Matvei Michkov is back in Philadelphia, and the Flyers have the pictures to prove it.
After PHLY’s Anthony Gargano reported Monday that the Flyers forward would be back in the city that night, the team confirmed it on Tuesday afternoon with a post showing Michkov and several teammates already getting to work. The Flyers said, “The boys are back in town. 📍”
Michkov is back on the ice in Voorhees with a group that included Dan Vladar, Rasmus Ristolainen, Tyson Foerster, Owen Tippett, and Porter Martone, all of whom were shown working out at the Flyers Training Canter.
For Michkov, the return comes after a pair of seasons that have kept him under a close watch ever since he arrived in North America two summers ago, ahead of schedule. He began his NHL career with John Tortorella behind the bench and finished that first season with 26 goals and 37 assists for 63 points in 80 games.
The rookie year had its highs and lows, and Michkov didn’t hide how he felt about it at the time.
“There were some difficulties but we’ll overcome them,” Michkov said in his end-of-season interview in 2025. “Truthfully there were moments in the season where I could’ve scored a lot more. I was not very happy with my result.”
He also said that he doesn’t like to play not enough minutes, and that if he were to play more minutes, he would feel more comfortable.
Then came Rick Tocchet, and the conversation around Michkov changed again.
His second season was a step back statistically, but still produced 20 goals and 31 assists for 51 points. He also saw his average ice time fall from 16:41 to 14:50 per game.
A big part of the chatter around Michkov last season centered on the fact that he came into training camp out of shape, something Tocchet appeared to carry with him throughout the year. That made this summer a major one for the young forward.
Michkov spent it training in Russia, where he was putting up highlight-reel goals in exhibition games and working alongside some of the top players in his home country. The Flyers even sent a trainer to Russia to oversee his offseason work, and Michkov skipped vacation to stay locked in on preparation.
“There was no vacation at all, because an important season is ahead. I need to play well, I want that myself.
So, I need to keep my body in shape at all times,” Michkov said via RG. “ What did I learn from last season?
That you need to prepare well for the season, not treat it carelessly.”
He also explained how intensive that preparation was.
“Philadelphia sent a coach to oversee my preparation for the start of next season. We worked for two weeks, doing three practices a day.
In the morning there was the gym, a strength workout, then we’d go to the ice, and in the evening there was another session - for physical conditioning. Unfortunately, the coach didn’t have that much time, so he wanted to fit everything into two weeks,” Michkov said, via RG.
Now he’s back with the Flyers, and the timing matters. Rookie camp begins Friday, Sept. 11, followed by main training camp on Thursday, Sept. 17, with the preseason opener coming on Sept. 21.
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