The Philadelphia Flyers suffered their fourth straight loss on Sunday afternoon falling by a 3-1 decision to the New Jersey Devils. But the final score wasn’t the only decision that caused concern for hockey fans in Philadelphia.
Head coach John Tortorella benched rookie winger Matvei Michkov for the final 8:50 of the first period after being on the ice for Cody Glass’ goal to open the scoring. Michkov played just four shifts totalling 2:20 in the opening frame.
Michkov was caught up ice and drifted away from Glass, who appeared to be the winger’s defensive assignment on the play. The puck was sent across the slot and bounced to Glass for the opening goal.
Agent Cody Glass breaking the ice in his Devils debut. pic.twitter.com/Ok8wipTP76
— New Jersey Devils (@NJDevils) March 9, 2025
You can see Michkov just enter the screen as Glass is winding up for his shot.
Travis Konecny took the next shift in Michkov’s spot on the Sean Couturier line and the Russian rookie’s absence in the second half of the first period was noted.
Michkov went on to play 4:51 on six shifts in the second period and 6:39 on 10 shifts in the final frame so he did get back out there. However, Tortorella was asked about the benching after the game.
“It’s a part of the process,” Tortorella said. And he continued with a stronger stance after a follow-up question.
“Let me tell you guys something. There are a number of things that come into play, not one specific play, OK? And you are at a disadvantage because I’m not going to give you information.
“It’s not always the play on the ice that I’m trying to teach. So use that as context before you start all your bulls–t. There are so many things that go on, and with me trying to develop that player, and we’re going to continue to do it the way I think it should be done.”
Torts met with the media following Sunday's 3-1 loss to the Devils. #NJDvsPHI pic.twitter.com/TlHctr0gM5
— Philadelphia Flyers (@NHLFlyers) March 9, 2025
Michkov was on the ice for the Devils’ first goal and then again for their second. His failed execution on a pass up the boards in the offensive zone led to New Jersey gaining possession on its eventual goal.
“But don’t just look at the play. No, he didn’t do the job as far as backchecking. No, he didn’t do the job in the offensive zone,” Tortorella continued. “But there are a number of other things that come into play. Again, I hate to show you the respect that I’m not going to give you that information and you don’t realize that. So don’t make a bigger deal out of it than you think you need to.”
And that brings us to the big question: how big of a deal should we be making out of it?
The Flyers have stressed the importance of culture and rebuilding and developing the right way. That includes everyone and it’s been made clear that no one, even the team’s budding superstar, is immune to the ramifications of a bad play or stretch of plays.
Ultimately, these final weeks of the Flyers should be about developing Michkov and the rest of the young players on the roster. Only time will tell what impact Tortorella and the rest of the coaching staff’s decisions will have on the roster as more players work their way up the system.
