The New York Islanders have a chance to look at a situation in Philadelphia and see something bigger than a messy start and a frustrated fan base. If Matvei Michkov ever becomes available, they should be paying attention.
Michkov, the seventh overall pick in the 2023 NHL Draft, is uncertain about whether he wants to keep going with the Flyers. That uncertainty lands in the middle of a rough stretch for Philadelphia, and it comes with another painful reminder for the organization: Cutter Gauthier, taken two years ago, already refused to sign his entry-level contract and forced his way out. He was dealt to the Anaheim Ducks and has since signed a massive $81 million extension.
That history matters because it makes the Michkov situation feel even more combustible. And if there is even a small opening for a move, the Islanders would make sense as a landing spot.
The fit starts with Mathew Barzal. He has not played this season because of left knee inflammation, but his return is expected soon, with the Islanders set to face the Los Angeles Kings on Nov.
- Michkov would not be joining the team right away in reality, but on paper the pairing is easy to picture: Michkov’s shot alongside Barzal’s playmaking could give the Islanders a dangerous one-two punch.
The two are viewed as being on a similar level, and that alone makes the idea hard for New York to ignore.
Barzal has already shown what happens when he gets a strong running mate. Bo Horvat was the first major name he played with after being drafted by the Islanders, and the chemistry has been there. Barzal’s production and overall game have climbed since Horvat arrived on Long Island, and there’s no reason to think Michkov couldn’t have the same effect - or push Barzal even higher.
Philadelphia’s side of this is only getting messier. Rick Tocchet has taken plenty of heat after the Flyers went ten games without a win, and his handling of Michkov, along with the short leash he has given him, has not gone over well. The backlash has been loud enough that Flyers fans have even raised money through a GoFundMe for a plane flyover and a billboard on I-95 calling for Tocchet’s firing.
Meanwhile, Pete DeBoer has the Islanders in a much steadier place. Even with injuries to Barzal, Matias Maccelli and Calum Ritchie - all top-six forwards - the team is still hanging around and outperforming expectations. Since DeBoer arrived, the system has shifted toward a more offense-driven style, and the addition of Matthew Schaefer, plus how quickly he has settled in, has helped that transition.
Put Michkov into that setup, and the appeal is obvious. He would give the Islanders another layer of offense and look like a natural fit on Barzal’s wing in DeBoer’s system.
In Other News...
Islanders Get Needed Help Back As Bigger Problems Still Loom
Matias Maccelli and defenseman Ryan Pulock were set to rejoin the Islanders for a matchup with the Kings, giving a banged-up roster a little more of the depth it has been missing. With Mathew Barzal also expected back soon, the timing matters for a team that has been trying to steady itself through a rough stretch in which injuries have played a part and the lineup has been forced to shuffle.
The returns offer a welcome lift, but they do not erase the larger issues that have been hanging over the club. The Islanders still have to sort out defensive lapses and a power play that has not delivered enough, so even with key pieces coming back, the next step is proving the team can turn healthier bodies into better results. [Read more 🡒]
Ilya Sorokin Is Giving The Islanders A Chance They Keep Testing
The Islanders four-game losing streak has put a familiar burden back on Ilya Sorokin, who keeps giving them a chance even as the lineup thins out around him. With injuries adding to the strain, the goaltender has been the steadier part of the picture, turning aside enough chances to keep games from getting away and allowing New York to stay within striking distance more often than the results suggest.
Sorokins season line, a 2.57 goals-against average and a .914 save percentage in 12 starts, is another reminder that his level has not dipped even as the team in front of him has had trouble matching it. The Islanders have leaned on him before, and with his track record as a past Vezina finalist, the bigger question now is how long he can keep absorbing this kind of pressure while the rest of the roster works through a rough patch. [Read more 🡒]
Kings Home Slide Is Starting To Raise Bigger Questions
Matthew Schaefer gave the Islanders an early lift with the go-ahead power-play goal in the first period, and New York kept control from there in a 5-2 win over the Kings. Ilya Sorokin backed it up with 26 saves, while Darcy Kuemper faced a steady stream of chances at the other end as the Islanders picked up a needed result and moved to 8-6-4.
For Los Angeles, the loss only added to an uneasy stretch and left more questions hanging around a team that has struggled to find traction. The Kings slipped to 5-10-2, and even with Kuemper in net and some pushback along the way, the margin for error keeps shrinking as the home slide continues to deepen. [Read more 🡒]