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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 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 has been teasing Flyers fans and media alike with wearing orange clad gear, but now he is terminating his contract with ska to join the Flyers. Hopefully, it will be made official today, to which he will be signed, sealed, and delivered to Philadelphia.
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.
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It will take Michkov time to get adjusted to North America, and his expectations are going to be through the roof. However, It will take some time to get adjusted to the rink size, the culture, just the ordinary time of being a professional. My personal projection for his first season in the NHL is 20 goals with 20 assists for a total of 40 points.
“I want to come to Philadelphia, and I want to help them win a Stanley Cup. I know they’ve been waiting a long time for one. That’s my goal,” Matvei Michkov said when he was drafted. He will have his first shot at it in 2024-25.
