Matvei Michkov had an excellent rookie year for the Philadelphia Flyers last season, but don't expect him to reach his full potential overnight.
Michkov, 20, quietly led all NHL rookies in goals last season with 26, and ultimately finished joint-second amongst all rookies in scoring, tying Macklin Celebrini with 63 points and narrowly trailing Lane Hutson's 66.
A big step forward is in the cards for the Flyers' Russian sensation, but a step forward and a leap are different.
Semantics, yes, but let's just say Michkov should be allowed at least another season to really come into his own for the Flyers at the NHL level.
Aside from the offseason trade for Trevor Zegras, who has to find his own way as well, the Flyers did very little to further assist Michkov on the ice–literally and figuratively–otherwise.
Flyers' Matvei Michkov Reveals One Important Goal for 2025-26 SeasonWhile star Philadelphia Flyers forward Matvei Michkov has been careful about speaking about his individual goals and aspirations, one target for the 2025-26 season should make everyone excited despite being vague in nature.
Defensemen Noah Juulsen and Dennis Gilbert will end up as forgettable signings as fringe journeymen defensemen added to fill a temporary need,
The same is likely true for forward Christian Dvorak, who will probably never share the ice with Michkov barring an unforeseen rash of injuries or struggles with performance from other centers higher in the lineup.
All three free agents, as well as Zegras, are under contract for one more season only.
They are temporary complements to a Flyers roster centered around Michkov, who will have to find his next step on his own accord.
Defensive awareness and skating are the two obvious areas in need of improvement from the 20-year-old, but less defense can sometimes lead to more offense, as we've already seen time and time again.
It would not be unrealistic to dream up a 70- or 80-point season from Michkov, especially if Zegras can turn back the clock to just two seasons ago.
There's also a point to be made for positive regression for other Flyers players, such as Travis Konecny.
Ex-Flyers Prospect Backs Matvei Michkov to Become Face of the FranchiseStar Philadelphia Flyers forward Matvei Michkov doesn't lack supporters in and around the NHL these days, but he's just received even more big praise.
Konecny ended his season with just seven goals in his final 44 games, and two in his final 25.
Considering how much he and Michkov played together at times under John Tortorella, there's arguably 10 points Konecny left on the table for his Russian counterpart over that second-half slump.
That alone is enough to boost Michkov into the 70-point threshold, flirting with 80 points.
There's also the dreaded specter that is the Flyers' power play.
As a team, the Flyers had the third-worst power play percentage in the NHL last year at 15%, and they were one of four teams (Florida, Tampa Bay, Boston) to allow 10 or more short-handed goals.
Michkov (8), Konecny (8), and Tyson Foerster (6) combined for 22 of the Flyers' 32 power play goals last season; no other Flyers forward managed more than two.
If, say, Sean Couturier added five power play goals to the one he scored last season, he'd have reached 20 goals and 50 points. Would the conversation around the Flyers captain be different? Probably.
But, this is all to say that Michkov can't do it all on his own. He has his own work to do, and his Flyers teammates have theirs.
Michkov won't enter his Nikita Kucherov era overnight, but he's well on his way.
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