Flyers prospect Matvei Michkov loaned to KHL's HC Sochi

The Flyers' star prospect is expected to see a significant increase in ice time with his new club.

Matvei Michkov's 2023-24 season hasn't exactly gotten off to the greatest start. Playing for SKA St. Petersburg of the KHL, Michkov was a healthy scratch in three of the first four games of his campaign, and in the one game he did dress for, he only earned six minutes of ice time.

The 18-year-old's elite talents won't be wasted on the bench for much longer, though.

Monday afternoon, SKA announced Michkov will continue the season on loan with HC Sochi, where he is expected to see a significant uptick in ice time.

Loaning a player to another team in the KHL is much like the process of an NHL team reassigning a young player to the AHL. The NHL team retains that player's rights, but the player gets the opportunity to earn maximum playing time against more favorable competition as they develop.

Michkov's loan to Sochi was a "mutual decision," according to SKA St. Petersburg.

Michkov spent a significant chunk of last season with HC Sochi (also while on loan from SKA). In 27 appearances with Sochi, he logged nine goals and 20 points while averaging nearly 16 minutes of ice time per game.

The Philadelphia Flyers selected Michkov with the No. 7 overall pick of this year's draft, and his tie to the KHL was one of the primary reasons he slid to the Flyers in the first place. Not only does he have three more years remaining on his contract with SKA St. Petersburg, meaning he won't be able to join the Flyers until 2026, but young players often struggle to develop in the KHL — especially for a team as competitive as SKA. In Sochi, though, he's likely to take on key minutes at 5-on-5 and on the power play against top-tier competition.

Michkov's first chance to suit up with his new team comes Wednesday afternoon when HC Sochi takes on Severstal Cherepovets.