VOORHEES, N.J. – Slava Kuznetsov’s job as interpreter for Matvei Michkov is just about coming to an end and the Flyers couldn’t be happier.
In his first two seasons in and around Philadelphia, the young Russian player had trouble just saying hello and goodbye in English.
But over the summer the past summer the right wing really worked at his language skills and that was apparent when he met with the media on Thursday’s opening day of training camp at the Flyers Training Center.
The reason this is so important is because being able to communicate with teammates and coaches will make both sides more comfortable as well as quicker to get their points across.
It’s a big season for Michkov. After a sensational rookie season with a team-leading 26 goals, he suffered a bit of a sophomore slump last year and managed only 20.
Determined to get back to that productive freshman year, Michkov worked hard over the summer and was all smiles as he attempted to answer all the media’s questions.
“I know now a little bit better English,” the 22-year-old Michkov said. “My first year was so hard for me. The second year a little bit better. And now more. I feel now much better. I feel like Philly is my second home. My first home (Russia) and my second home (Philadelphia) I feel the same. I want to thank everyone (Flyers fans) for their support.”
Flyers captain Sean Couturier knows that a happy, in-shape Michkov can only help in the team’s quest to repeat last season’s unexpected playoff appearance.
“You can definitely tell, he’s put in the work,” Couturier said. “He’s put in sacrifices, he looks to be in good shape. He’s skating well out there, making plays. It’s exciting to see. He’s always been a big part of our team. We expect that out of him. He seems to want more. That’s encouraging and it’s fun to see.”
One gets the impression Michkov is aware a lot is expected from him this year. This is a contract year for him and he definitely wants to get back in coach Rick Tocchet’s good graces.
“I feel good, had a good summer,” Michkov said. “I work all the time. I practiced working with my hands. One-timers. . .that’s one problem I’ve had. I need to shoot the one-timer. We’ve talked about that.”
Michkov has reportedly lost somewhere in the vicinity of 30 pounds – yes, 3-0 – over the past 12 months.
Teammate Travis Konecny sounded a bit astonished to hear that number but he did say Michkov looks a lot better on the ice this September.
And just being able to converse smoothly is a plus.
“The communication is huge,” he said. “The conversations I’ve had have been a little better, just understanding each other. That’s always positive. And when it’s a heated situation on the bench, and you can kind of understand what each other is trying to say, it goes a long way. Hopefully we see that transition this year.”
Tocchet had his ups and downs with Michkov last season. In some of the lower moments, the Russian was benched for games in both the regular season and the playoffs.
But the coach isn’t the type to hold grudges. It’s a new year and maybe a new beginning.
Getting past the language barrier should help.
“I think that is a big step for him,” Tocchet said. “I don’t think he needs a translator all the time (now). We want to take the safety net under him (away). I think he did a hell of a job.
“We have to create that culture for him. He doesn’t need people around him, I think he knows. It’s the only way to learn. He wants to learn and it’s good for us, too.”
Tocchet believes Michkov has the ability to “separate” himself from defenders with his speed and shiftiness. The weight loss should help.
“It’s just the first day but you could tell he’s lighter,” Tocchet said. “He looks stronger skating. His stride is longer. When guys start getting tired, their stride gets choppier. And his was still elongated. That’s a good sign.
“If you want to be a good rush player, you can’t be if you can’t separate. If you have that separation speed, that’s where he’s good, making that next play. It’s really fun to see when guys improve.”
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