Matvei Michkov is still part of the Flyers’ plans, at least if Daniel Briere has anything to say about it.
Philadelphia’s general manager pushed back hard Wednesday at the GM meetings in Toronto after reports surfaced that Michkov had requested a trade. Briere said the organization had not received any such request from the player or his agent, and he made it clear the Flyers are not looking to move him.
“No, that’s not the plan at all,” the GM said. “We’ve never discussed that.”
Briere said the report caught him off guard, calling it “all news to me.” The Flyers’ stance appears to match what the rest of the organization believes, too. The Athletic’s Kevin Kurz reported Wednesday morning that the team denied Michkov had asked out, while ESPN/NHL Network analyst Kevin Weekes was the first to report the trade request, saying Michkov “would likely want a new start elsewhere” amid a 5-10-5 start and internal tension.
That tension showed up Tuesday night when Michkov and defenseman Nick Seeler argued on the bench during Philadelphia’s 3-1 win over the Vancouver Canucks (3-16-1).
Briere didn’t sound bothered by the exchange.
“I actually like the fact that our guys are fiery and want to win,” Briere said. “That’s what I saw [in Vancouver].
It’s showing competitive players. That’s what we’re looking for, that’s what we want.
The reality is, the team hasn’t performed great this year, and we expect more out of ourselves.”
Even with the denial, Michkov’s name isn’t going away anytime soon. The Flyers may not want to trade him now, but the conversation can linger all the way to the NHL trade deadline on March 1 at 3 p.m.
ET. He’s in the final year of his entry-level contract, and questions about his role are only getting louder.
Entering Wednesday, Michkov and center Trevor Zegras were tied for the team lead in points with 14 apiece, and Michkov’s production has come with limited usage. He’s averaging 15:53 of ice time per game, while Tyson Foerster leads the Flyers’ forwards at 17:04 per game despite having five points, including three goals and two assists.
Per Seravalli, Michkov, or an account registered to him, recently liked an Instagram post criticizing his ice time compared with less productive players. That only adds fuel to the debate over his role, especially with Philadelphia’s offense sitting at 2.25 goals per game, below league average.
Briere said the team believes it has put Michkov in a position to succeed.
“He’s been placed in a position to succeed,” Briere said. “More minutes, more opportunities, more situations than last year.
Matvei is developing. He’s far from a finished product.”
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 🡒]