Photo Credit: Philadelphia Flyers PR
Matvei Michkov is the biggest, polarizing, figure to don an orange and black sweater since Eric Lindros. Flyers fans are very excited, and are watching his every move. The build up to him arriving in Philadelphia yesterday, with the Flyers top executives was priceless, all smiles: (From left to right: President Keith Jones, Matvei Michkov, General Manager Danny Briere)
He landed at JFK Airport, approximately two months before training camp is set to begin. Michkov was embraced by Flyers’ General Manager Danny Briere and President of the organization in Keith Jones. He was seen donning a Phillies hat, which shows he is embracing Philadelphia. I wonder if he could throw out the first pitch at the Phillies game on Friday night, which just so happens to be Trea Turner night.
Cam York, Tyson Foerster, Jamie Drysdale, Bobby Brink, Ivan Fedotov, Garnet Hathaway, and Joel Farabee will make him feel like home
Michkov is now able to adapt to North America sooner than expected. He has about two months to train and skate before Training Camp begins, or the gauntlet begins of John Tortorella’s camp. More importantly, he has time to learn the culture, learn the English language, learn how to become a pro.
He can learn some from Fedotov and all that he has been through during his brief stint in North America. It wasn’t easy for Fedotov either, leaving his family and friends in Russia, however, he is overcoming it all.
Flyers fans deserve Michkov, and they have been craving a player like Michkov for years. The proud orange faithful have weathered the storm, now it’s time for the Flyers to take the next step of the rebuild.
