone at 18.
“He is here to make the team, that’s his mentality. Certainly not going to tell him he can’t make it.”
Flahr said there were some players he “wasn’t happy with” but didn’t get into specific naming of those individuals. Overall, though, the current talent pool in the organization appears to be on the upswing.
As for Michkov, getting a goal in Friday night’s shootout loss to the Rangers certainly heightened fan enthusiasm for the upcoming season. It would appear Michkov can work his way onto the club’s big roster.
Flahr agreed Michkov’s performance so far confirms what scouts had been raving about the past year or two.
“He’s a dynamic player,” Flahr said. “From the blue line in, he’s driven to score. He’s highly competitive. He has the hockey sense, the skill, the drive to generate offense. He wants to score every shift. When he doesn’t, he gets fired up.
“I think there’s another level to his game. I think getting his feet wet before the big camp will be to his advantage.”
>Good summer for Andrae
While defenseman Emil Andrae is probably only around ninth or 10th on the Flyers’ depth chart, he does continue to improve and it never hurts to have depth.
“He had a really good summer,” Flahr said. “You can see his compete level. I think there are some ups and downs in his game but there are more positives. By next week he’ll be ready to go. This is his second time around and I think he’s pretty self-aware as far as where he was last year and what he needs to work on.”
- ,
- or
