Can you imagine someone leading all NHL rookies in goals and points and still not winning the Calder Trophy?
It could happen to Matvei Michkov.
Even though he entered weekend action with the most goals (24) and the second-most points (58), the Flyer forward might not even finish among the three finalists for the award.
Which by the way no Flyer has ever captured.
Some of it might have to do with where Philadelphia sits in the standings, namely last in the Metropolitan Division.
Meanwhile, Montreal defenseman Lane Hutson, who sits atop the rookie point standings with 62, is competing in the heat of a playoff chase.
Then you have two other strong Calder candidates: San Jose Sharks forward Macklin Celebrini and Calgary Flames goaltender Dustin Wolf.
Like Hutson, Wolf is playing for a playoff hopeful club and doing well, with a record nine games above .500 and a save percentage well above .900.
The Sharks might just be the worst team in the NHL right now but Celebrini’s near the top of several first-year players, including a tie with Michkov for power-play goals (seven) and one back of Michkov for third in even-strength assists (32).
Even considering all of that, Michkov deserves to be at least a finalist.
In addition to his prodigious even-strength stats, his seven power-play goals are bolsterd by his lead in shootout game-deciding goals, second in shooting percentage, plus third in power-play assists and points.
This might be somewhat controversial because, as mentioned, no Flyer has ever won a Calder. And right now, the betting odds suggest the streak will stay intact for another year.
Some of Michkov’s teammates might disagree with the folks in Las Vegas.
“He’s a player with skill, the way he stickhandles, makes plays, always works on his game,” said Sean Couturier, who has centered a line with Michkov on it for much of the season. “And he’s a very competitive guy, too. All that put together makes him a pretty special player.”
As a center, Couturier often finds himself in a position to “make plays.” Yet when he’s out there on the ice with Michkov, the young Russian often shows a knack for finding the open man.
“He’s got very good hockey sense,” Couturier said. “He’s always aware of where players are on the ice and how to create offense. He’s one of those players who doesn’t need much room to make a play. You’ve just got to be ready, go to the open area and it’s pretty certain he will find you. He’s been a pleasure to play with.”
There have been plays made by Michkov this season which leave veteran players on the bench skaking their heads in wonderment.
“Yeah, in shootouts and breakaways,” Couturier was quick to point out. “You see him working on those in practice. He makes these moves, you don’t it coming and all of a sudden he pulls one off. In shootouts, he’s always fun to watch.
“I think on one of my goals, he saw me backdoor there. He had a good shot but he drew the guy (defender) to him, and that gave me time to get wide-open. That’s the kind of player he is.”
Garnet Hathaway has been in the NHL more than a decade and knows a natural when he sees one. Like Couturier, Hathaway watches Michkov closely and often comes away from a play very impressed.
“I think he sees the game so well,” Hathaway said. “He sees the ice and the openings in the game really well. Anticipating well at this level gives you an extra edge. That’s one thing that he’s continued to improve on throughout the year.
“So I believe his improvement in that area has helped his confidence.”
Flyers interim coach Brad Shaw worked mostly with defensemen until he took over from former head coach John Tortorella a couple weeks ago. However, Michkov’s athleticism has been catching his eye all season.
“I think he’s come a long way in his play away from the puck,” Shaw offered. “I think his ability to stay patient away from the puck has helped him. It’s actually led him to better checking. He gets the puck back quicker which gets you on the offense quicker.”
Michkov, who won NHL rookie of the month honors in October and February this season, did get to play one year in the Kontinental Hockey League before coming over here and no doubt that played a part in his maturity.
“I think playing pro hockey at any level – I played in the IHL (International Hockey League) when Rick Dudley was the GM while with the Detroit Vipers,” Shaw said. “They had 17-year-old Ilya Samsonov and he was playing against men. And when he got into the draft, I think it made him a more valuable player than playing junior or college.
“There’s no doubt (Michkov) playing in the KHL (with Sochi), it accelerated his learning curve by playing with men that quickly.”
Hopefully, voters will look beyond the obvious stuff when they sit down to vote for the Calder. Maybe they will ask themselves where they think these fine players will be five, 10 years from now. We’re predicting Michkov will go on to the greatest stardom of them all.
It could happen to Matvei Michkov.
Even though he entered weekend action with the most goals (24) and the second-most points (58), the Flyer forward might not even finish among the three finalists for the award.
Which by the way no Flyer has ever captured.
Some of it might have to do with where Philadelphia sits in the standings, namely last in the Metropolitan Division.
Meanwhile, Montreal defenseman Lane Hutson, who sits atop the rookie point standings with 62, is competing in the heat of a playoff chase.
Then you have two other strong Calder candidates: San Jose Sharks forward Macklin Celebrini and Calgary Flames goaltender Dustin Wolf.
Like Hutson, Wolf is playing for a playoff hopeful club and doing well, with a record nine games above .500 and a save percentage well above .900.
The Sharks might just be the worst team in the NHL right now but Celebrini’s near the top of several first-year players, including a tie with Michkov for power-play goals (seven) and one back of Michkov for third in even-strength assists (32).
Even considering all of that, Michkov deserves to be at least a finalist.
In addition to his prodigious even-strength stats, his seven power-play goals are bolsterd by his lead in shootout game-deciding goals, second in shooting percentage, plus third in power-play assists and points.
This might be somewhat controversial because, as mentioned, no Flyer has ever won a Calder. And right now, the betting odds suggest the streak will stay intact for another year.
Some of Michkov’s teammates might disagree with the folks in Las Vegas.
“He’s a player with skill, the way he stickhandles, makes plays, always works on his game,” said Sean Couturier, who has centered a line with Michkov on it for much of the season. “And he’s a very competitive guy, too. All that put together makes him a pretty special player.”
As a center, Couturier often finds himself in a position to “make plays.” Yet when he’s out there on the ice with Michkov, the young Russian often shows a knack for finding the open man.
“He’s got very good hockey sense,” Couturier said. “He’s always aware of where players are on the ice and how to create offense. He’s one of those players who doesn’t need much room to make a play. You’ve just got to be ready, go to the open area and it’s pretty certain he will find you. He’s been a pleasure to play with.”
There have been plays made by Michkov this season which leave veteran players on the bench skaking their heads in wonderment.
“Yeah, in shootouts and breakaways,” Couturier was quick to point out. “You see him working on those in practice. He makes these moves, you don’t it coming and all of a sudden he pulls one off. In shootouts, he’s always fun to watch.
“I think on one of my goals, he saw me backdoor there. He had a good shot but he drew the guy (defender) to him, and that gave me time to get wide-open. That’s the kind of player he is.”
Garnet Hathaway has been in the NHL more than a decade and knows a natural when he sees one. Like Couturier, Hathaway watches Michkov closely and often comes away from a play very impressed.
“I think he sees the game so well,” Hathaway said. “He sees the ice and the openings in the game really well. Anticipating well at this level gives you an extra edge. That’s one thing that he’s continued to improve on throughout the year.
“So I believe his improvement in that area has helped his confidence.”
Flyers interim coach Brad Shaw worked mostly with defensemen until he took over from former head coach John Tortorella a couple weeks ago. However, Michkov’s athleticism has been catching his eye all season.
“I think he’s come a long way in his play away from the puck,” Shaw offered. “I think his ability to stay patient away from the puck has helped him. It’s actually led him to better checking. He gets the puck back quicker which gets you on the offense quicker.”
Michkov, who won NHL rookie of the month honors in October and February this season, did get to play one year in the Kontinental Hockey League before coming over here and no doubt that played a part in his maturity.
“I think playing pro hockey at any level – I played in the IHL (International Hockey League) when Rick Dudley was the GM while with the Detroit Vipers,” Shaw said. “They had 17-year-old Ilya Samsonov and he was playing against men. And when he got into the draft, I think it made him a more valuable player than playing junior or college.
“There’s no doubt (Michkov) playing in the KHL (with Sochi), it accelerated his learning curve by playing with men that quickly.”
Hopefully, voters will look beyond the obvious stuff when they sit down to vote for the Calder. Maybe they will ask themselves where they think these fine players will be five, 10 years from now. We’re predicting Michkov will go on to the greatest stardom of them all.
