Matvei Michkov’s second NHL season didn’t unfold the way the Flyers hoped, and now Rick Tocchet is owning his part in it.
In an interview with The Athletic’s Kevin Kurz released today, the Philadelphia coach called his first year working with Michkov “a learning lesson for both of us.” Tocchet also said that if he had the chance to do it over, he would not have repeated his comments about Michkov being out of shape at the start of the season in February.
“I had already said it four times; I don’t think I needed to say it a fifth time.”
That was the flashpoint in a season that ended with Michkov scratched for key games during Philadelphia’s two-round playoff run. Tocchet’s management of the young winger drew criticism from some observers who felt the relationship was handled poorly in his first season on the Flyers bench. Tocchet pushed back on that view, saying, “I thought the coaches did a great job with him,” and “I think he really learned a lot.”
He added that Michkov “played some really good games for us” and said his focus now, heading into 2026-27, is to “get him in a situation to be comfortable on the ice.” Tocchet said the aim is to unlock Michkov’s creativity while still maintaining what he called “some non-negotiables.”
For Tocchet, the first year in Philadelphia was still a success by the standings. The former Vancouver Canucks coach finished 43-27-12, got the Flyers into the playoffs, and even guided them past the Pittsburgh Penguins in the first round.
Elsewhere around the hockey world, Maxim Shabanov is getting another crack at finding his footing in the NHL. The Russian forward didn’t have the kind of rookie season he wanted after struggling to carry over his KHL scoring touch to the league.
The New York Islanders let him go by declining to issue a qualifying offer, which made him an unrestricted free agent. He then signed a one-year, $1.6MM deal with the Minnesota Wild.
Minnesota appears ready to give him a real opportunity. According to Michael Russo and Joe Smith of The Athletic, Shabanov “will likely get a chance to play with [Kirill] Kaprizov ” in training camp.
That opening exists because Kaprizov lost Mats Zuccarello, his most frequent linemate and playmaker, and the Wild now have a spot to fill on that line. Shabanov, an undersized playmaker, will be hoping for the same kind of chemistry Zuccarello built on Kaprizov’s wing.
There was also movement in the OHL, where the Oshawa Generals picked up defenseman Linus Funck from the London Knights. The deal sent a 2027 second-round pick, via Guelph, and a 2028 third-round pick, via Sudbury, back to London.
Funck, a 6’3″ right-shot defenseman from Sweden, was a 2025 fourth-round pick of the Colorado Avalanche. He just finished his rookie OHL season in 2025-26, posting four goals and 22 points in 65 games. Oshawa is betting on upside here, with Elite Prospects describing him in the lead-up to the 2025 draft as someone who “could turn into a bottom-pairing option” at the highest level.
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 🡒]