Flyers' Matvei Michkov Reportedly Likely Wants 'New Start' Elsewhere

With everything that has gone wrong, things have just gotten so much worse for the Flyers... worse than anyone could have imagined.

According to a new report from NHL insider Kevin Weekes, Flyers star Matvei Michkov is likely to explore a fresh start with another team as a pending RFA.

"From multiple league sources, with the Flyers unimpressive start and internal turmoil, Michkov would likely want a new start elsewhere. He's in the last year of his contract & is a prime trade candidate moving forward," Weekes posted to his X account on Tuesday evening.

Michkov, 21, notably got into a high-profile scuffle on the bench with defenseman Nick Seeler in Monday night's 3-1 win over the Vancouver Canucks, with the Russian star looking far more animated than his usual self.

Despite his own individual high-flying start, with 10 goals, four assists, and 14 points in 20 games, Michkov has been the subject of controversy all year long, from comments from Seeler two weeks ago, to head coach Rick Tocchet implying that Seeler was referring to extended shifts, to Travis Konecny banging his stick on the boards at Madison Square Garden for a line change.

After that game against New York at MSG, Michkov was noted to have liked Instagram posts that questioned the ice time allocation to himself and teammate Porter Martone, with whom he has formed a close bond this season.

Michkov's brother also liked those posts, in addition to a reel mocking Tocchet's style of hockey.

Now, after another public bust-up, it would seem as though Michkov, or Michkov's camp, has seen enough.

It's a truly diabolical development for the Flyers, who already went through this same song and dance with Cutter Gauthier two years ago.

Gauthier is, of course, third in the NHL this season with 15 goals in 17 games, and has 76 career goals in 176 regular season games.

If this is over with Michkov, it will be the second time the Flyers have lost an offensively-gifted star under this administration with this front office.