Matvei Michkov is already prepared for Year 2 of life in the NHL. (Photo: Eric Hartline, Imagn Images) [https://deweb-519a7.b-cdn.net/post-images/bcb2d88d-68e0-4d14-bab0-5e7e5bcc209e.jpeg] Matvei Michkov is already prepared for Year 2 of life in the NHL. (Photo: Eric Hartline, Imagn Images) Budding Philadelphia Flyers [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/philadelphia-flyers] star Matvei Michkov had quite the strong rookie season in the NHL last year, but he's already looking ahead to bigger and better things in the future. Michkov, 20, saw a little bit of everything in his 2024-25 campaign. Five three-point efforts, two healthy scratches, a handful of public verbal clashes with head coach John Tortorella [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/philadelphia-flyers/matvei-michkov-says-he-was-very-upset-when-flyers-fired-john-tortorella], who he actually liked, and a coaching change. All in all, the Flyers talisman finished the year with 26 goals, 37 assists, and 63 points in 80 games, leading all rookies in goals and finishing joint-second in points among rookies alongside Macklin Celebrini. With little time to dwell on the past, Michkov is ready to move on, improve, and generally win more games. "There is no limit to perfection. The first season was different, there were good moments, there were not so good ones, but we have what we have," Michkov said of first season in the NHL, as quoted by Rustam Imamov [https://www-championat-com.translate.goog/hockey/news-6081008-napadayuschij-filadelfii-matvej-michkov-ocenil-svoj-pervyj-sezon-v-nhl.html?_x_tr_sl=ru&_x_tr_tl=en&_x_tr_hl=en&_x_tr_pto=sc] of Championat. "We are moving forward, I hope it will be better. We have not communicated with [Rick Tocchet] yet, we will contact him closer to the season. What do I expect from the new season? We will live and see." The 20-year-old was named to the NHL All-Rookie Team [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/philadelphia-flyers/latest-news/flyers-matvei-michkov-joined-by-2-rivals-on-nhl-all-rookie-team] in June, missing out on a unanimous selection by just one point. Flyers Coach Rick Tocchet Has Exciting, Simple Plan for Matvei Michkov [https://deweb-519a7.b-cdn.net/post-images/7d3e9e49-0ab1-4b22-85fa-6d8c5e4cf054.webp] Flyers Coach Rick Tocchet Has Exciting, Simple Plan for Matvei Michkov New Philadelphia Flyers head coach Rick Tocchet has revealed his simple, preliminary plan to get the most out of star rookie Matvei Michkov going forward. It's not rocket science. [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/philadelphia-flyers/flyers-coach-rick-tocchet-has-exciting-simple-plan-for-matvei-michkov] Aside from that, Michkov's offseason has featured a Dubai car crash [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/philadelphia-flyers/latest-news/flyers-matvei-michkov-easily-wins-court-case-vs-dubai-car-rental-company] that turned into an extortion attempt and, more recently, the KHL 3x3 Fest tournament in Russia "I'm not sure that Philadelphia knows that I decided to play in the 3x3 tournament. It was a cool event, good hockey," Michkov added in regards to the tournament [https://www-championat-com.translate.goog/hockey/news-6081014-michkov-ne-uveren-chto-v-filadelfii-znayut-chto-ya-reshil-sygrat-v-turnire-khl-3h3.html?_x_tr_sl=ru&_x_tr_tl=en&_x_tr_hl=en&_x_tr_pto=sc]. "It was useful to play, it's always nice to get positive emotions, to play with such guys, to communicate, to go out on the ice - a great experience. I don't know if it will help in the future, but everything is fine." Some other NHL-caliber youngsters who played in the 3x3 Fest with Michkov include Detroit prospect Dmitri Buchelnikov, San Jose prospect Daniil Gushchin, Edmonton prospect Maxim Denezkhin, and Flyers teammate Nikita Grebenkin [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/philadelphia-flyers/latest-news/don-t-discount-nikita-grebenkin-in-battle-for-flyers-roster-spot]. Michkov, Buchelnikov, and Gushchin ultimately walked away as winners of the tournament, while Grebenkin's squad finished in third place [https://x.com/GriffingDylan/status/1942637204812992655].
