Rick Tocchet recently praised Matvei Michkov’s performance, saying he thinks the young forward is playing well.
In recent comments, Tocchet said about Michkov, “I thought Matvei was skating really well and making plays, he’s been doing a good job in overtime. He played all over the map too. He’s doing a good job for us.”
This comes after Michkov had a strong showing in the Flyers’ recent shootout win over the Los Angeles Kings, where he contributed assists and earned praise for a “statement game” and solid development in that matchup. Throughout the 2025-26 season, Tocchet’s comments on Michkov have varied—earlier focusing on conditioning issues after Michkov arrived at camp out of shape, leading to reduced ice time and some public frustration (including Tocchet getting tired of repeated questions about him).
Michkov’s recent performances, especially in key situations like Overtime, seem to have shifted things positively in Tocchet’s view. This aligns with Michkov’s own comments earlier in the year about accepting his role and focusing on his job under the coach, describing their relationship as standard player-coach dynamics. The Flyers are navigating a rebuild, and Michkov remains a key young piece despite the ups and downs.
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