The Flyers aren’t shopping Matvei Michkov, and they haven’t even gotten a formal trade request from the young winger.
That’s the latest from TSN Hockey Insider Chris Johnston, who pushed back on a report from NHL Network’s Kevin Weekes earlier Tuesday afternoon suggesting Michkov wanted a fresh start somewhere else amid Philadelphia’s rough opening and some apparent friction inside the room.
“It’s possible it gets there, but what I can tell you at this moment in time is we’re certainly not there yet,” Johnston said.
Johnston also made clear the Flyers themselves have not received anything official from Michkov. “In fact, even after a lot of attention on the [situation] with Michkov getting into it with Seeler on the bench, obviously a difficult start for the Flyers this season, but the Flyers themselves have not received a formal trade request in this circumstance, and this is not a player they’re looking to trade.”
The bench scene in question came during the second period of Philadelphia’s 3-1 win over the Vancouver Canucks on Monday. Michkov was visibly fired up in an argument with teammate Nick Seeler after a play, and the exchange escalated enough that other players came over to help settle things down.
Michkov’s name carries plenty of weight in Philadelphia. The Flyers took him seventh overall in the 2023 NHL Entry Draft, and he made his debut with the club the following season.
His rookie year was a big one. Michkov earned a spot on the All-Rookie Team in 2024-25 after scoring 26 goals and finishing with 63 points, good for fourth in Calder Trophy voting. He followed that with a second season that was a step back, though still productive, putting up 20 goals and 51 points in 81 games.
There has already been some tension around his development. Flyers coach Rick Tocchet publicly called out Michkov’s conditioning and work before the trade deadline last season, before general manager Daniel Briere stepped in with support for the forward. Tocchet later apologized, and Michkov said he had changed his offseason habits over the summer.
For now, Johnston says the idea of Philadelphia moving on from Michkov simply doesn’t fit where things stand. “He’s in the third year of his career, still in his entry-level contract, scoring at half a goal a game,” Johnston said.
“And while it’s been a tough start for the team, they’re not simply going to give up on this kid. If they do ever think to trade him, they’ll be looking for a prized centreman or a quality player coming back the other way, but at this point in time, the Flyers are certainly not focused on moving him.”
In Other News...
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 🡒]
Flyers Suddenly Have A Bigger Matvei Michkov Problem Than One Blowup
Matvei Michkovs on-ice spat with Nick Seeler during the Flyers game against the Canucks was the kind of moment that quickly took on a life of its own once it was broadcast and clipped everywhere. Danny Briere tried to keep the temperature down afterward, treating the argument as the sort of thing that can happen when a team is carrying the weight of a season that has not gone the way anyone wanted.
The bigger issue, though, is what surfaced soon after the blowup. Reports indicated Michkov has wanted a trade, and the Flyers were not aware of that feeling before it became public, which turns a single sideline argument into something far more complicated for a front office already trying to manage the long view around one of its most important young players. [Read more 🡒]