Flyers, Michkov, and the Long Road to Growth: Tocchet Keeps It Real
Rick Tocchet isn’t one to sugarcoat things, and he didn’t hold back when asked about Matvei Michkov’s limited ice time during a recent appearance at the Flyers Carnival. The head coach gave a candid assessment of the 21-year-old winger’s season, and while it wasn’t exactly a glowing review, it offered a window into the challenges both the player and the team are navigating this year.
Tocchet pointed to Michkov’s conditioning - or lack thereof - coming into training camp as a key factor in his current struggles. “Matvei did not come into camp in shape,” Tocchet said.
“And it’s hard to play yourself into shape.” That’s a blunt but telling comment.
In a league where speed and stamina are non-negotiables, especially for young players trying to establish themselves, showing up ready to go is step one. Fall behind there, and the climb gets steep fast.
Tocchet didn’t stop at conditioning. He laid out a broader picture of what’s been lacking in Michkov’s game: the ability to win one-on-one battles, to come out of the corner with the puck, to make plays through the rush.
“He’s having a tough time in those situations,” Tocchet noted. “Other players try - maybe they don’t have the skill set - but we’re trying to get him to that level.”
That’s the key phrase here: trying to get him to that level. There’s no doubt about Michkov’s raw talent.
His offensive instincts are elite. But raw talent alone doesn’t cut it in the NHL.
The Flyers are looking for a complete player, someone who can handle the grind, make the right reads, and bring consistent effort - on and off the ice.
Tocchet emphasized that development isn’t just about what happens during the game. It’s about practice habits, showing up on time for treatment, nutrition - the full professional package.
“You don’t become a star just by being skilled,” he said. He even pointed to Trevor Zegras as an example - a player who faced his own ups and downs, bought into a system, and is now thriving.
It’s clear Tocchet is trying to strike a balance between accountability and opportunity. He mentioned giving Michkov a look at center during a recent slump, a move that suggests the coaching staff is still experimenting with how best to deploy him.
But Tocchet also made one thing clear: “The crest supersedes everything. Not individuals.
That’s what I believe.”
That line hits at the heart of the Flyers’ longstanding identity - team-first, workmanlike, gritty hockey. It’s a philosophy that’s been preached in Philadelphia for decades.
But let’s be honest: that philosophy hasn’t translated into championships in a long time. The Flyers haven’t been a true contender in 15 years.
Fans are hungry for results, and whether that comes from a lunch-pail squad grinding out wins or from a couple of high-end talents lighting the lamp every night, they just want to see progress.
And that’s where the Michkov situation gets complicated. On one hand, he’s made some head-scratching decisions on the ice - like a recent play where he tried to carry the puck into the zone and lost it, leaving his teammates scrambling to recover. These are the kinds of mistakes that make coaches pull their hair out, especially when they come from a player who’s still trying to earn trust.
On the other hand, Michkov’s been put in some tough spots this season. He’s spent a lot of time playing on his off-wing, which isn’t ideal for a young forward trying to find rhythm.
He’s also been navigating a coaching change, a new system, and what appears to be a sophomore slump. That’s a lot to juggle, even for a player with his upside.
What’s next? The Olympic break is coming up, and it couldn’t arrive at a better time.
The Flyers aren’t in the playoff hunt, so this stretch offers a chance to reset - for Michkov, for the coaching staff, and for the organization as a whole. There’s still time for Michkov to turn the corner this season, to get his conditioning right, clean up the mistakes, and show flashes of the player the Flyers believe he can become.
But it’s going to take buy-in - from everyone. From the coaches, who need to find the right way to push him.
From Michkov, who has to take ownership of his development. And from the organization, which needs to commit to a clear plan for one of its most promising young talents.
And maybe, just maybe, it’s time to get Michkov in front of the media and let him speak for himself. Accountability goes both ways, and hearing directly from the player could help fans - and the team - better understand where his head is at.
For now, the message from Tocchet is clear: talent alone won’t carry you. In Philly, the standard is higher than that.