Flyers take big swing, select Matvei Michkov with No. 7 pick in NHL Draft

The Flyers have landed one of the top Russian players in recent memory.

Danny Briere clearly isn't afraid to take some big swings, and he swung for the fences in his first draft as general manager of the Philadelphia Flyers.

With the No. 7 overall pick of the 2023 NHL Entry Draft, the Flyers selected dynamic Russian forward Matvei Michkov of the Kontinental Hockey League.

"I'm glad to be a Flyer. I have no words," Michkov said through a translator. “This is my dream, and my dream is to win the Stanley Cup.”

Michkov, 18, has a very impressive résumé. He logged nine goals and 20 points in 27 games with HC Sochi while on loan from SKA St. Petersburg during the 2022-23 season, and at the 2021 U18 World Championship, he posted 12 goals and 16 points in seven games to lead Russia to a gold medal and earn MVP of the tournament.

He also broke Alexander Ovechkin's record as the youngest player ever to suit up for Russia's men's national team. No big deal.

Michkov is truly a rare talent. But as talented as he is, he comes with some considerable red flags.

For one, he is under contract with SKA St. Petersburg for three more years, meaning the absolute earliest he'll be able to suit up for the Flyers is the 2026-27 season (barring a dramatic turn of events). Plus, given the Flyers' recent experiences with Russian prospects, it's easy to understand why some may be uncomfortable with the selection.

Despite the concerns, Briere simply couldn't pick any other player knowing Michkov was still available.

"It is what it is. We know he's got a contract for three more seasons, but for us, we just felt after watching him and after meeting him, we just felt it's a talent that we cannot pass up," Briere told ESPN after making the selection.

"If we have to wait, we'll wait. It is what it is."

Understandably, fans are eager to see Michkov play in a Flyers sweater as soon as possible. But the Flyers are still in the early stages of their rebuild, and it could take several years before they return to contention.

At this point, proper development takes priority for the Flyers' young prospects, and Briere and Flyers assistant general manager Brent Flahr suggested as much while speaking with the media on Thursday.

"We want the best player three, four years down the road," said Flahr. "It's not a rush as far as who's gonna be playing first. There's a lot of guys who will play sooner, but who's gonna become the best NHL player is our focus."

Michkov is no ordinary prospect. He is an offensive powerhouse. In 22 games in the MHL (Russia's top junior league) during the 2021-22 campaign, he registered 22 goals and 38 points. And during the 2020-21 season, he posted 38 goals and 56 points in 56 games, breaking Nikita Kucherov's record for most points scored by a 16-year-old in league history.

Without question, Michkov has the potential to be a legitimate game-breaker as an NHLer. Eliminate his contract situation and the geopolitical climate in Russia and he would likely be worthy of the No. 1 overall pick in most drafts.

For the first time in a long time, fans have a legitimate reason to be excited about the Flyers. Not just because Michkov has the ability to possibly become a superstar in NHL one day, but because this selection highlights Briere's fearlessness as a general manager. He obviously isn't afraid to take gambles, and this one could pay off in a very big way.