Undoubtedly, Philadelphia Flyers fans are heavily focused on star forward Matvei Michkov. This is no surprise after Flyers general manager Danny Briere and President Of Hockey Operations Keith Jones got Michkov to Philadelphia sooner than expected.
Inside Matvei Michkov’s first few weeks in Philadelphia
Since his arrival, the winger has valued his friendship with teammate Egor Zamula. The two Russian players have been spotted hanging out numerous times, with the rookie citing their numerous conversations upon his arrival to the City of Brotherly Love. The Flyers have other Russian players, such as goaltender Ivan Fedotov, which should also help him transition from the KHL to the NHL.
Most recently, a photo of Michkov, his mom, brother, and Zamula went around. The group was celebrating Michkov’s mom’s birthday. There is a lot of pressure on the young forward. Most forget that that he is only 19 years old in a new country, playing for the most significant platform in which one can play hockey and still trying to learn English. Having a support system is vital to his success this upcoming season.
When Matvei Michkov landed at the airport about a month ago, Briere and Jones were waiting for him. Quickly, he was introduced to Slava Kuznetsov, who helped with translation during the introductory press conference. The Flyers staff have stepped up tremendously to make Michkov comfortable with this transition. The hockey star even threw the first pitch at a Philadelphia Phillies baseball game. He met with Phillies manager Rob Thomson and gave him a stick, joined by teammates such as Joel Farabee, Cam York, and Tyson Foerster, who are all big baseball fans.
The culture of Flyers hockey is changing for the better, as Michkov’s presidency will set the tone for some long-term goals the organization has. What are those exactly? To win the Stanley Cup.
With forward Travis Konecny getting an 8-year contract extension, there is a real buzz about achieving these goals. Konecny said he wants to stay in Philadelphia since he believes the Flyers can win the cup. While Michkov is only one player, he has a skillset at a young age that will continue to develop and make him even more of a threat.
While the expectation isn’t necessarily making the playoffs this season, it could happen. The Flyers sat in a playoff spot for most of the season last year before falling short. With the team adding Michkov, they can only get better. The fight the team had last year reminded all true hockey fans what Flyers hockey is genuinely about—gritty, challenging, and resilient. The atmosphere inside the Wells Fargo Center differed from the previous year. Before, fans of other teams were filling up the barn; now, it’s a sea of orange.
With the summer winding down, fans can look forward to seeing Michkov play in the Rookie Series against the New York Rangers on Friday, September 13th, and Saturday, September 14th, at the PPL Center. This is to showcase the young talent and get the players comfortable before heading into a John Tortorella training camp, which many know is very tough.
