Matvei Michkov Heating Up, Zegras Sharpening His Game, and Konecny Finding His Groove: Flyers’ Young Core Taking Shape
PHILADELPHIA - It took a few weeks, but Matvei Michkov is starting to look like the player Flyers fans were hoping for - and maybe more. After a quiet October where he found the net just once, the 20-year-old winger flipped the switch in November, leading the team with seven goals, including a two-goal effort in Saturday’s 5-3 win over the Devils in New Jersey.
And this isn’t a case of empty stats piling up. Michkov’s seven goals came in just 11 games, a stretch that’s been as much about his growth off the puck as his scoring touch. Heading into Monday night’s matchup with Pittsburgh, Michkov had already hit 34 career goals, making him just the fourth player in Flyers history to hit that mark before turning 21 - a milestone he’ll reach on December 9.
Flyers head coach Rick Tocchet has seen the evolution firsthand. After an injury slowed Michkov’s offseason training, it took some time for his conditioning to catch up.
But now? He’s rounding into form - and fast.
“He just wants to work on stuff that he’s got to get better at,” Tocchet said after a recent morning skate. “Which is a good thing. He’s looking at other avenues of scoring.”
That commitment is showing up in the details. Michkov’s been more physical, smarter with his positioning, and more effective in tight spaces.
Tocchet also made a key adjustment - shifting him to his natural left wing and pairing him with veterans Sean Couturier and Bobby Brink. The move has opened up his game.
“Putting him on the left wing, he’s not skating backwards as much,” Tocchet noted. “When he’s skating backwards, he looks slow. He’s had way more plays since he’s been on the left.”
There’s also the off-ice adjustment. Michkov is in his second year in North America, and his English is improving - a quiet but important part of his development. Tocchet, mindful of the language barrier, is careful not to overload him with too much information at once.
“As a coach, you have to be careful not to give too much information,” Tocchet said. “If you give too much, the poor guy doesn’t know what’s going on.”
But Michkov is clearly getting the message - and delivering on the ice.
Zegras Embracing Accountability and Growth
Trevor Zegras might lead the Flyers in points heading into Monday’s game, but that doesn’t mean he’s satisfied. The ultra-skilled forward is constantly looking to round out his game, and Tocchet has taken notice.
“I think when he’s going good, as a coach you want to leave him alone,” Tocchet said. “But you also want to show him stuff when he’s doing good. As coaches, it’s about knowing when to get involved and when not to.”
Zegras also leads the team in power-play goals with three, and he’s not shy about diving into the film room to fine-tune his reads. That curiosity and willingness to engage in two-way feedback has been a big part of his growth.
“We just watched a video, a couple little things on the power play,” Tocchet said. “He likes to hear the information.
Or he’ll go, ‘Hey, Toc, what about this?’ I like that.
It’s not just a one-way conversation.”
Just as important as the production is the accountability. When Zegras makes a mistake, he owns it - and that’s something Tocchet values.
“He made a mistake on the third goal [in New Jersey],” Tocchet said. “The whole world knows it.
I don’t need to go down and tell him. To put him back out there is big.
And I think he had a big shift when I threw him out there.”
That kind of trust between coach and player is how young stars become leaders. And for Zegras, it’s clear that when he stumbles, he learns - and corrects course quickly.
“This year, if he’s made a mistake, he’s corrected it pretty quickly,” Tocchet added.
Konecny Playing with Purpose
Travis Konecny’s game has always had flashes of brilliance, but now it’s starting to come together with consistency - and the numbers back it up. His plus-7 rating ties him with Tyson Foerster for second-best on the team, just behind Noah Cates’ plus-8.
But it’s not just about the plus-minus. It’s how he’s getting there.
“His game is starting to come,” Tocchet said. “Less turnovers, making more solid decisions.
There are times when he’s taking the puck to the hole. Before, he was looking to pass.
I’m seeing a lot more conviction in his game.”
That word - conviction - might be the key. Konecny is playing with more purpose, attacking the middle of the ice instead of staying on the perimeter. That inside-out approach is something Tocchet has been preaching.
“You want to support the puck, you want to make the right decisions,” the coach said. “But you have to attack. Like we don’t want to back up.”
Konecny’s always had the instincts. Now, he’s pairing that with decision-making that’s sharper and more assertive. It’s the kind of evolution that could elevate his game to another level - and help anchor a Flyers team that’s leaning heavily on its emerging core.
The Big Picture
With Michkov heating up, Zegras sharpening his all-around play, and Konecny finding his stride, the Flyers’ young core is starting to click. It’s not just about talent - it’s about growth, accountability, and the willingness to adapt. And under Tocchet’s watchful eye, that process is well underway.
This isn’t a finished product. But if November is any indication, the Flyers are building something - and their young stars are leading the charge.