Photo Courtesy of Philadelphia Flyers PR
It’s the f..kin Philadelphia Flyers. The first time I went over the Walt Whitman Bridge, I’ve been stuck here in Voorhees, it’s f..kin Philly. I got so f..kin excited.,” Flyers Head Coach John Tortorella emphatically said during his first presser
If this can’t pump up a team, I don’t know what will. The quote above reminds me of Herb Brooks talking to his American team before playing the Russian team “Tonight is your night, there night is done,” and the rest is history.. Tortorella gets it, and he’s trying to build a connection with the fanbase of Philadelphia. The Flyers hired a former Stanley Cup winning Head Coach John Tortorella to a four year deal, worth $16 million. Some forget he won a Cup with the Tampa Bay Lightning back in the 2003-04 season.
Tortorella is known to be a hard-nosed coach, who commands the most from his players. He is not afraid of benching or calling out star studded players either. This was one reason why the majority of the Flyers team reported early for training camp for the past few seasons. They also knew that they would have to give their all to fight to stay in the lineup.
It’s become apparent as some have excelled, and some have had difficulties learning this, but on most nights the Flyers do not have a problem with effort. The team may not be talented enough to beat stiff competition or playoff bound teams on a nightly basis, but they do fight and claw their way into games nine times out of 10, “I’m not gonna stand up here all year long and talk about moral victories,” John Tortorella said following the loss to the Carolina Hurricanes last season. “But I’ve got to goddamn remember where we are, as far as where we are in the organization, and the process that we are at. I’m certainly not gonna boo the team. I’m gonna try to help them.”
The question remains, will he get along with Matvei Michkov?
“I know I’ve said this a few times before, but the chance to have him learn under Torts, we all know know that he’s gifted offensively, very, very talented, but he’s going to have the chance to learn under Torts to play the other side of the ice as well, and that gets me excited,” Danny Briere said of John Tortorella teaching Matvei Michkov. “He’s going to get that base early on. I think it’s just going to make him better for the rest of his career.”
John Tortorella coined the term “Mad Russian” when explaining how important Matvei Michkov was to the organization last season. Tortorella commands the most out of his players, and appreciates hard work. The pair, in Michkov and Torts, should get along well.
The seventh overall draft pick in Matvei Michkov really made an imprint with Sochi ever since he was traded from SKA St. Petersburg. Michkov really has found his game, as he finished the season with 19 goals and 22 assists in 47 games played. He just had a great season with Sochi, and Michkov now has officially signed with the Flyers, per Flyers’ General Manager Danny Briere. Finally from the heavens, Michkov is a Flyer for the 2024-25 season.
Michkov was teasing Flyers fans and media alike with wearing orange clad gear, but now HE IS OFFICIALLY A FLYER.
A talented player like Michkov is exactly what John Tortorella and Danny Briere have been preaching about and clamoring about for the past few seasons, “We need more high-end talent.” That’s what Michkov is, an elite level talent that can take over a game with the blink of an eye.
The writing was on the wall for Michkov to join the Flyers, “I think we will talk about all the options, first of all, with him.” The Chairman of the Board of Directors of SKA, Alexander Medvedev said via Match TV about a month ago, “And we will also talk with the leaders of Philadelphia, with whom we have very good relations. There is understanding, and you will be patient. I think the decision on Michkov will be no later than the end of June.”
Such a change in Michkov coming to North America sooner could be because of the relationship he has with current SKA Head Coach Roman Rotenberg, who left them off the 25 man national team roster for Team Russia. Rotenberg also played a major influence in shipping or loaning Michkov to Sochi from SKA St. Petersburg.
Coming from one hard coach in Rotenberg, to another hard coach in Tortorella, could play in Michkov’s favor. He has an understanding for what it takes to succeed from two tough coaches, who are known to be tough on their players. Knowing what to expect could benefit Matvei in the future.
