Matvei Michkov’s second NHL season didn’t unfold the way the Flyers hoped, and now Rick Tocchet is owning his part in it.
In an interview with The Athletic’s Kevin Kurz released today, the Philadelphia coach called his first year working with Michkov “a learning lesson for both of us.” Tocchet also said that if he had the chance to do it over, he would not have repeated his comments about Michkov being out of shape at the start of the season in February.
“I had already said it four times; I don’t think I needed to say it a fifth time.”
That was the flashpoint in a season that ended with Michkov scratched for key games during Philadelphia’s two-round playoff run. Tocchet’s management of the young winger drew criticism from some observers who felt the relationship was handled poorly in his first season on the Flyers bench. Tocchet pushed back on that view, saying, “I thought the coaches did a great job with him,” and “I think he really learned a lot.”
He added that Michkov “played some really good games for us” and said his focus now, heading into 2026-27, is to “get him in a situation to be comfortable on the ice.” Tocchet said the aim is to unlock Michkov’s creativity while still maintaining what he called “some non-negotiables.”
For Tocchet, the first year in Philadelphia was still a success by the standings. The former Vancouver Canucks coach finished 43-27-12, got the Flyers into the playoffs, and even guided them past the Pittsburgh Penguins in the first round.
Elsewhere around the hockey world, Maxim Shabanov is getting another crack at finding his footing in the NHL. The Russian forward didn’t have the kind of rookie season he wanted after struggling to carry over his KHL scoring touch to the league.
The New York Islanders let him go by declining to issue a qualifying offer, which made him an unrestricted free agent. He then signed a one-year, $1.6MM deal with the Minnesota Wild.
Minnesota appears ready to give him a real opportunity. According to Michael Russo and Joe Smith of The Athletic, Shabanov “will likely get a chance to play with [Kirill] Kaprizov ” in training camp.
That opening exists because Kaprizov lost Mats Zuccarello, his most frequent linemate and playmaker, and the Wild now have a spot to fill on that line. Shabanov, an undersized playmaker, will be hoping for the same kind of chemistry Zuccarello built on Kaprizov’s wing.
There was also movement in the OHL, where the Oshawa Generals picked up defenseman Linus Funck from the London Knights. The deal sent a 2027 second-round pick, via Guelph, and a 2028 third-round pick, via Sudbury, back to London.
Funck, a 6’3″ right-shot defenseman from Sweden, was a 2025 fourth-round pick of the Colorado Avalanche. He just finished his rookie OHL season in 2025-26, posting four goals and 22 points in 65 games. Oshawa is betting on upside here, with Elite Prospects describing him in the lead-up to the 2025 draft as someone who “could turn into a bottom-pairing option” at the highest level.
In Other News...
Brock Faber Update Just Deepened A Brutal Concern For The Wild
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Michael Russo of The Athletic reported that there were serious complications tied to the injury, but the full picture still hasnt been laid out publicly. For a Wild club that was already bracing for life without Faber, the lack of a recovery timeline is what makes this situation so difficult to read right now. [Read more 🡒]
Wild Have Two Early Pressure Points As Buffalo Test Looms
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Jesper Wallstedt is in line to get the call for Minnesota, adding another layer of intrigue in goal as the Wild try to keep the pressure points limited. Up front, Matt Boldy remains a player to watch after an opening stretch without a point despite the scoring chances he has created, while Kirill Kaprizov reaches a notable career milestone and carries a goal streak into a game that could hinge on how well Minnesota converts its early chances. [Read more 🡒]
Oilers Suddenly Have A Wild Mark Scheifele Question To Answer
The Mark Scheifele buzz out of Winnipeg has only grown louder as uncertainty continues to hang over the Jets, and the Minnesota Wild are among the teams watching closely. Winnipeg has not said it is shopping its top center, but speculation has followed the club since Connor Hellebuycks trade request, and Montreal, Edmonton and Minnesota have all surfaced as interested suitors as teams weigh whether Scheifele could become available.
For the Wild, the appeal is obvious: Scheifele would bring a proven offensive center into the middle of a group looking to stay relevant in a loaded Central Division. Any deal, though, would have to clear his no-movement clause, and Minnesota would almost certainly be asked to pay a steep price because of the divisional dynamic and the market around him, which is why this is the kind of rumor that can linger for a while before it ever turns into something concrete. [Read more 🡒]