Year 2 Of Rebuild Starts Off With A Bang

The Flyers‘ top prospect Matvei Michkov is expected to terminate his KHL contract with SKA St. Petersburg and leave to continue his career with the Flyers., “According to SE, SKA winger Matvey Michkov will continue his career in Philadelphia. The contract with the St. Petersburg club until 2026 will be terminated. The rights to the hockey player in the KHL will remain with the team.”

Flyers management is aware of the report and is unable to confirm it. Michkov, 19, was selected with the seventh overall pick in the first round of the 2023 NHL Draft after scoring nine goals and 20 points in 27 games with HK Sochi in 2022-23. Michkov, of course, was on loan to Sochi from SKA, his parent club.

Escape From Russia

Michkov’s relationship with SKA head coach and Russian Ice Hockey Federation President Roman Rotenberg has been tenuous at best. This past season Mitckov was in and out of the lineup with his “loan team” Sochi.  Michchov missed time due to pneumonia and was benched for reported conduct detrimental to the team. This may have been a ploy to work himself out of his 3-year KHL deal.  

If Michkov does come over to join the Flyers early, he’ll be the third KHL standout to do so in the last few months. Ivan Fedotov executed his shock switch to the NHL at the end of March. He subsequently signed a two-year, $6.55 million extension. Alexei Kolosov, who signed an entry-level contract with the Flyers last summer, briefly played for the Lehigh Valley Phantoms at the AHL level, appearing in two games for the Flyers AHL affiliate.

The announcement or decision of Michkov would have to come soon one would expect. The NHL draft will be held on June 28-29 in Las Vegas. The NHL free agency window will open up 24 hours after the final game of the Stanley Cup Finals. Knowing the availability of your team’s number prospect would greatly shape the direction in which the Flyers will go this summer in both the draft and free agency.  

Matt Bednarczyk

Matt Bednarczyk is your host of Talking Philly Sports With Matty B. He is a proud retired US Army Sergeant First Class, he is also a combat veteran with over 80 months served in Afganistan, and Iraq . Huge Hockey Fan. Matt is a lifelong 4 for 4 Philly sports fan. Born and raised on the Mayfair and Tacony neighborhood lines of Northeast Philly. He brings over 40 years of Philadelphia Sports passion and provides a realistic look at our Major Sports Teams and the most passionate sports fans on the planet. Look for his show live on Edge of Philly Sports.

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