Much ado about nothing or something to which the Flyers should be giving a closer look?
Speculation ran wild Wednesday afternoon after Monday night’s verbal confrontation between forward Matvei Michkov and defenseman Nick Seeler during a game in Vancouver.
During a break in the action, Seeler skated over to Michkov, who was seated on the bench, and the two exchanged words in what appeared to be a heated discussion.
Before Wednesday night’s game in Edmonton, general manager Daniel Briere held a media Zoom call to address the issue and an ESPN report that Michkov wants out of Philadelphia.
The GM stated that ESPN report is incorrect.
“That’s the disappointing part, that the report was not correct,” Briere said. “When speaking to Matvei and his agent (J.P. Barry), part of the reason why we’re in Edmonton is the chance to meet up with Matvei.
“Matvei said it wasn’t from him. He never said anything about that. He doesn’t know where it came from, who it’s from. His agent swears it wasn’t from him, either.”
Complicating the whole situation is Michkov’s contract status. He’s in the final year of his three-year rookie deal and there is already speculation the next deal – if Michkov is still here – will be a substantial number.
The GM declined to talk about any details of a possible new contract or if the Flyers are even interested in talks.
Later, he didn’t sound too pleased with the ESPN report in general.
“It’s real easy to make up what you want,” he said. “It’s unfortunate but this is the stuff we have to deal with nowadays.”
The report by ESPN’s Kevin Weekes also speculated about “inner turmoil” on the Flyers – that there’s a rife between Michkov and other Flyers.
Briere shot down that notion of negative turmoil as well.
“Nobody is happy with the way the season has gone,” Briere said. “I don’t know if that’s the turmoil they’re talking about. Nobody is happy with what’s going on, only five wins in the first 20 games. That’s the competitive nature of the players, especially after last year – they came in this year expecting to be better.
“When you don’t win, there’s lots of meetings, lots of discussions. That kind of turmoil? Absolutely. That’s one of Michkov’s strengths, his competitiveness. He said it publicly, he’s not happy with the fact the team isn’t winning enough. These guys stuck together last year and they want to get back to winning ways.”
When teams are struggling (the Flyers took a 5-10-5 record into Wednesday night’s game), these kinds of things happen.
Both Seeler and Michkov downplayed the incident, indicating it was just something that naturally occurs throughout a game.
Michkov is off to a great start this season, leading the team with 10 goals.
The young Russian confirmed that Briere had spoken to him and the whole team about just concentrating on hockey.
“This is an emotional game,” he said. “Everybody wants to win. ‘Seels’ is an emotional guy, me, too. All guys are hungry for wins on the bench, too.
“For me, this is good. When all guys get emotional, everybody wants to win. Before the game, we (Michkov and Seeler) sit together on (at) dinner and it’s all good.”
“That happens when teams are playing well, too,” Seeler said. “He’s a competitive guy, plays with a lot of passion. We had no issue with it. It’s good to show that you care. He’s a guy who’s obviously having a good year.
“He cares and it really wasn’t a big deal. Then the media got ahold of it. We spoke after the period and (thought) it was over with. Then, all of a sudden after the game, where there was this big deal when it really wasn’t. That’s kind of the day and age we live in.”
Seeler acknowledged the Flyers haven’t had it too easy lately and naturally emotions can run high.
“Obviously there’s some adversity with our group this year,” he said. “But you know what, we’re still in this together. We’re going to get out of it together. It wasn’t a perfect game in Vancouver but it was a step in the right direction. We got the win and hopefully we can build off that.”
Briere even suggested a little show of emotion like with Seeler-Michkov isn’t necessarily a bad thing.
“It’s like brothers and sisters fighting,” Briere said. “It happens. They’re competitive guys. When you’re not winning, there are some rifts here and there. I’ve been through it in my career many, many times. It’s part of the passion. They’re going to fight here and there. It (losing) is a drag. They don’t accept it easily.
“I’m not worried about that. I’m actually glad they don’t accept it. If they were good with what’s happening, I would be more worried. I think this is a good thing.”
Briere said he expects Michkov to be here for “a long, long time.”
Coach Rick Tocchet also said the incident should not be taken too seriously.
“It happens all the time,” he said. “We went through similar stuff last year. We dealt with it really well and we’re dealing with it again. We’re a young group.
“Back in the day, cameras didn’t pick up (on such incidents). Now cameras are on everybody. You can get mad, throw a water bottle and be mad at a guy and the story is all over, especially when you’re losin’. I love Mark Howe, he used to give it to me all the time when I dumped the puck. He would give it to me but he’d be the first guy to buy you a beer at night. That’s just the hockey way.”
Weekes reported Michkov wants out of Philadelphia.
Michkov denied that as did Tocchet. The coach said he didn’t bother to talk to Michkov after the Seeler incident or about his future plans.
“There’s nothing to talk about,” Tocchet said of Michkov wanting to be moved. “It’s not true. So there’s nothing to report.”
Briere said he’s not concerned about any friction in the Tocchet-Michkov relationship.
“I’m not in the locker room – as far as I know I don’t think there’s a problem there,” Briere said. “Rick’s the one who back in the second half last year, tweaked the system and was a big reason why we were able to get into the postseason. I expect him to find solutions and turn this thing around.”
>Ristolainen returns
After a second stint on the injured list, defenseman Rasmus Ristolainen was expected to return to the lineup on Wednesday night.
“He’s a huge part of our ‘D’ corps,” Seeler said. “Super solid back there. His physicality, his skating ability and getting us moving up the ice. He can pretty much do it all. I’m excited to play with him.”
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