Predicting Matvei Michkov's Rookie Season
The anticipation for the arrival of Philadelphia Flyers prospect Matvei Michkov is growing stronger with every passing day, with fans antsy to see how exactly their superstar winger will fit into this evolving Flyers system.
Christopher Hanewinckel-USA TODAY Sports - Predicting Matvei Michkov's Rookie SeasonThe anticipation for the arrival of Philadelphia Flyers prospect Matvei Michkov is growing stronger with every passing day, with fans antsy to see how exactly their superstar winger will fit into this evolving Flyers system.
It's not difficult to understand why—Michkov has been a standout player in the KHL, displaying elite levels of skill that transcend his 19 years of age and justified the efforts that the Flyers' front office went to get him stateside two years earlier than initially projected.
While Michkov still hasn't announced his arrival date, he is expected to participate fully in the Flyers' preseason as he prepares for his rookie NHL campaign—which begs the question of, what could Michkov's rookie season look like?
Now, there are a few disclaimers that need to be made. Michkov is a teenager coming over to a new country, learning a new language, and adapting to a new playing style, locker room, and ice size.
By all accounts, he's a hard worker who will put his full efforts into acclimating as quickly as possible, but even Flyers GM Danny Briere has warned fans that Michkov will need time to adjust. He most likely won't immediately pick up where he left off playing-wise, but there's no reason to panic if that happens.
Because of all of these adjustments, it's not outlandish to imagine that Michkov will start the season out a bit slow. Depending on who his linemates end up being, his numbers could be affected by the amount of chemistry (or lack thereof) he has with them.
Once he does get comfortable, however, there's little doubt that Michkov will dazzle audiences. He can score goals all day long, but his puck and stick handling, skating, and ability to create crafty offensive chances elevate his game to a level where—Flyers fan or not—onlookers can't help but be mesmerized.
He might not play all 82 games his first time around—injuries, scratches, personal issues, etc. can all come into play—but I'm confident putting Michkov down for around a 50-point season. He'll provide a unique burst of energy to this Flyers offense and is the kind of player who makes the teammates around him better as well. If he can make a positive impact on the powerplay as well, there really won't be much more that fans could ask of their star prospect.
And, of course, Michkov will be in conversations for the Calder Memorial Trophy—a race that will include the likes of Macklin Celebrini, Will Smith, Cutter Gauthier, and potentially Michkov's countryman Ivan Demidov.
He's a fierce competitor who always wants to be the best, no matter how much or hard the work is. He knows that expectations for him are high, and he'll put everything on the line if it means meeting those standards. (This is the same guy who played through pneumonia complications in the KHL to help HC Sochi's playoff push if you needed a real-life example.)
While his rookie NHL season probably won't reflect the full range of Michkov's abilities, it will provide some insight into why he's so deserving of the hype and why the Flyers worked tirelessly to bring him over as early as possible. It will be the first step in a hopefully long and illustrious career in Philadelphia for a generational talent that has stated several times over how excited he is to be a Flyer, and that's priceless.
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