First Impressions: Matvei Michkov
Philly's blue-chip prospect
Just seven games into his NHL career, Matvei Michkov (7 points) is already the only reason to watch the Metropolitan Division-worst 1-5-1 Flyers. Within a floundering offense (29th in G/PG), the 2023 seventh overall pick’s raw skill and attacking instincts leap off the screen.
Suffice to say the 19-year-old winger is the key to a brighter future in Philly.
Here’s the skinny on the Orange and Black’s next great hope.
First up, the ugly: There’s no ignoring the fact that he’s one of the slower high-end prospects in recent memory. His poor top speed (54th percentile) is glaring whenever he tries to pull away from defenders in space. As such, stretching defenses himself is a rarity.
Combine those subpar wheels with a 5’10”, 172-pound frame, and you have a forward who struggles in pursuit. Puck-carriers are rarely uncomfortable in his presence. Although he won’t reach his spot in time to leave a mark as the F1 on the forecheck, he can flip possession as a read-and-react support man. Clever routes to the puck as F2.
Once Michkov does get his hands on the biscuit, he plays low and protects the puck quite effectively in the trenches. Traces of Sidney Crosby in the way he manipulates his hips to swivel off checks. Stellar small-area control on his edges. Here’s an example of his evasive skating granting him (PHI 39) the inside lane vs. John Carlson (WSH 74):
In transition, his impact is reminiscent of Matthew Tkachuk’s. A plodding skater who excels at linking up with teammates through off-wing passing. Thanks to his vision, touch and accuracy, he consistently hits players in stride to get the Flyers moving downhill (team-leading xGF/60). Understands when to direct the action forward, when to regroup, when to side-switch, etc. Reliable navigator off the wall and into the heart of the ice:
In spite of his skating, Philly should feed him as many pucks as possible in the DZ and NZ. Too often, he ends up waiting on teammates’ plays that never materialize. Let him kick-start the attack. Earlier touches would also cast him as a trailer who slithers into soft spots rather than the tip of the spear who must push defenders back.
Neither his long-range wrister nor his one-timer appear to be game-changers at the moment (unscreened, of course). In fairness, he hasn’t received amazing service. Still, you get the sense that the bulk of his scoring will originate in the goalmouth (not so much from his bank-shot attempts).
Sneaky OZ spacing. Times his net drives intelligently and isn’t afraid to mix things up for second-chance opportunities. As highlighted above, he frequently goes 10-and-2 to gain mini-advantages in tight.
Uses screens well—especially on the PP. When Philly’s perimeter buildup won’t cut it, he shuffles to the middle of the ice and filters his shot through traffic. Showcases a nice blend of creativity and tried-and-true offensive fundamentals:
Back to the Tkachuk parallels for a second. Michkov’s comfort level near the goal line is similar to that of Florida’s playmaking agitator too. Crisp one-touch dishes, perfect weight on his low saucers and he can expose the faintest cross-ice/bumper seam. He should have 2-3 more assists from the bumper setup alone:
His production has leaned almost exclusively on the PP. Part of that is questionable line combinations at EV. Another consideration is how much less of a factor speed is on the man advantage. When the game is pared down to puck skills and IQ, he’s downright terrifying. Much like with Tkachuk in Florida, Philly should run its man advantage through high-low designs for Michkov.
In order to ramp up his 5-on-5 production (0 of his 7 points this season) and realize his lofty potential, he may need dedicated power skating training (e.g. Brayden Point’s straight-line improvement) or a muscle-building regimen (e.g. Kirill Kaprizov’s 5’10”, 202-pound frame). His current physical makeup prevents him from creating the separation that world-class weapons require. A stronger burst would enable him to press the issue on the rush, challenge defenders 1-on-1, etc.
Perhaps due to his lack of explosiveness, he’ll occasionally fly the DZ for a head start in transition. He’s otherwise OK in coverage. A bit sleepy on the wall, but to John Tortorella’s delight, he’s willing and able to crowd shooting lanes.
A recurring theme is his tendency to ease into contests. It’s almost as though he wants to thrive within the team concept but is then reminded that his team…kind of blows. Once he grabs the reins halfway through the game, the Flyers pour on the pressure. Some of that is score effects. Some of it is urgency.
If Michkov embraces the responsibility of life as the straw that stirs the drink—and Torts keeps him away from Owen “Just Rip It” Tippett—a point-per-game rookie campaign is entirely realistic.
With an extra gear in his bag, we could soon be entering superstar territory.