“Learning From the Best” – Michkov on Tortorella, Bedard, and the NHL Grind

Matvei Michkov #39 of the Philadelphia Flyers celebrates a goal against the Los Angeles Kings (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)

Matvei Michkov is the Philadelphia Flyers' rising star and the most talked-about player on the team. However, as of late, Michkov had been nursing a long pointless streak; the toughest stretch of his young NHL career. The 20-year-old forward was ultimately able to limit his pointless streak to seven games, after a two-point performance in the Flyers’ 5-4 overtime loss to the Los Angeles Kings.

Despite the Flyers blowing a two-goal lead and losing in overtime, Michkov can consider this game a success. That’s because Michkov had spent most of the third period of the Flyers’ tilt against the Anaheim Ducks stapled to the bench by head coach John Tortorella.

“NHL games happen almost every day. Honestly, it’s tough to prepare myself mentally for each game,” Michkov said in an exclusive interview with RG. “I need to learn how to ensure I have the energy to play at 100% every game. NHL rinks are smaller, the pace is faster, and decisions need to be made more quickly. I’m still adjusting to this. This is my first NHL season; some moments are challenging for me, but I need to work on making every game as good as the one against the Kings—or even better.”

In the third period against the Kings, Michkov received a two-minute penalty for hitting Quinton Byfield’s helmet with his stick. The Kings’ forward provoked Matvei, a situation Michkov has faced often in the NHL, where opponents frequently try to get under his skin.

“It was just a game moment; there was nothing special about it. Emotions flared up on the ice, but now everything is fine in the locker room,” Michkov explained.

Getting Used to the NHL

This is Michkov’s first NHL season, and he still communicates with journalists through a translator. However, he admitted that he is making progress in learning English and gradually adapting to a new country and league.

Despite some stern public outings from head coach John Tortorella and a few benching, Michkov described Tortorella as an experienced coach and took the benching in the game against Anaheim in stride.

“He’s the coach, so he knows best. Of course, he explained everything and gave me advice on how to play and what not to do. Tortorella is very experienced, and there’s a lot I can learn from him. I try to listen to everything he says and follow all his instructions. For now, we communicate only through an interpreter. I can understand him, but I can’t respond yet,” said Michkov. “For me, the most important quality in a person is honesty, and John Tortorella is a very honest person with everyone. If something is on his mind, he says it. People like that are highly valued in my encirclement.”

The Calder Race

Michkov has scored 29 points (12 goals, 17 assists) in 37 NHL regular-season games and leads the rookie scoring race. Matvei says he tries not to focus on how his competitors for the Calder Trophy, particularly 2024 first-overall pick Macklin Celebrini, are performing.

“I wouldn’t say I follow them, but I know the guys are playing well. The competition is really strong, but I try not to think about it. When you start thinking about it, things don’t go as you’d like. My goal is to go out on the ice and help my team.”

Michkov also shared his thoughts on facing Connor Bedard, a player he was frequently compared to during their junior hockey days. Their much-anticipated first NHL matchup took place on November 23.

“I know Connor went through a stretch of games without scoring. We had a game against Chicago, and he didn’t score there either. I told him, ‘You’ll score in the next game.’ And he did,” said Michkov of his long-time rival. “We have a good relationship, and it’s nice to play against him. It’s been a long time since we faced each other, and recently we had our first NHL game against each other. It was great. He’s a good player and a good guy. It’s exciting to watch players like him.”

Before this season, well-known Russian coach Oleg Znarok, who led Team Russia to victory at the 2018 Olympic Games, became the European Player Development & Scouting Consultant for the Flyers. He has been dedicating a lot of time to Michkov.

As Michkov continues to grow into his role with the Flyers, his resilience and determination shine through. From navigating the challenges of his rookie season to maintaining his competitive edge in the Calder Trophy race, Michkov is proving why he’s one of the most exciting young talents in the NHL. With mentors like Tortorella and Znarok supporting his development, the sky's the limit for this rising star.