Matvei Michkov finishing fourth in the 2025 Calder Trophy voting aligns with how most thought the Calder Trophy voting would go.
Despite a strong rookie season with the Flyers, where he led all NHL rookies with 26 goals and tied for second with 63 points, he was not named a finalist for the award, which went to Lane Hutson, Macklin Celebrini, and Dustin Wolf.
The Professional Hockey Writers Association are responsible for the voting, favored Hutson’s record-tying 60 assists and 66 points as a defenseman, Celebrini’s all-around game despite missing games due to injury, and Wolf’s goaltending impact for Calgary. Michkov’s exclusion sparked frustration among fans, particularly given his offensive dominance, including 46 even-strength points and three overtime goals. His lower ice time (16:41 per game) compared to finalists like Hutson (22:43) and Celebrini (19:47) may have influenced voters, alongside the Flyers’ poor Power Play limiting his point total.
This snub could very well be seen as potential motivation for Michkov in the 2025-26 season.
Check out our Flyers Nitty Gritty Store
