Matvei Michkov has become the kind of name that can reshape a trade conversation in a hurry.
The Philadelphia Flyers forward, drafted seventh overall in the loaded 2023 class, has the kind of offensive ceiling teams dream on. He already has a 60-point season on his résumé, and he has 10 goals in 20 games this year.
Even so, he still hasn’t fully hit that superstar level in his third NHL season, and whether he made an official trade request is disputed. Either way, he’s now being viewed as a clear change-of-scenery candidate.
That’s where Minnesota enters the picture, even if the fit looks awkward on the surface. The Wild haven’t shown much interest in taking on underwhelming prospects and trying to fix them, something reflected in their lack of interest in players like Shane Wright. And with the recent outburst in Philadelphia adding to the character concerns that followed Michkov as a prospect, it’s hard to imagine Bill Guerin rushing to bring him into Minnesota’s tight locker room.
But Michkov doesn’t have to be Minnesota’s long-term answer to matter here.
The real pressure point is the Wild’s stalemate with Detroit over Dylan Larkin. The Red Wings appear to want more than the market is offering, including Minnesota’s bid.
Elliotte Friedman has said that offer is Danila Yurov and three first-round picks. On paper, that’s a hefty package.
Detroit still isn’t taking it.
The reason is simple enough: the Red Wings want a young player who can help right away. They don’t want to wait years for draft picks to grow up.
They want a return on Larkin now, not later. Michkov could be that kind of player, and that’s why a three-way deal starts to make sense.
Three-team trades haven’t exactly become an NHL staple. Most of the ones that have happened were tied to salary retention, and the league has since shut that door.
In 2026, a three-way deal has to work for everybody involved. Minnesota, Detroit and Philadelphia actually line up pretty well for that.
Minnesota’s need is obvious: Larkin is a proven veteran 30-goal scorer, and he’s close with Quinn Hughes, whom the Wild need to re-sign if they want to keep their Stanley Cup hopes alive. Detroit, meanwhile, could use a player like Michkov - a potential superstar whose offense would push some of its good-but-not-great forwards down the depth chart.
Philadelphia’s ask is different. The Flyers need ammo.
Their 5-10-5 start could knock them out of the playoff race this season, but they just ended a five-year run of missing the postseason. They do not want to fall back into that pattern, and they’ve already shown they’re willing to swing big for star talent.
Their pursuit of Leo Carlsson came up short, but the idea of committing $90 million over five years and four first-round picks to land him showed how aggressive they’re willing to be. They’ll likely keep chasing.
That’s why a package such as a protected first-round pick from Detroit, Charlie Stramel, and two firsts from Minnesota could appeal to Philadelphia. It would give the Flyers the kind of draft capital they need to stay in the offer-sheet game without emptying the cupboard.
Or it could become part of a larger stash for the next disgruntled star to hit the market. Detroit may not love the idea of turning Larkin into futures, but Philadelphia looks ready to keep collecting them.
There are plenty of ways to build this framework out. Detroit has its own unhappy top prospect in Simon Edvinsson.
Philadelphia has big-money wingers like Travis Konecny and Owen Tippett if the Red Wings want more immediate help from the Flyers. And maybe Jiříček could get his third fresh start in as many years in Hockeytown.
For Minnesota, the appeal goes beyond the theater of it all. A three-way deal with Philadelphia could give the Wild one more piece to show Hughes.
It could also open a path to landing Larkin without giving up Yurov. And while young star Porter Martone should have no issue producing in the NHL, Stramel was his center at Michigan State, which means he might carry more value in Philadelphia than he did in Detroit.
In Other News...
Wild Face Growing Quinn Hughes Pressure As Deadline Nears
Bill Guerin says the Wilds contract talks with Quinn Hughes are still in the same place as the deadline to July 1 gets closer, with no new movement to report on an extension. The Minnesota general manager has made clear he would like to keep the defenseman around for as long as possible, and Hughes recently spoke favorably about his situation in Minnesota, but there has been no confirmation that a deal is close.
Hughes has not yet entered extension discussions, leaving the Wild to navigate a familiar kind of late-summer uncertainty around one of the most important players on the roster. For a team trying to build stability on the blue line, the next stretch matters, even if the public posture remains unchanged and the final decision still sits out ahead. [Read more 🡒]
Wild Get Jared Spurgeon Back At A Crucial Time
The Wild got a needed boost on the blue line with Jared Spurgeon coming off injured reserve after missing the last five games. Minnesota had been managing without one of its most dependable defensemen, and his return gives the team a steadier presence as it tries to keep its lineup intact through a tough stretch.
Tyler Pitlick was the corresponding roster move, with the forward assigned to Iowa to make room on the active roster. Spurgeons return also lands at a meaningful point for Minnesota beyond the immediate lineup shuffle, with his contract situation still hanging over the season as the Wild look to sort out both the present and what comes next. [Read more 🡒]
Brock Faber Suddenly Looms Over A Huge Wild Lineup Decision
The Wild are getting some important bodies back in time for their game against Montreal, with Jared Spurgeon set to return from injured reserve and Michael McCarron also expected back after missing time with an upper-body injury. Spurgeons activation means Minnesota had to clear room on the roster, and the move comes as the team tries to steady its blue line and get back to something closer to full strength.
Brock Faber is the name hanging over the rest of the decision-making. He has been practicing with the club after the skull fracture that sidelined him, but his status for the Canadiens game is still unresolved, and that uncertainty matters because of how much the Wild lean on him when he is available. With the roster already shifting around Spurgeons return, Fabers next step could determine whether Minnesota gets a major defensive boost now or has to keep waiting a little longer. [Read more 🡒]