via Flyers
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Philadelphia Flyers GM Danny Briere is making it clear: top prospect Matvei Michkov is not being cast as the savior for a team that has struggled to find its footing in recent years. Despite Michkov’s high expectations, Briere emphasizes the importance of building a team with multiple key pieces.
“We don’t see him as a savior,” Briere said. “That’s certainly not what we’re putting on his shoulders. He’s 19 years old. He’s coming in to learn, to expand his game, and we hope the sky’s the limit for him. But we’re not expecting him to be the savior of this team. We’re building a team that’s going to have many pieces to work together, and we’re hoping that he becomes one of them.”
Michkov, drafted seventh overall in 2023, arrives in Philadelphia with a significant buzz. However, the Flyers have been careful to manage expectations. They knew Michkov’s KHL contract with SKA St. Petersburg might delay his arrival, yet a release on June 25 and a subsequent three-year entry-level contract signing six days later brought him to Philadelphia sooner than anticipated.
“When we drafted him, we had no expectation of him coming until his contract was done,” Briere said. “It’s a great break for us to have him early at 19.”
The Flyers have missed the playoffs for four consecutive seasons, finishing this past season with a 38-33-11 record. Fans and analysts alike have been searching for a spark to reignite the team’s success, but Briere stresses that Michkov should not carry that burden alone.
“The main idea always was to win, and he’s here to help the team to win,” Michkov said via interpreter Slava Kuznetsov. “Just to play not his style, and he’s here to win.”
To ease Michkov’s transition, the Flyers are counting on their veterans. “We have a pretty tight locker room,” Briere said. “Guys like Nic Deslauriers, Garnet Hathaway, and Erik Johnson are great veterans who will help him fit in.”
Briere can relate to Michkov on a personal level. Like Michkov, Briere was 19 and didn’t speak English when he started his NHL journey in the late 1990s. Drawing from his own experience, Briere believes Michkov will adjust quickly. “The hockey terms are very similar,” Briere said. “I’m not worried about that, especially with him being here two months early. By the time training camp starts, he’ll feel comfortable and it won’t be an issue.”
Since arriving at JFK airport on Tuesday, Michkov has already felt the support from Flyers fans. “It’s unreal how the fans are reacting and how welcome he felt here,” Kuznetsov shared. “The main idea right now is getting ready and showing really good hockey for the fans.”
Michkov’s story and his potential impact are significant, but it’s his connection with Briere that stands out. Briere’s own journey mirrors Michkov’s, giving the Flyers GM a unique perspective and empathy that will undoubtedly benefit the young prospect as he begins his NHL career.
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Flyers’ 19-year-old top prospect, Matvei Michkov, has always dreamed of playing in the NHL. He mentioned feeling a genuine connection during the draft process with the Flyers, affirming it as the place he truly wanted to be.
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