It’ll be an interesting, quasi-make-or-break season for the Russian winger after a 2025-26 that didn’t live up to some expectations.
Matvei Michkov is entering his third season in the National Hockey League. And it might just be the most important of his young, blossoming career. After a 2025-26 campaign that got off on the wrong foot, and concluded with consecutive healthy scratches in the playoffs, it’s imperative that Michkov wipes the slate clean and gets going in the right direction in 2026-27.
No. 2: Matvei Michkov
2025-26 Primary League/Team: Philadelphia Flyers (NHL)
2025-26 Statistics: 20 G, 31 A, 51 PTS in 81 GP
Age as of 9/15/2026: 21
Acquired Via: 2023 NHL Draft — Round 1, Pick 7
How did Michkov’s 2025-26 season go?
Michkov’s summer got off to a rocky start when he was involved in a car accident (as a passenger) in Dubai. Nothing really came of it, but on entering training camp, Michkov was clearly not in optimal condition. After the end of the exhibition schedule, Michkov started 2025-26 with the cloud of a sophomore slump hanging over him. Averaging 15 minutes per game in October, the winger scored his first goal against Winnipeg on Oct. 18. He also got his first multi-point game thanks to a pair of assists against Nashville on Oct. 30. He ended the opening month with a goal and five assists. Not bad, but not great either.
November saw Michkov look a bit like his old self, scoring seven times (including a three-game goal streak) and adding two assists. But whether it was looking sluggish at times, or not being as attentive as he could’ve been in the defensive zone, or away from the puck, Michkov saw his ice time marginally decline. He was under 13 minutes of ice time on three occasions in November, against Nashville, Florida, and New Jersey (which he scored a pair of goals in). Most believed the rust was starting to come off, but head coach Rick Tocchet wasn’t so sure.
As goal-heavy as November was, December was the complete opposite, with the Russian scoring just once alongside seven assists. It wasn’t that he made the most of his time, considering he was placed on the third line and spent a lot of time with Noah Cates. But Michkov wasn’t still clicking on all cylinders. His ice time from November to December declined marginally (14 seconds per game), but it was the first time Tocchet kept Michkov glued to the bench a bit more than usual. This was evident on Dec. 23 against Chicago when Michkov found himself with just 10:52 of ice time. And after a subpar string of games in early January that saw him on the wrong side of things more often than not, Michkov ended the month with six points (including four goals), and a plentiful 37 shots on goal. But after the Jan. 10 game against Tampa (where he was a -3), Michkov never saw more than 17 minutes of ice time until March 2, where he played 18:30 against Toronto.
WIth chatter constant outside the locker room regarding the supposed spat between player and coach, Michkov took the Olympic break to reset and refocus. The rather condensed schedule didn’t help him. However, the winger had a strong homestretch, earning almost half of his 51 points after the Olympic break. While the goals were still hard to come by in March, the eight assists all came in Flyer victories. In short, when Michkov hit the scoresheet in any capacity, the Flyers almost always took home two points, going 7-1-0 in games he registered a point. That style of play, and looking far more attentive on the other side of the puck, saw Tocchet reward him somewhat, averaging 15:53 in March. April was his best month production wise, earning 11 points and amassing four multi-point games down the crucial stretch. This included three-point games against the Islanders and the Canadiens. He looked ready for the playoffs, right?
Well, not quite. Michkov’s lone assist will be seen for years to come as it was the primary assist on Cam York’s series-clinching overtime goal against the Penguins. Other than that, he was pretty much a non-factor. And looking quite lost at times when the intensity ramped up, and every shift mattered. The most damning point of Michkov’s season was the final two games against Carolina where he was a healthy scratch. In the eight games he played, he was under 10 minutes on three occasions. A 51-point year wasn’t quite the unmitigated disaster it looked to be, but it wasn’t close to what many might have been expecting.
How does Michkov fit in the Flyers’ organization?
If there was any doubt as to whether Michkov is part of the Flyers future moving forward, that was probably a bit clearer this summer. With speculation rampant he would be part of a deal to acquire a high-end center or an imposing defenseman, Michkov wasn’t going anywhere. At least not for somebody other than a McDavid. Or Makar. Maybe. Michkov and Tocchet appeared to have buried the hatchet near the homestretch of the regular season, but clearly they are hopefully beyond the playoffs and the fact Michkov didn’t play the team’s final two games, including the elimination contest. At times Michkov looked like the odd man out, particularly when he was locked into what appeared to be third line purgatory.
Should Michkov begin to show a semblance of his 2024-25 form, with a bit of swagger and confidence from the opening faceoff against Pittsburgh, then things should flow a bit more smoothly for him. And that should put him in the top six forwards. What makes this season so important is that Michkov has to prove beyond any doubt he’s a top-six winger. It’s what the Flyers are counting on. So whatever time he’s given to prove himself, he has to take advantage of that. Immediately. It will be interesting to see if the lines entering 2026-27 are similar to those last year, or if Porter Martone’s inclusion means Michkov is moved up, or given linemates with more offensive upside.
What are we expecting from Michkov this season?
That’s the million-dollar question, isn’t it? As many people expect him to possibly regress as there are those who believe he will figure things out and breakout with a spectacular campaign. If the summer is any kind of measuring stick, Michkov appears to have learned the lessons from a less than great training and conditioning program last summer. He looks to be in great shape, and should be raring to go in a few weeks’ time. It’s also important not just from a confidence standpoint for Michkov, but possibly in terms of a hefty payday. He’s entering the third and final year of his entry-level contract. A 80-point or 90-point season with some highlight reel plays could set him up for a lengthy extension that comes in around the cap hit Trevor Zegras will have this season. Or more.
If Michkov gets off to a great start, or even a good start, that should be enough for all parties to see that 2025-26 was the exception to what should be a stellar career. The longer Michkov goes to start the season without a point or a goal, the more those demons of last season could begin creeping in. And that’s a situation nobody from Michkov up to Flyers CEO and Governor Dan Hilferty wants to entertain.
What do we think Michkov’s ultimate upside is, and how likely is it that he gets to something approaching that?
Matvei Michkov’s first year should’ve earned him a Calder Trophy finalist spot. Michkov’s 63-point rookie year rarely came with much of a downside. This despite the benchings (and scratches) John Tortorella delivered on the youngster. Last year wasn’t great. But the sophomore season is behind him. And it’s time to prove he is far more in line with the player we saw in Year 1 versus the player we saw in Year 2. The optimist believes that Michkov is going to enter 2026-27 with a huge chip on his shoulder, and a determination to prove he belongs in the conversation of one of the league’s better younger players. That’s the goal for this year.
Moving forward, as Michkov carries on in his career, the player could become a fantastic playmaker who consistently hits a certain point total at or above a point per game. This is the first season Michkov doesn’t have an extended, lengthy break in February to recharge or reset (although there is a roughly 10-day gap between games with a break and the NHL All-Star Game. There’s no 4 Nations Face-Off. And no Olympics. He has to get through the 84-game season with enough gas in the tank down the stretch, not hope for a lengthy break to get back up to snuff. But in the big picture, Michkov is one of the key pieces in the Flyers’ rebuild that has to produce if Philadelphia is to turn the corner and become one of the contenders in the Eastern Conference. A lot will rest on how he rebounds this year, and what that results in down the road.
How we voted
… at No. 2:
| Brad | Porter Martone |
| Cole | Matvei Michkov |
| Evan | Tyson Foerster |
| Jason M | Tyson Foerster |
| Kelly | Matvei Michkov |
| Kurt | Matvei Michkov |
| Maddie | Matvei Michkov |
| Readers | Matvei Michkov |
| Ryan G | Porter Martone |
| Thomas | Matvei Michkov |
For Matvei Michkov:
| Brad | 1 |
| Cole | 2 |
| Evan | 3 |
| Jason M | 3 |
| Kelly | 2 |
| Kurt | 2 |
| Maddie | 2 |
| Readers | 2 |
| Ryan G | 1 |
| Thomas | 2 |
