Photo Credit: Our very own Rob Windfelder
Well, Well Flyers fans. The wait is finally over. Jett Luchanko and Matvei Michkov made their much anticipated NHL Debuts last night. What a night it was for the orange and black, so how did Luchanko and Michkov fair in their debuts?
Fans were treated to a fun-filled night of seeing his skating abilities and stick handling abilities, especially behind the net, where this apparently is Michkov’s bread and butter. Much like the rookie game and pre-season tilts, Michkov was trying his best to create plays. For instance, making quick sweet passes, and playing well along the boards.
Tine after time, Michkov was in board battles along the boards and Michkov came away with the puck. These are the little things that Torts will love. However, he did make a few turnovers, like he had some early jitters, which is understandable. The good thing was none of the turnovers ended in the back of the net.
Michkov appears to communicate well with his peers. He made some nice plays to Travis Konecny and Morgan Frost alike, but Konecny almost fed him a beauty with Michkov open in the slot in the first period. Unfortunately, the puck was picked off, and the Canucks went the other way with it. Just good awareness and patience by Michkov though.
Of course, he made some dandy moves, as he always does. He appeared to get stronger and more confident in the third period of play. Look at this play with the man advantage in the third period, as he went through his legs:
One major tidbit of learning about Michkov is how competitive he is. He hates to lose, he just wants to win. Michkov lives and breathes the sport of hockey, that’s it.
Lastly, Michkov and Travis Konecny don’t just have chemistry on the ice together, but they get along just well. The two are becoming friends, and it’s become apparent with how they act with one another on and off the ice. The pair give fist pumps to each other, talk to each other, laugh with one another, and just have fun together. They seek each other out when the pair are on the ice together.
Everything is going as planned with Michkov now in the states. It’s going to take more time for him and his family to become adapted to North America, but it couldn’t have gone any better than it has been. I get a sense that he won’t need a translator by the end of the season.
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Jett Luchanko
Speed, speed, speed. Flyers’ Head Coach John Tortorella spoke on the need for speed in the Flyers lineup. Luchanko more than provides that, as he is an elite skater. “The speed he brings through the middle of the ice is intriguing,” Tortorella said last week following practice.
Another thing he provides is maturity. Luchanko carries himself like a pro, and better yet he’s only 18-years-old. He weighs 190 pounds and stands at 5’11, but he plays like a player that weighs 230 pounds. He doesn’t shy away from puck battles and that was evident in the first period of play. The Flyers were pinned in their own zone at one point, but Luchanko holds a player along the boards, strips the player of the puck, and lifts the puck out of the zone.
He’s very mature for being so young, “There is no small detail. I think he has a maturity about him. We know he’s 18, or just turned it. But, he carries himself in a different way,” said Tortorella following practice last week.
Luchanko has excellent vision of the ice, rather it’s quite elite, as well. He makes plays happen that is not spotted by the naked eye. He pays attention to the small details, like winning puck battles, making the right outlet passes, and enters the opponents zone with ease at times. The Flyers needed more creativity with their offense, and Luchanko infused it greatly. Luchanko propelled the Flyers to a Power Play goal on their first opportunity, with Foerster burying it for his first of the season.
The second Power Play unit for the Flyers looked in sync, with good puck movement. Jett Luchanko adds the speed element, but Bobby Brink, Joel Farabee, and Tyson Foerster were dominant. They were all being set up by Luchanko, with his willingness to take the hit to make the play. Just look at his speed to enter the zone in this clip below with the man advantage. It helps the orange and black for zone entries, which they have struggled with mightily for the past few seasons.
Luchanko is a bit raw offensively. His defensive skills and skating abilities are top notch, however, his shot needs improvement. The NHL schedule does not give much time to hone on developing a players shot more, rather the schedule is quite rigorous, that often involves a crazy travel schedule at times. If the Flyers want Luchanko to develop more offensive flare to his game, then he should have been sent back to the Guelph Storm. That way he has chance to build on his confidence, and make improvements where need be. Luchanko even told us at Developmental Camp that one thing he wanted to do was “Develop my shot more.”
Learning Curve
He did lose his man on the second Canucks goal. It’s not a slight, it’s part of the process. He’s learning, and he looked disgusted after the goal. The more it happens, the more he learns.
“It was just cool to be out there amongst those guys. Something you always dream about,” Luchanko said following the game last night
All in all, both had successful NHL Debuts. It’s over with now. Now it’s time to move forward.
