Photo Credits: FNG’s Rob Windfelder
Friday morning the Flyers were right back at it. Training camp day 2 at the Flyers Training Center in Voorhees. The second day of camp definitely had a different flavor to it, and that was by design. The difference in the level of physicality was noticeable right from the get-go.
Many of the drills at Friday’s sessions started the exact same way. Someone from the coaching staff would dump the puck along the boards or right into the corners so that the drills basically started with a battle.
For the Flyers Fans who showed up to watch their team it was a blast. It was a day full of physical battles and a test of wills. It was quite interesting to watch the prospects going up against the sure-bet veterans in these situations. You want the job you gotta go all in right? At the same time while showing your fearless dedication you could end up getting in over your head and embarrassed.
So the level of commitment has to be measured a bit. Tactics that work along the boards in lesser leagues are not necessarily going to get the same results against seasoned players. That being said no one was taking it lightly nor taking it easy. That’s not what an NHL training camp is about.
Michkov on a Mission
We all remember what happened last season after the Carolina Hurricanes eliminated the Flyers in the 2nd round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs. While the organization was still doing “breakdown day” interviews Matvei Michkov was downstairs skating. Full on skating all by himself like it was some sort of self imposed punishment.
Now that the dog days of Summer are behind us and main camp has opened up it no longer seems like a punishment. It was the start of a mission. It wasn’t a mea culpa with an expiration date. Matvei Michkov was getting ready for the Flyers 2026-27 NHL season and there was not a second to waste.
He showed up for this training camp, leaner, meaner, and more focused than ever. When you watch the level of intensity that Michkov is bringing to this camp you can’t help but be on his side.
And it’s not just what he is doing in camp this week, it’s also everything he’s done leading up to it. He been working on many different aspects of his game, he even did his first ever presser in English on Thursday. That’s a huge deal, communication is key.
It will be very interesting to see him in context as the Flyers start taking on outside opponents. What Michkov has done up to this point is inspiring. Work hard, don’t stop, …you really hope this story gets the ending it deserves.
Lastly, here’s a Youtube Short I put together that features a number of clips from Friday’s training camp sessions. It will give you some idea of the board battle dynamics. You can definitely see a few players making their boundaries clear.
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