Photo Credit: The Flyers
How many times have Flyers fans heard in the past with former Flyers’ General Manager Chuck Fletcher saying “We need more talent.” He was like a broken record, but he was correct. That is why the Flyers took a big swing with a potential superstar in the making in Matvei Michkov.
New Flyers’ General Manager Danny Briere took a swing for the fences, and this one should be a home run, “We took a big swing, and we hope that this is a home run,” Danny Briere said following the completion of the first round of the NHL Draft.
Michkov was arguably the second best player in the draft, but he fell to the Flyers laps at 7 due to risk of not coming over to North America. Briere does not think that will be a problem, and they met with him twice to get a better read on this young prospect. They fell in love with him, and evidently he has a bubbly personality:
“We were blown away by his personality. He blew us away how smiley he was, and how much he wanted to be a Flyer.” – Danny Briere said last night
Now this young 18-year-old in Michkov can skate, shoot, and has a good pair of hands. The guy is a freak of nature on the ice, and he would have been the second overall pick if there was no risk with him. So why would some attack is character?
If the above captions are true, then why did Michkov sign with SKA for three years? If he truly did not appreciate his coaches or staff, then he wouldn’t have signed it all. I think people are making stuff up because maybe the Montreal Canadiens were afraid to take a swing on Michkov. Maybe Michkov only wanted to play for the Flyers, or just maybe he didn’t like the interview with Montreal if they interviewed him. Maybe Montreal was going to take a defenseman all along. In the end no one will ever know the truth, however, to attack his character and have no merit behind it, is insanely wrong.
It’s one thing to call a person a bad hockey player, or he/she is a turnover machine. However, to attack a player’s character with no merit is another thing, it’s just wrong, very wrong. Alexander Appleyard found this nugget in regards to Michkov, quotes from his current teammate(s):
The slander of Michkov is wrong. Some of these appear to be hurt that Michkov wanted to play for the Flyers, yes a generational talent chose the Flyers for once, as opposed to other teams. Get over it fans, Michkov is a Flyer.
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Well James:
While it is try that the slandering of a 17 yr old kid is really wrong; so are your ‘insinuations’. that Montreal is somehow behind this.
Say it out loud: the most popular hockey podcast Spitting Chiclets” really started the slander.
I never liked the Flyers, but I’ll be watching a lot more of them now. Michkov is going to be something very special. While all the focus was on Bedard being the “Next One,” my money is on Matvei. Just hope that Tortorella isn’t around when he arrives. Philly is extremely fortunate that other teams were too scared to draft a likely generational talent. IDIOTS!!!