Oilers get their first look at Flyers’ Matvei Michkov

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We don’t know yet the payoff on Russian winger Matvei Michkov because he’s only in the embryonic stage of his NHL playing career—he’s not Kirill Kaprizov coming over from Moscow already a polished gem—but we know his Philadelphia Flyers’ No. 39 is flying off the shelves and jerseys aren’t cheap.

“Could he be Kaprizov in five years? Yes, he could. He’s got an incredibly creative offensive mind,” boldly predicted Flyers’ team president and long-time NHL winger and broadcaster Keith Jones, as he watched Michkov practise at Rogers Place before the 19-year-old’s first engagement with Connor McDavid, Leon Draisaitl, and the rest of the Edmonton Oilers Tuesday night.

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Tough indoctrination, especially on the road, for any rookie in his third NHL game (one assist in the first two games for the Flyers). But, into the deep end, he dives.

“It’s great that he’s seeing Connor and Leon early in the season,” said Flyers GM Danny Briere, “but in his mind, he knows he’s good, and he wants to show the world.”

Jones was holding his breath, fingers and toes crossed, along with Briere, when the Flyers had the seventh overall pick in 2023. They so badly wanted him even if teams continue to shy away from Russian players because there’s no guarantee when they can come over, certainly not at 18.

“I remember when Arizona (now Utah) had the pick right before us. We were begging that he would still be there for us. When they announced ‘Arizona picks, from Russia,’ I went oh, no,” recalled Jones.

“But they took the big defenceman (Dmitry) Simashev instead. I was relieved. Going in we thought Arizona and Montreal (picking fifth and taking Swiss defenceman David Reinbacher)were the two teams ahead of us who might take Michkov. We were worried about them.”

“(First overall pick) Connor Bedard was clearly in that mix as well but for us (scouting list), he was pretty close, right at Bedard’s level. Seeing Michkov slip down to where he was available. No brainer for us,” said Briere.

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“The tough part for us was the lack of viewings (coming out of COVID). Not being able to go to Russia and have direct eyes on Michkov. And there were all these reports, people saying he was a bad kid, he was bad with his teammates. It gets blown up and it gets bigger and bigger. Shows you that you have to be careful. What’s out there isn’t always reality,”’ said Briere.

Jones hates that Michkov is portrayed as the franchise saviour, like Bedard in Chicago. But, they’ve seen his inner drive, his willingness to back-check and muck in the corners for the puck, also his ability to keep plays alive, then make something happen.

“Subtle play or nifty play,” said Jones.

The Flyers didn’t know when Michkov was coming, only that he was playing in the KHL for Sochi when draft eligible and getting lots of ice time, and was historically productive. Didn’t matter to them. Back in the day, the Winnipeg Jets had to wait four years for first-rounder Teemu Selanne to arrive from Finland. He was drafted at 18 in 1988 (10th overall) and came to Winnipeg at 22.

“We thought it was going to be three years with Michkov and we were okay with that,” said Briere, who watched the winger get three goals and seven points in pre-season.

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“That was the understanding then, and this is a luxury for us, having him earlier, acclimating at a younger age when they’re somewhat more mouldable.“

Michkov isn’t being sheltered in games. He lines up on the right side with Morgan Frost and Owen Tippett, so the Flyers second line. But, for now, he only talks after Flyers home games, and with an interpreter. But, that will change.

“The kid is working hard on his English, he really tries, exposing himself to the language every single day. He’s not a hermit, staying in his home (his mother and brother are living with Matvei right now), where he’s shy about it. He shows up in the morning at the rink, goes around says hi, shakes everybody’s hand,” said Briere, who knows how hard it is to not just play in the NHL when young, but communicate.

“I experienced it (language barrier) when I came in (Drummondville, Que.)” said Briere, drafted in the first round by Phoenix in 1996, then with terrific stops in Buffalo and Philadelphia, “but the hockey terms are so similar (Russian to English). You learn to make sentences around the hockey words you use.”

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“The biggest adjustment for Michkov coming over will be the style of play. The game is all about speed and taking space away in the NHL. But his brain is so elite. That said, it’s going to take a bit of time,” said Briere, who overcame critics at his size (5’10”, 175 pounds) to dazzle in the playoffs with 116 points in 124 career games after playing 973 league games with 696 points.

Time? Philly has lots of it.

“We have to be patient and this fits for us, with our timeline (rebuild),” said Briere, enthused when Michkov was gung-ho to get to Philadelphia before camp to work with the coaching staff. “Yes, they’re demanding (led by John Tortorella) but they’re fair. I’m really excited that he gets to learn from this group, so early. He soaks up information. He wants to be the best.”

“You see it in practice. He’s a perfectionist. He doesn’t leave the ice until things are perfect. That’s why he’s so elite,” said Briere

No argument from Jones.

“He was a phenom over in Russia,” said Jones. “Through the internet, people have been able to follow the things he’s done before coming to us. Incredible plays that led to video replays. Kind of the mystical feature for us.”

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“There’s a lot of 39 jerseys around. I haven’t seen that before with a first-year player, not in a long time. It didn’t happen when we picked Nolan Patrick second overall. I even saw one 39 here in the rink (Rogers Place),” said Jones.

“That’s interesting for me, and we need to be interesting.”

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