VOORHEES, N.J. – Last season, the Flyers remained in playoff contention virtually down to the last game before bowing out.
This time around, the addition of talented Russian prospect Matvei Michkov could make the difference in ending Philadelphia’s four-year postseason drought.
At Tuesday’s pre-training camp press conference, general manager Daniel Briere broke into a wide smile when asked what part of Michkov’s game he is most looking forward to.
The Flyers’ full training camp opens Thursday morning at the Flyers Training Center.
“I can’t wait to see how he’s going to create offense,” Briere said. “I think his brain is pretty special. He’s going to adapt. What I’ve been really impressed with is how hard he plays in traffic.
“He’s a little shorter (5-foot-10) but he’s stocky, strong. You look at the rookie game (against the Rangers), how strong he was on the puck. Holding onto pucks, extending plays. That’s an area I’m excited to watch.”
Michkov, the Flyers’ first-round draft pick (seventh overall) in 2023, scored a goal in the Flyers’ 4-3 shootout loss on Friday night against New York in the first game of the Rookie Series.
“It’s not going to be as easy in the NHL,” Briere pointed out. “With the big, strong defensemen who have been around for years. But he’s going to adapt, he’s going to figure out where he’s going to be most successful. That’s what I’m looking forward to.”
Will this be the year the Flyers finally end the playoff dry spell? Clearly, an improvement hinges on how quickly Michkov makes adjustments.
“We expect to have a team that’s going to compete,” Briere said. “Hopefully, players get a little better than they were last year. I don’t have a lot of expectations for Matvei. What I hope is for him to figure out is how to take the first step and get better. I’m realistic, it’s going to be a tough season for him.
“This is the best league in the world. It’s a big step. It’s not going to be easy. He’s going to have to go through a lot before he becomes the player he hopes to be.”
Briere confirmed Michkov has made big strides off the ice since he arrived here in July. He’s picking up the language, the customs, the everyday ins and outs of American life very quickly.
“I think his level of comfort since he got here has expanded tremendously,” the GM said. “He’s a little more comfortable, he’s very outgoing. He wants to talk to people, he wants to have relationships. He’s great off the ice.
“On the ice, he has that serious attitude. He wants to be the best very single shift. Very competitive. That’s really exciting to see.”
Where might Michkov start the season? On Sean Couturier’s line? Morgan Frost’s?
“That’s always a tough question,” Briere said. “You can’t force chemistry between players. First, ‘Torts’ (coach John Tortorella) will decide what he sees is the best fit for the team.
“At the end of the day, he makes the decision. He moves his lines quite a bit so I think you’re going to see a lot of different combinations until he figures out the best fit.”
While Tortorella is known as a fiery coach, Briere doesn’t expect there to be any problems between player and mentor.
“He (Tortorella) is going to teach him to be a pro,” Briere predicted. “Teach him to be the best player he can be. That’s what I’m excited about. I really feel for Matvei this is the best possible scenario. Come in early, have the chance at such an early age to be working with a coach like John Tortorella.”
