Photo Credit: Our very own Michael Reaves
Most people knew that Matvei Michkov would struggle at some point, while he adapts to North America. He wasn’t going to come in the NHL, and just light it up. Although, that did transpire initially, but he is struggling at 5-on-5.
Michkov’s strug to the system that Flyers’ Head Coach John Tortorella wants him to play. Tortorella wants him to play the game the right way, which is both ends of the ice. Michkov did before, but he has to nail down Tortorella’s system, which takes time.
In Michkov’s defense, he could easily have five or six more points, but his lime mates continue having troubles finishing, most notably Sean Couturier this past Saturday. Michkov did a dipsy do around some Boston Bruin defenders, made a beautiful pass to Couturier, but he couldn’t put the puck in the back of the net. These types of plays are happening more often than not, and if some of his teammates finish, does anyone really recognize that he would be playing subpar at 5-on-5? Probably not, his point totals would be inflated, thus some, who would think he played well.
“He wants to carry a team. That’s what I love about him. But as I said the other day. He’s finding out what the National Hockey League is,” Flyers’ Head Coach John Tortorella said of Michkov this past Saturday.
Tortorella continues to back him and teach him with patience, even after benching Michkov for a few shifts against the St. Louis Blues on Thursday night. After that benching, Tortorella came over and patted Michkov On the back to let him know he had his back.
“He’s a 19-year-old kid playing in the best league in the World. He’s totally not concentrated on certain parts of the game. If I see other guys going, then he’s going to sit and watch a bit. That’s all that was. He has had some struggles,” Tortorella said post-game.
There are probably going to be more hurdles or speed bumps along the way for Michkov at the NHL level, but one thing that is promising for this young man is Tortorella will teach him how to play the game the right way. He’s still learning the English language, and learning how to play the game in a fast-paced NHL.
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I would like to see the Flyers organization make a statement about the blatant lies being told by the out of town media about a rookie player missing 2 shifts. There was an article out of Nashville about how fans got to the arena for the St. Louis game and found out Michkov had been scratched. The article went into detail about how disappointed the fans were because they didn’t get to see him play. Other writers are writing like his career is now in disarray because he was bench for the game when all he did was missed two shifts. What is going on. It’s actually creepy and weird.