The Athletic's Scott Wheeler did his annual top 75 NHL affiliated prospects list, and Philadelphia Flyers top prospect Matvei Michkov was ranked No. 1 along with other prospects riddled throughout the list.

The Athletic's Scott Wheeler did his annual top 75 NHL affiliated prospects list, and Philadelphia Flyers top prospect Matvei Michkov was ranked No. 1 along with other prospects riddled throughout the list. 

"The player's brilliance comes primarily from his ability to make his decisions quickly and execute on them with incredible proficiency, whether that's ripping a patterned shot (his one-timer, his standstill wrister, his curl-and-drag, etc.), a quick move into a pass, a sudden stop-up, an attacking cut, or the use of some ingenious spatial awareness and creativity," Wheeler writes.

His talent alone would've made him a No. 1 overall pick, but given he might not be able to play in North America for up to three years, he scared a lot of teams off. That only benefited Danny Briere, as Michkov fell to No. 7 in the 2023 NHL Draft. 

While playing for HK Sochi in the KHL this season, he has 41 points (19 goals, 22 assists) in 47 games. He could've had a bigger season but dealt with pneumonia for an extended period. 

The Flyers' future starts with Michkov, and the excitement of bringing him to the U.S.A. is insanely high. 

Two other prospects joined Michkov on this list, with Oliver Bonk in Tier 4, ranked 55, and Bobby Brink in Tier 5, ranked 63. 

Bonk's season with the OHL's London Knights has been spectacular. Bonk has 23 goals and 38 assists in 52 games. He leads his team in powerplay goals and has been a dominant force all across the ice. 

"Bonk's smarts are his game's defining quality but he also plays a firm game, possesses good overall skill, has an impressive feel for coverage and timing, and escapes pressure well despite having average feet (they were once an issue but no longer are, even they won't be a major asset). He influences the game through his effectiveness, his reads, his anticipation, his play-calling, and the consistency of his habits," Wheeler writes. 

As for Brink, he is learning what it is like to play for head coach John Tortorella. Brink was recently sent to the AHL, and upon his return to the NHL, he was benched in a game against the Washington Capitals despite scoring.

Brink has had a solid season in the NHL with 20 points (9 goals, 11 assists) in 41 games. Since returning from the AHL on February 27th, Brink has shown he is ready to continue developing in the NHL. 

Brink still needs to round out the defensive side of his game, but he will be a vital piece of the Philadelphia Flyers' future. 

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