While the Philadelphia Flyers can act like it’s not, the major thread through this entire offseason is whether or not Matvei Michkov is going to get back on track next season. To do that, maybe he just needs some guidance from a trusted voice on the team — mainly, someone who he can understand every word they’re saying.
A whole lot has been said about adding more Russian players to the Flyers current roster to help the young phenom winger along. It has been reported in the past that it has played a part in some of the front office’s decisions — keeping goaltender Ivan Fedotov around longer than he deserved to be, and having Yegor Zamula also hanging around up until his played really needed him to get out of Philadelphia; are just two examples.
And while there is Nikita Grebenkin on the roster as well, there could be a much more experienced Russian player on the team, too. Someone who has gone through the ups and downs of playing in a league on a different side of the world and getting used to it.
It might not be the biggest priority, but it can at least be something that general manager Danny Briere pays attention to. Here are some names that could certainly be available to sign or to trade for, to basically give Michkov someone he can talk to on a regular basis.
Vladimir Tarasenko
It’s probably the easiest option and the one that could make the most sense. Obviously, Tarasenko is a winger so this is assuming that maybe the Flyers went out and traded a couple of their current wingers for a top centerman or a top-four defenseman. In this fantasy world, Tarasenko would sign as an unrestricted free agent after somewhat revitalizing his career with the Minnesota Wild last season.
Tarasenko would add a much higher scoring threat in the middle six than the Flyers have in some of the young prospects, but also has been through so much in his career. The 906-game veteran has not slowed down and even at 34 years old, he managed to score 23 goals and 47 points in 75 games while averaging under 15 minutes per game.
For just what he brings on the ice, Tarasenko could be a good add to this team, depending on what wingers they theoretically add. Bringing in some skill to coincide with the high work ethic of the group could never be a bad thing. Add in the fact that Michkov could be brought under his wing, as he has dealt with his fair share of coaches that want more responsibility from everyone on his roster — his All-Star years were spent having Ken Hitchcock behind the bench, after all.
So, there could be some value in it and considering his age, he will probably be more than willing to sign a short-term deal.
Mats Zuccarello (he counts)
Okay, stick with us here. The Norwegian winger is an unrestricted free agent for the first time since he joined the Wild in 2019 and while he did supply Minnesota with plenty of on-ice impact, including a career-high in points for one season, there was so much more off the ice that just made the entire team have so much more levity.
Namely, Zuccarello became insanely quick best friends with Kirill Kaprizov. It might not be too known for those that don’t pay attention to the Wild, but those two players are inseparable throughout the entire season. Zuccarello does not know Russian, but he has picked up some key words and hockey slang, enough to really communicate with his linemate on the ice and grow one of the best off-ice friendships we have seen in the NHL for the past several years.
It will probably not be the same with Michkov but it certainly could be close enough to benefit from it. Maybe it won’t be so natural as it was with Kaprizov, but just to bring some of that out of the 21-year-old Flyers winger could be fun.
Zuccarello is a winger, of course, so he’ll need to actually have a place to come to the Flyers roster, but it’s certainly not impossible that he can have a home in Philadelphia.
Pyotr Kochetkov
Finally, a position of need. Pyotr Kochetkov suffered a brutal injury that limited him to just 12 total games played this past season. Which has meant that out there for the Carolina Hurricanes for this season and in the playoffs has been starter Frederik Andersen and waiver pickup Brandon Bussi. Kochetkov was in the Hurricanes’ plans for the last few seasons but now, even if Andersen is a pending free agent, he could find himself at No. 3 in the depth chart.
If that is the case, could the Hurricanes look to trade the 26-year-old netminder? Possibly! But, Kochetkov would certainly have a lot of suitors as one of the netminders with the highest ceilings available.
In his last full season, he made 47 appearances and a very solid .898 save percentage, so there is certainly something there. But the injury and his unrestricted free agent status after next season should mean his value isn’t crazy high and the Flyers can get him for something like a solid draft pick, if they wanted. And unlike other Russian players on this list, Kochetkov is more in line with Michkov’s age, at 26 years old.
So, there might be something there for Michkov and for the team overall, to solidiy the role of Dan Vladar’s backup and even bring in someone with some extra potential beyond signing David Rittich to put in just the right amount of average goalending.
Ilya Mikheyev
Do the Flyers want more speed? Well maybe they should sign winger Ilya Mikheyev this summer. While he’s not the most productive player in the world, he has hovered around 35 points a season (on extremely bad teams). There is a curiosity if the Flyers could unlock something else in Mikheyev if they sign him to a league-minimum contract.
Anyways, that’s not what it’s really about. Mikheyev came over fairly recently (at least slightly more recently compared to the other veterans on the list), so it’s not a completely different world that he doesn’t fully know anymore. Michkov can at least relate to some of what he’s been through, although he was never seen as a high-potential player like the Flyers winger and had to experience all that extra stuff that comes with it.
Still, it is someone who speaks the same dang language.
Dmitry Orlov
This is maybe the one that we feel is the most likely. While we would theoretically like the Flyers trading for Pyotr Kochetkov the most out of all of these options, Philadelphia replacing the departing Noah Juulsen in the defenseman depth chart, to then add veteran Dmitry Orlov in his place feels apt.
Orlov is under contract through next season, after signing a big-ticket, two-year contract with the San Jose Sharks last summer. But if the Sharks really focus on their blue line, Orlov has not been good enough to warrant any massive security. Could he be on waivers before next season starts? Or maybe even just traded for absolutely nothing? Possibly.
No matter how Orlov would end up in Philadelphia, it would be a short ride where Michkov has one of the more experienced Russian defensemen in the league to bounce ideas off of and be that confidant in the room. And for the Flyers, he would be just the Juulsen replacement, so starting off the season maybe playing more than a couple games just because of Rick Tocchet trying to figure out his blue line. And then settling into a depth role and being a regular healthy scratch, but still just being a good hang (if he is cool with taking a step back in his late career) for Michkov.
No matter what, it really boils down to the fact that the Flyers could go out of their way to acquire some Russian players so that Michkov can feel more comfortable and maybe get back on track to being the insanely gifted player that strikes fear in the hearts of every defender that sees him set up in the offensive zone.
Just so that Michkov doesn’t have to try to acclimate so hard, while also trying to develop as a player during the most vital part of his hockey career. Either way, there is a confidence in here that he will figure it out, but having a pal to speak with and maybe even some experienced veteran to be that guy for him, can go a long way.
