Rick Tocchet may have no reason to second-guess his decision to leave Vancouver, but he does sound willing to revisit one of the messier storylines from his first season behind the Flyers bench.
That storyline centered on Matvei Michkov, the young forward Tocchet repeatedly questioned last season, especially when it came to conditioning. The scrutiny started early and never really let up, and it became a flashpoint with Flyers fans after Michkov’s production dipped in 2025-26 following a strong rookie year.
Michkov had put up 63 points in 82 games in his first NHL season, but he couldn’t carry that momentum forward. Under Tocchet, his ice time, goal total and point total all went down, and the coach continued to mention his conditioning on multiple occasions. Tocchet also scratched Michkov for two of Philadelphia’s 10 playoff games.
At the time, Tocchet was blunt about what he wanted from the young winger.
“I know he’s the lightning rod for everybody around here,” Tocchet said early last season. “He’s got to relax.
He’s got to get himself into shape. He’s got to be in positions… You can’t just leave the zone.”
Now, after the Flyers’ season has ended, Tocchet is sounding more reflective about how he handled it.
“I think it’s a learning lesson for both of us,” Tocchet told Kevin Kurz of The Athletic. “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.”
Even with the friction, Tocchet’s first year in Philadelphia was a success by the standings. The Flyers finished third in the Metropolitan Division with 98 points and made it to Round Two of the playoffs.
But the larger picture still looks murky. Philadelphia appears stuck in the middle, which is part of why the team made a massive offer sheet push for Leo Carlsson this offseason. Oddsmakers have the Flyers missing the playoffs, especially with teams like the Florida Panthers and New Jersey Devils viewed as too talented to miss in consecutive years.
If Tocchet can get more out of Michkov, though, Philadelphia’s path gets a lot clearer. The Flyers have not made the playoffs in back-to-back seasons since 2010-11 and 2011-12.
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