A Matvei Michkov trade idea tied to the Edmonton Oilers has lit up social media, but the buzz comes with a huge asterisk. The proposed deal would send Isaac Howard, a 2028 first-round pick and a third-round pick from Edmonton to the Philadelphia Flyers in exchange for Michkov.
On paper, it’s the kind of package that gets people talking. In reality, the reporting behind it is thin.
The suggestion is coming from an unverified account, and the posts attached to it offer no evidence that the Oilers and Flyers are actually working on this kind of framework. It’s a trade concept, not a trade on the horizon. That distinction matters.
For Edmonton, the appeal is easy to see. Michkov brings real offensive punch and could slot as another dangerous winger alongside Connor McDavid or Leon Draisaitl.
He has the kind of skill set that can punish defenses when they collapse on the puck carrier, and he already showed he can score in the NHL. In his rookie season, Michkov put up 26 goals and 63 points in 80 games during the 2024-25 campaign.
That production gives the idea more weight than a pure upside gamble. Michkov has already established a scoring base, not just a highlight reel. Put him next to elite playmaking talent and it’s not hard to imagine more chances opening up for him.
Still, that’s only half the equation. Philadelphia would have to be convinced to move on from a player who has already proven he can finish at the NHL level.
Howard gives the Flyers a prospect with offensive intrigue, and Edmonton’s decision to acquire Howard from Tampa Bay for Sam O’Reilly in July 2025 shows the value placed on his ceiling. Add in a first-round pick in 2028 and a third-round pick, and the return starts to look substantial.
But substantial doesn’t automatically mean enough. Howard would still need to develop, and the first-round pick is three years away from being used.
That’s a lot of uncertainty compared with Michkov’s already established NHL scoring. Unless Philadelphia had a strong reason to change direction, the package would seem hard to justify.
The fan reaction around the rumor reflected that same skepticism. Dump The Puck called the account “Obviously a fake source,” while That Guy wrote: “Way too much.”
On the optimistic side, Doppa D said, “Michkov’s production would explode in Edmonton. Hope it’s true, but I doubt it.”
So the idea has a clear split: it makes sense as a hockey discussion for Edmonton, but it looks far less convincing from Philadelphia’s side. For now, it’s a social-media trade pitch, not a deal with real legs.
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