On social media, it seems, many hockey fans like controversy, like when a player says something that can be twisted to show some tension in the dressing room.
So when the Philadelphia Flyers’ Matvei Michkov, the 20-year-old star winger, recently said he’s not a fan of dump-and-chase hockey, the keyboard warriors couldn’t wait to start typing.
Michkov was just rehashing Hockey 101: it’s more efficient to carry or pass the puck into the offensive zone than it is to dump it in, where you only have a 50/50 chance of having a teammate win a board battle and keep the attack going.
But some fans took this as an insult to new Flyers’ coach Rick Tocchet, who says a dump-and-chase game is necessary.
Tocchet has been around for a while. After 16 years as an NHL head coach or assistant, he also knows that entering the offensive zone via a pass or a stickhandle is preferred, but not always possible.
The Flyers’ bench boss recently watched a video of Michkov explaining he’s not a proponent of the dump-and-chase method.
During an edition of Nasty Knuckles, Tocchet said he and club president Keith Jones laughed when they watched the clip.
“First of all, he’s going two miles an hour and there’s nobody in front of him,” Tocchet said. “And he said, ‘Don’t dump the puck.’ Well, obviously if no one is in front of him, you should take it. I’m busting his balls. And I’m going to bust them when I see him. I know what he’s saying. I mean, he wants to hold onto pucks, and we have to allow him to have that creativity. Listen, we want to give this guy the puck as much as possible because he can make high-level plays.”
If everyone’s skates are going north and players are moving quickly, then they should go into the zone carrying or passing the puck, Tocchet said, but he emphasized there is a time and place for the dump-and-chase game.
“But if your skates are going sideways, and there’s no speed anywhere,” it’s time to dump it in, he said. “And I don’t care who you are.”
Even the multi-talented Michkov.
Tocchet is known for demanding accountability, along with his upfront communication with players.
It should be pointed out that Tocchet wants to give his creative players the freedom to freelance on the ice. That should help the development of Michkov and center Trevor Zegras, and aid veteran right winger Travis Konecny.
Under sometimes-critical coach Greg Cronin in Anaheim, Zegras’ production – and time at center – dipped in Anaheim. The Flyers believe Tocchet’s style will benefit Zegras, among others.
Over the years, Tocchet’s teams have played with physicality and with a relentless style – like he demonstrated during his 440-goal NHL career.
The Flyers aren’t the biggest team in the NHL, so until more of those players arrive, it will be a slow process before Tocchet’s style is fully incorporated.
Here are the Flyers’ potential lines, assuming Tyson Foerster (elbow injury) is ready when the season starts, as expected:
- Tyson Foerster (6-foot-2, 215 pounds) - Trevor Zegras (6-foot, 185 pounds) - Travis Konecny (5-foot-10, 192 pounds).
- Matvei Michkov (5-foot-10, 172 pounds) - Sean Couturier (6-foot-4, 210 pounds) - Owen Tippett (6-foot-1, 210 pounds).
- Alex Bump (6-foot, 195 pounds) - Christian Dvorak (6-foot-1, 190 pounds) - Bobby Brink (5-foot-8, 169 pounds).
- Rodrigo Abols (6-foot-4, 206 pounds) - Noah Cates (6-foot-2, 194 pounds) - Garnet Hathaway (6-foot-2, 212 pounds).
It’s not the most explosive group, but it has many promising players who have yet to reach their potential. Still, Tocchet will have to work wonders to avoid what would be the longest stretch in franchise history without a playoff berth – six years.
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