Matvei MichkovB次元官网网址檚 first dose of culture shock in American hockey hit the teen sensation when he skated in the opening days of Philadelphia FlyersB次元官网网址� training camp.
Flyers fans were already dressed in his No. 39 jersey. Lots of them. Kids. Adults. The Flyers open the doors to the public for most practices, and fans B次元官网网址� who havenB次元官网网址檛 had much to cheer for since 2010 B次元官网网址� flocked to South Jersey to catch a glimpse of the talent whoB次元官网网址檚 buzz has already drawn comparisons to another franchise great, Eric Lindros.
B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 an unbelievable feeling to see the fans already showing up,B次元官网网址� Michkov said through a translator. B次元官网网址淚t helps go though the hard training. Sometimes, weB次元官网网址檙e doing it for the fans and it helps overall.B次元官网网址�
The 19-year-old Russian also noted heB次元官网网址檇 never seen so many fans before wearing his jersey.
He better get used to the early fame.
In a sports city loaded with the biggest athletes in sports B次元官网网址� from Bryce Harper to Joel Embiid to Jalen Hurts B次元官网网址� the once-mighty Flyers have languished in obscurity with rosters filled with mostly indistinguishable skaters.
Michkov could be the breakthrough star the Flyers desperately craved as they make the climb back into the playoffs B次元官网网址� and relevancy.
The hype comes with one critical caveat, per coach John Tortorella.
B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 not going to be the Mischa show, because I think itB次元官网网址檚 unfair to him,B次元官网网址� Tortorella said. B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檓 going to watch that very closely, because I want to give him every opportunity to get his feet planted in here and go about it the right way.B次元官网网址�
The Flyers are even still amazed Michkov is in the States to help push the team for the first time since 2020, and in the 50th anniversary season of their last Stanley Cup championship.
His slick playmaking had scouts projecting Michkov might have been drafted right behind ChicagoB次元官网网址檚 Connor Bedard in 2023 had he not been tangled in a long-term deal with his team in RussiaB次元官网网址檚 Kontinental Hockey League.
General manager Danny Briere preached patience when the Flyers selected Michkov with the seventh pick in the 2023 draft, knowing he had three years left on his KHL contract. After tricky negotiations, SKA St. Petersburg instead let Michkov over the summer, paving the way for the 5-10, 176-pound right wing to arrive in Philadelphia ahead of schedule.
The early returns impressed the Flyers.
B次元官网网址淵ou could tell he has a lot of confidence, heB次元官网网址檒l try some stuff that most guys wonB次元官网网址檛,B次元官网网址� Flyers goalie Samuel Ersson said. B次元官网网址淚 know in the scrimmages we had here a little bit before camp, he scored some nifty goals on me. So itB次元官网网址檚 kind of like, all right, I got to be ready for everything here when he comes in.B次元官网网址�
With opening night not until Oct. 11 in Vancouver, the Flyers have experimented with line combinations. Morgan Frost, a first-round pick in the 2017 draft, has centered a line that included Michkov and Owen Tippett.
TheyB次元官网网址檝e let their play do the talking, as Michkov, who turns 20 in December, crams to learn English.
B次元官网网址淚 think sometimes itB次元官网网址檚 a little harder for him to say what he wants to say,B次元官网网址� Frost said. B次元官网网址淚 think everyoneB次元官网网址檚 trying to make him welcome, and he seems to have a great attitude and he has fun out there.B次元官网网址�
MichkovB次元官网网址檚 transition to America has been eased somewhat with the Flyers use of a steady translator B次元官网网址� who sat with Michkov in the Phillies dugout before a recent first pitch B次元官网网址� and playing with Russian teammates Egor Zamula and Ivan Fedotov.
Michkov, who is from Perm, Russia, is just one of the boys in the locker room. Before a recent practice, Michkov was left a message at his locker written in both English and Russian, just so nothing was lost in translation.
B次元官网网址淒id you already find US woman,B次元官网网址� Zamula said, laughing. B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檓 like B次元官网网址� Right away? ItB次元官网网址檚 too soon guys, focus on hockey.B次元官网网址�
Teammate Erik Johnson was the instigator, just a little fun to loosen up the training camp grind.
B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檓 going to help him as much as I can, joke with him, have fun with him,B次元官网网址� Johnson said. B次元官网网址淢aybe try and teach him some new words. I donB次元官网网址檛 know what those will be, but weB次元官网网址檒l see. IB次元官网网址檒l try and help him on a day-to-day basis. Maybe do some trivia, I donB次元官网网址檛 know, just little stuff to kind of make it fun and help him with his English.B次元官网网址�
He needed little help in Russia with his hockey. Michkov was the property of SKA St. Petersburg, where he appeared in one game before being loaned to HC Sochi for the remainder of the season. He had 19 goals and 22 assists for 41 points in 47 games. He recorded 11 multipoint games and finished the season with five goals and eight points in his last nine games.
B次元官网网址淗eB次元官网网址檚 got some personality,B次元官网网址� Tortorella said. B次元官网网址淪ometimes it goes the wrong way with a coach and a player, but at least itB次元官网网址檚 personality. I think itB次元官网网址檚 boring sometimes in this league where thereB次元官网网址檚 no personality with the guys. He does. You can see the puck follows him. HeB次元官网网址檚 skilled, you can see that.B次元官网网址�
Philadelphia is just now deftly orchestrated by Briere and beginning to transition into a contender.
Who knows? The missing piece just might be a teenager out of Russia.
B次元官网网址淗eB次元官网网址檚 got those hands, that vision, he can make plays,B次元官网网址� Flyers captain Sean Couturier said. B次元官网网址淲eB次元官网网址檒l see, but I think we got to be careful also not to just judge right away. HeB次元官网网址檚 only 19, and heB次元官网网址檚 coming to a new country. I donB次元官网网址檛 know how many times heB次元官网网址檚 been over here, but thereB次元官网网址檚 a lot of new stuff in his life. I think we got to be patient and let him grow into the player he can be.B次元官网网址�
