After Kevin Weekes reported that Matvei Michkov would like a fresh start, the Flyers suddenly found themselves staring at a familiar kind of mess: a gifted young player, a coach who hasn’t seemed to click with him, and a franchise trying to figure out where the real problem sits.
Michkov is the kind of forward Philadelphia has rarely had in its history - a highly skilled scorer with the upside to become one of the NHL’s best. But the way the Flyers have handled him has only fueled the tension.
He’s been benched, pushed down to the third or fourth line, stripped of minutes, and sat late in games. Rick Tocchet has also spent much of his first season openly criticizing Michkov to the media, and the two have clearly gone at it through his tenure.
That’s why the bigger issue in Philadelphia may not be Michkov at all. It may be the coach driving one of the team’s most important pieces out the door.
If the Flyers decide they need to move someone else instead, there are several names that make more sense than dealing the 21-year-old winger.
Travis Konecny is one of them. Philadelphia owns the worst points percentage in the Eastern Conference, and a big reason for the slide is the disappearance of its veteran core. Konecny has appeared in only 10 of the Flyers’ 20 games so far, and he has two goals and four assists for six points to begin 2026.
The bigger picture hasn’t changed much, either. Outside of a two-month stretch in the 2025-2026 season, the Flyers have not looked like a contender in recent years.
Their only offseason additions were a few fourth-line forwards and a backup goalie. They still don’t have their 1C or 1D of the future, and moving Konecny could help them take a step toward finding that missing piece.
If he agrees to waive his NMC, he would be one of the best trade chips on the market and could bring back a major haul.
Rasmus Ristolainen belongs in the conversation too. He has been a trade candidate for multiple seasons, and the same issues keep following him around.
Health has been the biggest obstacle. The 32-year-old defenseman has played in only four games this year, with one goal and a minus-1 rating.
When he’s healthy, Ristolainen is still a useful defenseman, and his contract makes him appealing. He’s on an expiring deal with a $5.1 million cap hit, which gives Philadelphia a chance to get value before he walks. If the Flyers keep sliding, a veteran sell-off becomes even more logical, and Ristolainen is exactly the kind of player a team should move while there’s still something to extract.
Nick Seeler is another defenseman who could be used to help the Flyers reset. His contract is very movable, with one year left after this season at a $2.7 million cap hit, and his no-trade clause is gone. Seeler has played in all 20 games, collected six assists, and sits at plus-3 while putting together what is on pace to be the best season of his career.
Still, the fit matters. A rebuilding team can’t have him in the middle of a confrontation with one of its young stars the way he was in Vancouver.
There would be plenty of interest in Seeler because of what he brings defensively and the modest price tag. For Philadelphia, he represents a chance to move out a veteran and get strong value in return.
Owen Tippett is also a name worth watching. He has been part of trade chatter before, and he could help the Flyers clear space on the wing while bringing back future value.
Injuries have been part of the story, and in 14 games he has only two goals and one assist for three points. Even so, he has averaged close to 50 points a season since joining the Flyers.
His contract makes him appealing around the league. Tippett is in year three of an eight-year deal with a $6.2 million cap hit, and that number looks manageable for a top-six winger as the cap rises.
Philadelphia has long had plenty of wing depth, and a move like the Bobby Brink trade showed the organization is willing to address that surplus. If Tippett’s production steadies, the Flyers would be wise to consider cashing in.
Cam York may be the clearest sign that change is coming. The Flyers have made it known they want more size on the blue line, and York hasn’t been thriving under Tocchet.
Three years ago, as a 22-year-old, he posted 30 points in 82 games while averaging 22:37 under John Tortorella. Back then, Philadelphia leaned on him every night.
That hasn’t been the case under Tocchet. York is now 25, and through 12 games this season he has just one point and a minus-10.
His cap hit is $5.15 million annually, and he isn’t set to reach free agency until 2030. Even so, the Flyers’ patience appears to be wearing thin, and a trade may be coming.
The return might not be ideal right now, but Philadelphia is likely to move him anyway.
In Other News...
Flyers Push Back As Matvei Michkov Drama Starts Getting Real
The Flyers are trying to keep the Matvei Michkov situation from turning into something bigger than one heated moment on the ice. After a recent argument with teammate Nick Seeler fueled talk of internal tension, the organization is making it clear that Michkov remains part of its plans, even as the club works through a difficult start to the season.
Michkov is still in the third year of his entry-level contract, and the talent that made him such an important piece of the future has not gone anywhere. For now, Philadelphia is focused on moving past the noise and keeping the conversation centered on his scoring ability rather than the drama around him, even if the questions are unlikely to disappear anytime soon. [Read more 🡒]
Flyers Head Into Oilers Test With One Matvei Michkov Decision Looming
The Flyers arrive in Edmonton with a little momentum after beating the Canucks, and the Western Canada trip now turns into a stiffer test at Rogers Place. Philadelphia has gone 2-2-1 over its last five, which is steady enough to keep the trip interesting, but the Oilers have been sharper lately at 3-1-1 and will offer a much different challenge than the game in Vancouver.
What makes this one worth watching beyond the standings is the lineup picture, especially around Matvei Michkov. The Flyers projected group is set for a night when usage decisions will be under a brighter spotlight than usual, and after the recent trade request report, every shift assignment is going to draw a second look. Edmonton may be the opponent, but for Philadelphia, the more revealing part of the night could be how the coaching staff handles that one lingering decision. [Read more 🡒]
Flyers Tension Boiled Over And Said Plenty About This Team
A tense moment on the Flyers bench during the game against Vancouver offered a glimpse of just how much emotion is still simmering inside this group. Matvei Michkov and Nick Seeler were caught in a heated exchange that played out on the NBC Sports Philadelphia broadcast, and while it was never explained afterward, it fit the kind of edge that often shows up when a team is trying to push itself toward something bigger.
Former coach John Tortorella later put that kind of confrontation in a familiar light, saying it can come from passion and a real desire to win rather than disrespect. For a Flyers team that has been searching for more consistency and more backbone, the scene also had a quieter subplot: rookie Porter Martone stepping in to help settle things down, a small but notable sign of leadership in a moment when the bench could have gone in a different direction. [Read more 🡒]