How Flyers can help salvage the rest of Matvei Michkov’s season

When Matvei Michkov didn\'t come into training camp in optimal condition, it wasn\'t seen as a huge problem facing the sophomore winger. After all, he was gangbusters in his rookie season with 27 goals and 36 helpers for a healthy, and promising, 63 points. However, this year has been trying, arduous, difficult. Whatever description one wants to use to explain a player who is stuck in the proverbial mud. And isn\'t looking like he might snap out of it anytime soon. This year the second-year forward has 23 points. On Dec. 7, 2024 -- in a 4-3 overtime loss to Boston -- Michkov scored the first two goals of the game in the opening period, including a power play goal. Those pair of goals were his 23rd and 24th point of the season.

Currently this year, heading into his 44th game of the season tomorrow night in Buffalo, Michkov is mired at 23 points. He has had one multi-goal game this season when he potted a pair in a 5-3 win over New Jersey on Nov. 29. Unfortunately, those pair of goals were the last goals Michkov scored against an actual goaltender. Since then he\'s scored one empty-net goal against Vancouver. And, aside from more than a healthy handful of helpers (eight), he hasn\'t been on the scoresheet. If there\'s one small silver lining, it\'s that Flyers head coach Rick Tocchet -- who\'s been criticized at times for his usage of the 21-year-old winger -- played Michkov 17:10 Saturday night against Tampa Bay. Yes, they had ample power plays which might explain the time, but it was the second-highest amount of ice time Michkov had all year (he had 18:48 against Winnipeg on Oct. 16). So Tocchet hasn\'t given up on him. Nor has he decided he might need a reset and be a healthy scratch for a few games to clear his head.

So, what can Michkov do to perhaps break the incredibly dry spell he\'s been on of late? Or can he really do anything outside of keep grinding away and hoping Lady Luck finds him soon? We\'ll take a look at what options might be available to see if he can get back on track.

Changing lines?

Through 43 games (he\'s missed one game to a foot injury), Michkov has had his share of variable linemates. But there appears to be one combination which seems to have worked best for him. And in particular one linemate which has seen him fare better with. (Note: all stats are based on five-on-five play.)

Line combinations Time on ice Corsi For percentage Expected goals for percentage Bobby Brink, Sean Couturier, Matvei Michkov 95:45 54.60 48.78 Bobby Brink, Noah Cates, Matvei Michkov 76:51 53.73 64.63 Owen Tippett, Sean Couturier, Matvei Michkov 55:34 47.62 58.70 Travis Konecny, Sean Couturier, Matvei Michkov 51:37 41.49 54:37 Trevor Zegras, Christian Dvorak, Matvei Michkov 46:43 47.67 45.18

As you can see, it seems that Bobby Brink has brought out the best in Matvei Michkov in some underlying metrics. He\'s played the most with Brink and Sean Couturier this season and the line\'s 54.60 Corsi For percentage is highest among the five combinations he\'s played the most with so far. As well, Brink and Noah Cates alongside Michkov have a fine expected goals for percentage. Of course, with Brink briefly out of the lineup, the lines are obviously being juggled a bit to make do. But in the time that Brink and Michkov have been wingers together, they\'ve seemed to have worked fine. It\'s an improvement over the initial time this year Michkov was on a line with Travis Konecny. While the idea seemed logical given Konecny being the leading scorer last year, the line just didn\'t gel or work. Michkov seems he might have found a place with Cates and Brink the rest of the season. But time will tell if it works out that way.

Of course some might argue having two rather smaller wingers on a line isn\'t a great way to create space for either Brink or Michkov. And Noah Cates isn\'t exactly mistaken for Andre the Giant. However, Michkov\'s numbers have been better with Brink than with any other winger he\'s had this year. And, although you can\'t placate all 12 forwards on the roster with their ideal linemates, it could be best to stick with Cates, Brink, and Michkov the rest of this all-important stretch to see if Michkov can finally catch some lightning in a bottle.

Nuclear option? No chance!

Most would probably agree that benching Michkov now or sometime over the next few weeks would be at best a step sideways or at worst a step or two back. The Flyers need to have Michkov in the lineup as the only way to play your way out of a slump is by playing. As well, generally, he seems to have been better in his own zone and in his defensive coverage, not cheating or blowing the zone as much as he did earlier in the year. He hasn\'t been called out too often by Tocchet. And Tocchet seems to be eager to work with Michkov anytime. The lines of communication are better despite the obvious language barrier. There doesn\'t seem to be the head games Michkov might have experienced last year under John Tortorella. And given another batch of metrics, it\'s rather head-scratching that he sees himself with so few points now compared to last year. Here\'s some numbers from all of last season compared to the roughly half-season the Mad Russian has played in 2025-26.

Statistics/Metrics 2024-25 2025-26 Corsi For percentage 48.24 51.48 Fenwick For percentage 51.08 51.92 Shots For percentage 51.14 53.60 Goals For percentage 47.22 48.94 Expected Goals For percentage 52.77 54.28 Scoring Chances For percentage 47.94 51.18 High Danger Chances For percentage 49.45 57.45

As you can see, Michkov is better in every single category this year over last year. And he\'s had high danger chances galore it appears compared to 2024-25. So while the points aren\'t coming as easy to him as many probably expected in October, Michkov is still trending in the direction you\'d want him to. It\'s just that the points aren\'t there just yet. If he\'s playing better in these underlying metrics, it would be foolish for Tocchet to pull him aside for a game or two to let him refocus. Particularly in this gauntlet of important games and four-point divisional matchups that are on the horizon.

If there\'s one thing that might help Michkov get out of the doldrums it\'s shooting. A novel concept it isn\'t, but as it stands now Michkov is on pace for somewhere between 150 to 160 shots for the season if he remains healthy. He currently stands at 84 for the season, or just under two per game compared to last year where Michkov registered 200 shots for the year or exactly 2.5 per game. It seems logical to think if Michkov begins looking to shoot first and ask questions later, he might end up finding the back of the net himself, or earning a primary or secondary assist on a rebound that\'s put in.

The Flyers don\'t have another youthful, high-end talent waiting in the wings. It\'s best Tocchet stands pat and allows him try to play his way out of it. The hockey gods might still be shining yet on Michkov given what\'s after this stretch of games.

Olympic Break reset?

Prior to the 4 Nations Face-Off last year, Michkov went pointless against the Pittsburgh Penguins in a 3-2 win. Two weeks later, rested and refreshed, Michkov was brilliant in a three-game explosion after the two-week layoff. In a 6-3 win over Edmonton, Michkov was a +5, scoring once and adding a pair of assists in under 15 minutes. Then, in a home-and-home against the Penguins, Michkov again erupted for two goals and three assists over those two games. He had somehow found that spark and made the previous seven-game pointless streak leading up to the 4 Nations Face-Off a distant memory.

Nobody is expecting Michkov will somehow score 30 to 35 points after the Olympic Break. But if he can find a bit of his scoring touch, or just end up getting some confidence with good bounces or lucky breaks around the net (and especially the dirty areas), it will most likely take the pressure off him. It should also propel the line he\'s on to become more potent, particularly if Cates and Brink are along for the ride. As long as there are no freak mishaps during that down time, and Michkov returns on Feb. 25 against Washington ready to go, fans might see flashes of the guy they fell in love with last season.

So, with the numbers and the metrics showing that Michkov really hasn\'t been playing horrible, it might be a case of him simply going through a sophomore slump. He wouldn\'t be the first player to endure one, and he won\'t be the last one. With any luck, he starts getting some confidence. And points!

All stats courtesy of Natural Stat Trick and ESPN.com

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