Year of Matvei Michkov: What has happened since he joined Flyers

It’s been one year of Matvei Michkov in Philadelphia. We go over the timeline of key moments for all 366 days of the Russian phenom as a Flyer.

Mar 27, 2025; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Philadelphia Flyers right wing Matvei Michkov (39) celebrates his goal against the Montreal Canadiens during the first period at Wells Fargo Center. Mandatory Credit: Eric Hartline-Imagn Images

Although his rights were retained by the Philadelphia Flyers when they selected him seventh overall in the 2023 NHL Draft, the Matvei Michkov era in Philadelphia began exactly one year ago today, when he arrived in North America. Flyers general manager Danny Briere was waiting for him to pick up his equipment. And Keith Jones was along for the ride also from New York back to Philadelphia. Over the last 365 days the Flyers have gone from a team in a rebuild to a team still rebuilding but with a far brighter future. And a future star guiding them. Michkov has had some ups and downs obviously, but the ups have clearly been more visible than the valleys. Here then is a look back at his first year in North America.

July 2024

July 23: Arrives at John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York City wearing a Phillies cap and some Flyers gear.

July 24: Meets with Philadelphia media alongside Briere and Slava Kuznetsov (who acts as Michkov’s translator most of the season). “We started hearing rumblings after the (KHL) season that there was a possibility of it happening,” Briere said. “When we drafted him last year we never thought this would happen.” Briere added it was “amazing” to know Michkov would be in a Flyers uniform for the 2024-25 season.

July 29: Michkov appears at Citizens Bank Park and tosses out the ceremonial first pitch before the Phillies take on the New York Yankees. Wearing #39 with his name on the back of the Phillies jersey, Michkov tosses a strike from the grass to a warm reception.

August 2024

August 16: The Lehigh Valley Phantoms announce they’ll host the NHL Rookie Series at PPL Center September 13-14 between the Flyers and the New York Rangers. Although at the time it’s unclear if Michkov will play one or both games, it’ll mark the first time the rookie will play an opponent wearing the Flyers jersey.

August 17: Michkov posts an Instagram photo not just of himself but with Flyers teammate Egor Zamula as well as Michkov’s mother and brother. Both mom and brother will stay with Michkov during his season in Philadelphia. The photo was taken celebrating his mother’s birthday.

August 26: Michkov posts another Instagram photo, this time relaxing somewhere in Colorado with fellow Flyers teammate Ivan Fedotov.

September 2024

September 4: Michkov appears at the National Hockey League Players’ Association Rookie Showcase in Arlington, Virginia. Michkov and Fedotov are two of the 33 players attending the event. The showcase includes some scrimmages, practice drills and off-ice activities with Upper Deck sponsoring the event.

September 12: Michkov participates at the Flyers Rookie Camp at the Flyers Training Center in Voorhees, New Jersey. He’s one of 27 players participating. Although rookie Jett Luchanko also takes part, all eyes are on Michkov.

September 13: In his first game as part of the Rookie Series, Michkov scores in the middle frame against the Rangers. Much like the goal he’d score in Edmonton for his first NHL regular season goal, Michkov gets to the greasy area to bang the puck home. It’s a power play goal as the Rangers were down two men.

Although he doesn’t score in the shootout after the game, Michkov looks strong and impressive in his debut.

September 22: In the Flyers’ preseason opener, Michkov ends up with two assists, the first a primary assist on a goal by Morgan Frost. The second comes on the Flyers’ sixth goal of the afternoon, this time on the power play on another Frost tally.

September 26: After sitting out the Montreal tilt, Michkov returns to the lineup, getting another assist and registering his first NHL goal (albeit exhibition) against the Islanders. It’s not a huge cause for celebration as, with the Islanders goalie pulled, the goal is an empty-netter. But that makes four points in two games for the Mad Russian.

September 28: In his third preseason game, Michkov gets into a scrum with Boston’s Bill Sweezey. Sweezey, who has an obvious size advantage, tries to rub out Michkov. But Michkov stands his ground. Eventually captain Sean Couturier steps in and fights Sweezey to a draw. While not a donnybrook, it sends a message to other teams that Michkov won’t be bullied.

As for the rest of the game, Michkov scores a pair (his first multi-goal game) as the Flyers defeat Boston 3-2 in overtime. Michkov’s game-winner in overtime is a pretty one, waiting patiently before beating the Bruins goalie low on the glove side. Through three preseason games, Michkov has six points.

October 2024

October 1: In the final preseason tilt, Michkov will take part in, he has a lone assist in a 4-1 loss to Boston. He also has one shot in the game and ends up being -1 on the evening. Despite playing only four of the seven tilts before the meaningful games begin, Michkov leads the Flyers with seven points (three goals, four assists).

October 11: In his NHL debut on the road against Vancouver, Michkov has four shots, takes a minor penalty but is held off the scoresheet in 18:32 of ice time. He also has a chance to score in the shootout, but is denied. Still, the Flyers win 3-2.

October 12: Flyers coach John Tortorella uses Michkov almost an identical amount (18:36) as the West Coast swing continues. In a 6-3 loss, Michkov records his first NHL point, an assist on a late power play goal by Travis Konency.

October 15: Against the defending Western Conference champions Edmonton Oilers, Michkov registers his first NHL goal. It takes a few minutes for it to become reality as the goal goes under video review and is deemed good. The Oilers then challenge the ruling for goalie interference. The challenge fails. Still a good goal. Michkov’s first opens the scoring early in the first period. Minutes later he scores his second on the power play.

“He’s a dynamic player, not just his passing but how he can hold on to a puck and get out of traffic,” Tortorella said after the game. “I think it goes a long way with his teammates, he’s out here blocking shots also and doing all the other stuff that creates that team camaraderie, that team concept. That’s really important.”

October 17: Michkov has a lone assist in a 6-4 loss to the host Seattle Kraken. The forward plays 21:54, it will be the third most amount of ice time he receives outside of an April game against Montreal and a game in March versus the Senators. Although with four points in his first four NHL games, the forward doesn’t speak with the media afterwards, clearly uncomfortable trying to respond in English.

October 19: A cross-continent trek following the Seattle game sees Philadelphia playing their home opener less than 48 hours later against Vancouver. And the dreaded first game at home following a road trip lives up to expectations. Very little transpires as Michkov has no points in a 3-0 loss.

October 22: A Russian matchup seeing Alexander Ovechkin going head-to-head against Michkov isn’t a dominating performance from the rookie. Michkov assists on Travis Sanheim’s goal early in the third period to cut the deficit in half. Yet it’s not enough as Washington wins 4-1. As for Ovechkin, he’s held pointless as Philadelphia drops its fifth game in a row.

October 23: The second of a back-to-back, home-and-home has Michkov scoring a goal and adding an assist. Unfortunately he is a -3 in the game, resulting in the Capitals doubling Philadelphia 6-3 as the streak without a win extends to six games.

Despite the loss, Michkov’s two points makes him the fifth Flyer all-time to be a teenager and score seven points in his first seven NHL games.

October 26: Michkov adds a goal and an assist in an exciting 7-5 win over Minnesota at Wells Fargo Center

October 27: In his first regular season game against the Canadiens, the rookie is held off the scoresheet. He sees over 21 minutes of ice time (including 2:38 on the power play) but the Flyers once again are AWOL in the second period, giving up three goals and being outscored 19-6 thus far in the middle period.

October 29: Not much to talk about, held pointless in 15:36 in a tight-checking 2-0 road win against the Bruins.

October 31: Leave it to Tortorella to pick Halloween to dawn a dark cape and briefly bench Michkov during the St. Louis tilt at Wells Fargo Center. The benching comes in the first period on something Tortorella doesn’t delve into after the 2-1 win, but says there will be “major struggles within 5-on-5” for the Russian winger.

November 2024

November 1: The National Hockey League announces Michkov is the NHL Rookie of the Month for October. It’s the first of what will be two such honors in the season, getting the winger into the conversation for the Calder Trophy. The Russian is also the first Flyer to receive the Rookie of the Month nod since James van Riemsdyk won it back in 2009.

November 2: A 3-0 loss to Boston at home should’ve saw Michkov with an assist on this pretty play he created, waiting for Sanheim who somehow couldn’t put it home.

November 5: Carolina beats the Flyers 6-4 as Michkov gets another power play helper.

November 7: Michkov is a healthy scratch for the first time as the Flyers lose to Tampa 2-1. Tortorella doesn’t go into details again regarding the situation, just citing it’s something rookies go through when adjusting to the NHL.

November 9: While many suspect Michkov will be back in the lineup and the message from Tortorella has been sent clearly, he’s nowhere to be found against the Panthers as he’s scratched again. Philadelphia garners a loser point in a 4-3 shootout loss.

November 11: In a matchup of high-end talented rookies, Macklin Celebrini and Michkov go at it at Wells Fargo Center. Michkov, fresh from the scratching and probably with a burr under his saddle, has a goal and an assist in regulation. But he also bops Celebrini as the third period ends, leaving San Jose with a man advantage. The Flyers survive as Michkov scores in the shootout to beat the Sharks 4-3. As for Celebrini, he’s held pointless.

November 14: The Flyers are terrible most of the game, yet like Rasputin, can’t be killed. Michkov scores the game-winner from a horrible angle with 55 seconds left in overtime for a 5-4 victory.

November 16: A pair of assists (both at even strength) helps Philadelphia pull off back-to-back wins for the second time all season as the Flyers beat Buffalo 5-2.

November 18: A huge vote of confidence by Tortorella sees Michkov with over five more minutes of ice time than he had against Buffalo. The rookie is pointless with three shots while taking a minor penalty.

November 20: Another game where Michkov has zero points. The Flyers lose 4-1 to the Canes.

November 23: Michkov gets another game-winner in overtime, defeating the Chicago Blackhawks (and Brian Bedard) 3-2. After the game, Michkov is asked about scoring goals when it counts the most. “When you get moments, you have to be cold-blooded and really finish them,” he says through his translator.

November 25: After scoring in the second to put Philadelphia up 4-2, the Flyers cough up a regulation win. In the shootout Michkov beats the Vegas goalie but not the post, resulting in a 5-4 loss. Michkov has nearly five minutes (4:51) in power play time.

November 27: Nothing to discuss in a 3-2 overtime win over the Predators as Michkov has no points.

November 29: See Nov. 27 notes although Philadelphia beats the Rangers 3-1.

November 30: After the Black Friday victory, the Flyers traveled to St. Louis to face the big, burly Blues. The rookie avoids much of the punishment the Blues attempt to dole out. However, Michkov’s game-winning goal in overtime sees him fall heavily into the end boards. Immediate dread from all watching fear a possible shoulder or upper body injury. Yet Michkov pops up and screams in celebration for a 3-2 overtime victory.

The three game-winning goals thus far ties Michkov with Sidney Crosby, Rick Nash and Ilya Kovalchuk for most overtime goals by a teenager in NHL history.

December 2024

December 5: Michkov’s first three-point game comes against the defending Stanley Cup champions but ends in a 7-5 loss. The production is even more pleasing knowing he only got 14:21 of ice time in the wild contest.

December 7: Another two goals (on two shots) but the Flyers fall 4-3 in overtime.

December 8: In one of the more amusing moments in his rookie season, Michkov gets into a scrum near the end of a 4-2 Utah victory with Barrett Hayton. Michkov and Hayton get roughing minors but Michkov, obviously pissed off at something that happened, gets a 10-minute misconduct. As he leaves the ice Michkov ends up signing a water bottle before heading down the hallway. When asked later what he thought of the incident, Tortorella had no idea it transpired.

December 9: Happy birthday, Matvei! The big 2-0!

December 10: No water bottles are signed during the game that we know of. Instead the rookie has a pair of assists in a 5-3 victory over Columbus. It’s the last multi-point game Michkov will have for a while. And the last point he’ll have until after the Christmas break.

December 12 through December 23: Michkov isn’t scratched during this stretch of time. Sadly he doesn’t get a single point in six consecutive games against Detroit (twice), Minnesota, Columbus, Los Angeles and the Penguins. In two 7-3 losses (one to Pittsburgh, the other to Los Angeles) Michkov is a -7 over those six periods. Philadelphia squeaks out two wins over that span as Michkov hits the proverbial wall.

December 28: Having a few days to refocus and get away from the rigors of an NHL schedule, Michkov and the Flyers start their annual post-Christmas West Coast jaunt against Anaheim. Michkov ends up feeling the brunt of Tortorella when he’s benched for the entire third period in a 3-1 Flyers win. It’s the smallest amount of ice time he’s gotten so far this season. But he’ll have less in January.

December 29: Michkov breaks his goal drought and point drought during a 5-4 loss to the Kings. He also gets into a tussle with Quinton Byfield, hitting him in the head with his stick as both are assessed minor penalties. Michkov’s goal is quite something as he shoots the puck from the end board, bouncing it off the Kings goalie and into the net.

December 31: The calendar year concludes with an impressive 4-0 win over the Sharks. Michkov isn’t benched, doesn’t register a point and has two shots on goal.

January 2025

January 2 through January 9: Another stretch that sees Michkov go with nary a point, despite getting eight shots on goal in a 3-2 loss to the Maple Leafs on Jan. 7. The Flyers also go winless, garnering a lone loser point in a 3-2 overtime loss to Toronto on Jan. 5 alongside losses to Las Vegas and Dallas.

January 11: In a statement game, the Flyers mop the floor with Anaheim and one William Gauthier, who is mercilessly booed from start to finish as Philadelphia win 6-0 in a laugher. Michkov scores to make it 5-0, a power play marker midway through period three. The rookie also gets into a scuffle with Anaheim’s Radko Gudas. Gudas pushes him into the back of the net. Michkov returns with a punch or stick of his own and the whistle blows. Cooler heads prevail as other players enter the fray.

January 13: Getting the most amount of ice time all month (17:25), Michkov has an assist on a power play goal as Philadelphia wins 4-3 in regulation over the Panthers.

January 14: Michkov is held off the scoresheet in a 3-2 shootout loss to Columbus.

January 16: The rookie gets one assist during a victory over the Islanders 5-3.

January 17: During a post-practice media scrum, Michkov is asked about how he’s adjusting to the NHL and the demands both on and off the ice. “I’m slowly adapting to the lifestyle,” he says. “Every day is better, hopefully it will become easier. It’s the first season so there are moments that are very hard, trying to get ready for every single game. There’s no real downfalls, it’s just that sometimes you cannot score the goals. Most importantly, the team winning, everything else is irrelevant.”

January 18: Michkov gets a goal in a 3-1 win over host New Jersey. It’s a pretty goal as Michkov takes a pass in the neutral zone and rings the shot off the inside of the post to tie the game 1-1.

January 21: Another assist for Michkov comes as the Flyers win their third straight game, a 2-1 overtime win over Detroit. Michkov doesn’t see a huge downturn in his ice time, a sign that Tortorella is seeing what he needs out of the forward away from the puck in his own end.

January 23 through January 30: Aside from one win in five games to close out the month, Philadelphia is rather bad. And Michkov isn’t any better, with a five-game pointless streak. Adding salt into the wound is the fact the rookie sees two games where he’s under 10 minutes of playing time. On Jan. 27 he sees just 9:45 of ice time while on Jan. 30 he sees just 8:30 against the Islanders, sitting from roughly the midway point of the second onward for a defensive lapse on a New York goal. Apparently both Michkov and Tortorella argued a little on the bench before he sat the rest of the night.

“We’re trying to teach him how things are done here, the things of understanding conduct as a pro, all the things you do to play,” Tortorella said after the 3-0 loss to New York. “I am not going to fail him by cowering away from situations that people may second guess or whatever it may be. We’re going to do it the right way with this kid because we think he is that special. It’s my job to do that, no matter what happens.”

February 2025

February 2: The benching controversy ends as Michkov sees a regular shift and the soap opera concludes for the time being. No shots on goal and no points as Philadelphia loses a tight checking contest to Colorado 2-0.

February 4: A little better effort on the stat sheet with two shots. The Flyers get a point in a 3-2 overtime loss to the Utah Hockey Club.

February 6: Michkov faces off against Washington and manages to score a pair. Both Tortorella and Michkov seem on the same page this contest as he’s used nearly 20 minutes (19:32). Yet Philadelphia continues to be in the midst of a five-game funk. Michkov attempts another “Michigan” but is denied.

February 7: When asked about their relationship, Tortorella says he might have made a mistake not playing Michkov in the third period of the Islanders game in late January. “Emotion is a double-edged sword,” Tortorella said in a presser before the Flyers finished up their stretch before the 4 Nations Face-Off. “It’s a really good thing, but you also make mistakes with it, too. And, I think we both live in that world.”

February 8: In the final game before some Flyers head to the 4 Nations Face-Off and others rest, Michkov is held pointless with three shots in goal in another game where he’s used more than usual. The two-week rest should give the team and its most important rookie time to get away from the game.

February 17: As the 4 Nations Face-Off is in high gear given the geopolitical situation in North America, Michkov is taking it easy. He posts a photo of himself relaxing in Dubai, far removed from the rigors of an NHL schedule. “Good time in AE,” he writes, referring to the Arab Emirates.

February 22: With just two points in February, there’s very little chance Michkov is going to have a great month statistically. However, he starts with a bang, scoring a goal and adding two assists for a three-point game (and a stellar +5). And all of it is done in about 14 minutes and change. In his first shift of the game, Michkov scores off his own rebound as the Flyers double Edmonton 6-3.

February 25: The rookie is still in high gear, not scoring but earning two assists while peppering the Penguins with seven shots on goal. The Penguins (who play Philadelphia three times over a stretch of four Flyers games) are looking like the old, tired playoff-free team many suspected in an easy 6-1 win for the Flyers.

February 27: With five points in two games, the forward puts up another great night, scoring another pair and tossing in an assist for good measure. That’s eight points over three games! Flyers lose in overtime but the talk is all Michkov. And not just in Philadelphia hockey circles. Michkov is the first Flyers rookie to score at least eight points in three games since Eric Lindros back in November 1992.

March 2025

March 1: Michkov is named NHL Rookie of the Month for February, the second time he’s won the honor this season. Meanwhile, the Flyers play Winnipeg and eke out an impressive 2-1 win in the shootout. Michkov undresses Connor Hellebuyck with a nifty move in the shootout. “Pick up speed, fake the shoot, close my eyes, score,” Michkov tells Hockey Night In Canada after the game.

March 4: In the first time he’s hit over 20 minutes in a game since October, Michkov has a lone assist in a 6-3 loss to Calgary. It’s not for lack of trying, with six shots on goal and generally looking engaged in the contest.

March 6: After winning their last contest in rather thrilling fashion, Winnipeg returns the favor and hands the Flyers a 4-1 reality check. Michkov scores late in the third to break the shutout bid but generally not a lot goes right for the team on this day.

March 8: A three-game point streak (one assist) keeps the Russian’s pace rather strong since returning from the break, giving him 11 points over his previous seven games. It’s clear he’s giving himself another chance to get back into the Calder Trophy discussion (if he was ever out of it).

March 9 through March 20: A whole lot of nothing production-wise from Michkov. But the Flyers aren’t producing anything except the occasional win. Michkov is held without a single point over these six games (all losses except for a 4-3 shootout win over Tampa). He has a single shot on goal twice (against Carolina and Ottawa) and two other games he has two shots on goal (losses to Washington and Tampa). He’s hit another wall of sorts as the Flyers begin playing themselves out of any playoff or wildcard hopes.

March 22: With Philadelphia dealing away pieces of their roster for the future at the trade deadline, the malaise continues on the ice. However Michkov again shows some moxie in the next stretch of games beginning with a 3-2 overtime loss to Dallas. It’s not so much the assist as how its created, with Michkov knowing he’s going to get belted by a bigger Stars defender against the boards. Yet he’s still able to thread Ryan Poehling a great pass for the game-tying goal late in the second.

March 23: In a contest that pits two of the better younger players in the league (Michkov and Connor Bedard), Michkov gets another pair of assists in a sloppy, sieve-like performance from the Flyers goaltending. A forgettable 7-4 loss. But even that pales compared to…

March 25: Everything goes pear-shaped in this affair, a 7-2 clinical execution by the more talented Toronto Maple Leafs. The rookie gets another assist but it’s comments from Tortorella afterwards that marks the beginning of his end. A spat with Cam York reportedly ensues before Tortorella is fired on March 27. Michkov reportedly later reaches out to Tortorella via text, jokingly stating he wished he had scored a Michigan while Tortorella was still behind the bench. Brad Shaw assumes the position of interim head coach.

March 27: With the players playing a lot looser now knowing the taskmaster is gone, Philadelphia play a fun, spirited game, defeating Montreal 6-4. In another matchup of Calder nominees, Michkov has a three-point night and should’ve had his first hat trick. Unfortunately a shot into an empty net clangs off the post, leaving Shaw holding his head in his hands and the crowd shocked it didn’t happen.

March 29: Another two-goal effort against Buffalo with Travis Konecny getting the primary assist on both tallies. It’s a 7-4 win but the Flyers still find themselves alive only mathematically. This is a pretty, pretty goal though.

March 31: Michkov’s fourth multi-point game in the last five has him recording two assists in a tight 2-1 win over the lowly Predators. He finishes the month with 14 points, his highest output for a month despite the pointless skid in the middle of March.

April 2025

April 5: It’s no late April Fools Day joke! Matvei Michkov plays the most minutes of his young NHL career (23:04) in a 3-2 loss to the Habs. Whether it’s a case of giving the kid more ice time or seeing what he can do to pad his stats for the Calder is unclear. Michkov has nothing to show for the night as the loss officially eliminates the Flyers from the playoffs.

April 9: A wild night featuring 13 goals combined between the Flyers and Rangers. Michkov has an assist in a 8-5 win, putting him one shy of 60 points for the year.

April 12: Point #60 arrives, another assist (on the power play) on a Tyson Foerster goal. The rookie has a chance to be the hero in the shootout but misses wide with his attempt. Flyers still earn the two points thanks to a Bobby Brink goal.

April 13 through April 15: Nothing to see here folks. Four shots against Ottawa in a loss but held shotless against Columbus in a lackluster 3-0 game.

April 17: In the final game of his first NHL season and game #80 for him, Michkov has another three-point night. Two goals put him over the 25-goal plateau, concluding with 26 for the season. Meanwhile he adds another assist to give him 37 for the year. Flyers fans sigh in relief as the Sabres win, giving the Flyers the fourth-best odds at landing the top NHL Draft pick in June.

April 19: In the exit interviews, Michkov isn’t happy with his season, suprising a lot of people with his response including Flyers general manager Danny Briere. “There were some difficulties but we’ll overcome them,” Michkov said as Slava Kuznetsov was the interpreter. “Truthfully there were moments in the season where I could’ve scored a lot more. I was not very happy with my result.” He also added he wasn’t satisfied with the ice time, believing more ice time would result in more success for the Flyers. “All aspects of my game need to be improved,” he said. “There’s nothing in the game that I am feeling 100 per cent with. There’s always room to improve.”

“I’ve been around a few superstars and he’s got that mindset,” Briere said in his own exit interview with the media later the same day. “He came in and he has a detailed plan of all the things he wants to do and I was actually shocked by how prepared he was for his meeting and what he needed to do and how he wants to conduct himself this summer. He’s a special athlete, person. He sees it, he’s extremely intelligent. There’s something special around him. I left the meeting laughing to myself. If he accomplishes half of the stuff he wants to do on his list we’re in really good shape.”

May 2025

May 5: Despite leading all rookies in goals, and ending up with 63 points, Michkov finds himself on the outside looking in regarding the Calder Trophy nominees. Montreal’s Lane Hutson, Calgary goaltender Dustin Wolf and San Jose forward Macklin Celebrini are nominees for the award given to the rookie of the year. Michkov finishes fourth in the voting, with 645 points and no first-place votes. He ends up with eight second-place votes, 26 third-place votes, 151 fourth-place votes, and six fifth-place votes.

May 18: In a reported interview with RG Media, Michkov discusses the Flyers hiring new head coach Rick Tocchet. “A new coach always means a fresh start,” Michkov says. “I don’t know him personally, so I can’t say much yet. The main thing is that the team improves and makes the playoffs. I just hope I’ll have freedom on the ice. When I feel limited, I start focusing on the wrong things. But honestly, I’ll do whatever the coach says. The most important thing is for the team to reach the playoffs. If I have fewer points, but the team makes the playoffs, I’ll take that over having more points and missing the playoffs. I’m tired of losing. I want to win.”

July 2025

July 8: In a 3-on-3 tournament featuring NHL and KHL stars, Michkov dazzles and delights fans with some goal scoring and nifty play making.

July 13: In a game featuring Russian NHL stars against Russian KHL stars, Michkov finally succeeds on a “Michigan” attempt.

So there you have it, the last 365 days in the life of Matvei Andreyevich Michkov. Hopefully the next 365 days are just as eventful and lead to more wins in his sophomore season!