Rick Tocchet is backing off the hard line he took with Matvei Michkov last season.
The Flyers coach said he regrets repeatedly calling out Michkov’s fitness and believes the tension around the young winger has been exaggerated. Tocchet admitted the frustration he voiced in February went too far, especially after he had already made the same point several times.
"I think it's a learning lesson for both of us," Tocchet told The Athletic's Kevin Kurz. "I think the relationship has been overblown, and I think he's talked about it.
In saying that, in February, I was frustrated. I should have probably kept the remarks about him being out of shape - I had already said it four times; I don't think I needed to say it a fifth time.
As any coach, you learn a lesson. So, I would take that back."
That February criticism came on the PHLY Flyers Podcast, when Tocchet said Michkov had arrived at last season's training camp out of shape. The comments sparked a team meeting and led to general manager Daniel Briere publicly backing Michkov.
On the ice, the season was a step back for Michkov. He went from 63 points as a rookie to 51 under Tocchet last season, and he was a healthy scratch several times in the playoffs as Philadelphia advanced to the second round.
Still, Tocchet made it clear he wants to build Michkov up rather than box him in. He said the forward’s creativity remains central to what the Flyers want to unlock.
"He has high expectations for himself," Tocchet said. "I really want to help him right from the gate, and really get him in a situation to be comfortable on the ice.
I want him to be creative. I want him to come in my office and (ask), 'What do you think about this?'
But there are still some non-negotiables. We have to have them as a coach.
But I'd be crazy not to let him be creative or take a guy one-on-one or make plays off the rush. That's his gift.
I want him to do that. I think he's done (the work) this summer to prepare himself for that."
The Flyers took Michkov seventh overall in 2023. He was viewed as one of the most talented players in that draft class, but his KHL contract pushed him down the board. He eventually ended that deal early to come to Philadelphia before the 2024-25 season, and he has 114 points in 161 career games.
In Other News...
Flyers Fans Just Got An Early Look At The Next Wave
The next glimpse of the Flyers pipeline is almost here, with the club set to open its 2026-27 Rookie Camp at the PPL Center in Allentown on Sept. 11. The official roster gives fans an early look at a group built around 15 rookie forwards, eight rookie defensemen and three rookie goaltenders, a mix that includes draft picks from recent years along with signed players trying to carve out a longer-term role in the organization.
For a team that has spent plenty of time talking about development, this is the first real on-ice test of where that next wave stands. The week will include skating sessions and a pair of rookie games against the Rangers, which should offer a useful first read on how quickly this group is coming together before the pace picks up for the rest of camp. [Read more 🡒]
Matvei Michkov Enters A Huge Flyers Season With Even More At Stake
Matvei Michkov is heading into a big Flyers season with the kind of expectations that follow a player who has already shown he can tilt the ice, especially after a playoff run raised the bar even higher. The third-year winger spent the offseason training in Russia, and former Flyers captain Chris Pronger came away with the impression that Michkov looks better physically and still has room to grow as a player.
The next step may come from how the Flyers choose to use him. One idea being discussed is giving Michkov a new look alongside Trevor Zegras, either at even strength or on the power play, in hopes of squeezing more production out of one of the teams most talented young pieces. For a club trying to build on last seasons momentum, Michkovs development could end up being one of the defining storylines of the year. [Read more 🡒]
Flyers Rebuild Comes Down To One Hard Truth Fans Can't Ignore
The Flyers rebuild has followed a familiar modern NHL script, one built around patience, pain and the draft lottery. In consecutive years, Philadelphia came away with Matvei Michkov at seventh overall in 2023 and Porter Martone at sixth overall in 2024, a reminder that the route back to relevance often starts with losing enough to land premium talent. Chris Pronger recently underscored the value of those high-end picks, framing them as a central ingredient for contenders in the salary-cap era, even as he acknowledged there are different ways to get there.
Danny Briere has tried to keep the long view in focus, stressing that the organization needs room to maneuver as it keeps reshaping the roster. For a fan base that has waited through too many uneven seasons, the obvious question is how long that flexibility can remain theoretical before it has to become a real upgrade on the ice. The Flyers have the kind of young pieces that can make the rebuild look promising, but the harder part is turning that promise into the kind of team that can actually finish the job. [Read more 🡒]