Dylan Silverstein of USA and Matvei Michkov of Russia on day 13 of the Lausanne 2020 Winter Youth Olympics in Lausanne, Switzerland. (Photo by Matthias Hangst/Getty Images)
Philadelphia Flyers forward Matvei Michkov is one of the most intriguing hockey players in the NHL this season. The 19-year-old winger arrived in the NHL two years earlier than expected after the final two seasons of his contract in the KHL were terminated. Michkov, selected by the Flyers as the seventh pick in the 2023 draft, has spent the last two years in the KHL. Last year he played 47 games with HK Sochi, scoring 19 goals and adding 22 assists.
Many are waiting for Michkov's debut in the NHL, including Russian hockey players. Over the past month, RG asked players to express their opinions on Michkov, his debut in the NHL, and expectations from it.
Alexander Ovechkin, Washington Capitals forward:
"The most important thing is to avoid injuries and play his hockey. Not to stop there and only move forward. I know Matvey is very talented, scoring a lot in the KHL for his age. Let him always have self-confidence. Philadelphia will support him, and I hope his development will go well."
Alexander Radulov, Ak Bars Kazan forward, ex-NHL player:
"Michkov has a good shot and excellent vision of the ice. He has become stronger compared to the season before last. He has become stronger physically, which is good for him. He still has a young body, and he will only improve. The main thing is to stay healthy. He is a very good hockey player, and he'll have a very good coach [John Tortorella]. It is unlikely that he will be criticized for no reason. Everything is in his hands. The Flyers have a good and young team, he will probably be given a lot of playing time."
Ivan Demidov, forward, Montreal Canadiens prospect:
"Both the team and the whole city were really looking forward to his arrival. He is a new hope for Philadelphia, there haven't been such players in the NHL for a long time. Unsurprisingly, he was greeted so warmly, and everything was done to make him comfortable. He even sent me several videos from the locker room and the ice. As for his game, I'm sure he will succeed. Matvey is a versatile player who is always focused on the goal, but can also make passes. Moreover, he can play in the center, and we have had such an experience. The main thing is that he needs good partners, and in Philadelphia there will be no problems with that."
Evgenii Dadonov, Dallas Stars forward:
"I only know him from the news, so I'm very interested to see him in person. I'm curious to see how his level matches the hype around him."
Danila Yurov, forward, Minnesota Wild prospect:
"It's great that Matvey managed to break out of the KHL and go to Philadelphia. I think he has every chance to prove himself. He has a scoring instinct that I have never seen before. He knows when to pass. He feels when to shoot and where the puck will go. You are born with such qualities, you can't acquire them. In the highlights, you can see how he arrives at the far post, and the puck seems to bounce to him on its own. But I think it's not luck, but rather a scoring instinct."
Ilya Nabokov, goalie, Colorado Avalanche prospect:
"One of Michkov's main qualities is deception. He makes decisions that are impossible to predict. I wish him success in the Flyers. The main thing is to avoid injuries."
Igor Chernyshov, forward, San Jose Sharks prospect:
"Michkov is a master of his craft. A great professional. I hope he can prove himself from the very first season and gain a foothold in the Flyers. Good luck, Matvey!"
Mikhail Gulyayev, defenseman, Colorado Avalanche prospect:
"I'm glad that Matvey got a chance to go to the NHL, and he took advantage of it. He can score 30 goals in his first season. He's a very smart hockey player who can create a scoring opportunity out of nothing. Everyone in the NHL understands hockey well, so they'll give him playing time gradually. So that he can develop calmly."
Egor Surin, forward, Nashville Predators prospect:
"The NHL style of play suits Michkov. He should be able to make a good debut and start scoring points right away. He has a nose for scoring. He knows how to score goals. And they'll teach him how to play defense."
Sergey has been in sports journalism since 2007 as a reporter, editor, and manager. He has covered the Olympic Games, soccer World Cups, the World Cup of Hockey in 2016, the European championships, the Stanley Cup Finals, IOC events, and many others. Sergey interviewed the sport's greatest athletes, coaches, and executives. Since 2016, he has been an Independent Senior Editor of NHL.com/ru.
