Michkov denies the weight of the concern about his slow start for the Flyers

VOORHEES, N.J. — Matvei Michkov isn't happy about not registering a point yet this season. But he also wants everyone to know the narrative about him that's out there is not the reason why. 

Meeting with the media for the first time since a report came out that he came into camp out of shape, and a day after coach Rick Tocchet said it was related to an undisclosed ankle injury suffered over the summer, Michkov dismissed that this is the reason behind his slow start.

"I was training in the summer when I rolled the - had a little injury, a minor injury in the ankle and now I'm getting back into playing shape," Michkov said through a team interpreter. "That I'm not scoring or making any assists in the last three games, it is not in any way connected with the injury."

Flyers forward Matvei Michkov met with the media on Wednesday from @FlyersTCenter to discuss the first week of the season. #LetsGoFlyers pic.twitter.com/ebOg1AgWx3

— Philadelphia Flyers (@NHLFlyers) October 15, 2025

Which means Michkov looks at his early season struggles as performance-based and not because he is limited in any way. 

It's probably picking nits to try and identify the exact reasons Michkov has scuffled, and been forced to play fewer minutes than he did last season. 

The reality is, all the reasons that are out there are valid. 

• He had an ankle injury that set back his summer training by a a couple weeks, thus the reports of him not being in shape.
• The Flyers have taken far too many penalties over three games (Michkov's taken three of them), meaning they are playing shorthanded a lot. Since Michkov is not on the penalty kill, it limits the available minutes for him to play.
• The team has endured multiple odd-man rushes against them while the opponent is shorthanded and Michkov has not handled his responsibilities in those instances well. 

"I think his game was coming the last game," coach Rick Tocchet said. "He's just got to differentiat e between when is the time to take off and when is the time we need him to hang in there."

Tocchet was referring to a shorthanded goal by Florida on Monday when Michkov flew the zone when it wasn't clear that the Flyers had possession of the puck. 

"That's the one thing he needs to figure out," Tocchet said. "I know he wants to be an offensive player, but you can't take off when we don't have the puck. ... These are the things you got to go through the learning process. 

"We're trying to create a culture. It's not about one player. He's obviously a player that is a special guy and we have to hone his talents. But it's got to be somewhat in a team game."

Tocchet added that Michkov is willing to do the team-first concept, and that these mistakes are more mistakes rooted in inexperience rather than selfishness. 

But it's not just about how he handles himself on the ice in games. 

"He's 20 years old, it's not just about ice time," Tocchet said. "It's about, 'What am I eating like?' What is he doing to get to that level? How is he recovering? 

"When you have a young player you almost have to tell them sometimes, 'You have to recover. What are you eating after games?' Things like that. I think that will help him in the long run."

Rick Tocchet, on Matvei Michkov’s ongoing “learning process”:

“We’re trying to create a culture. It’s not about one player. He’s obviously a player that is a special guy and we have to hone his talents, but it’s got to be somewhat of a team game.”

(via @AntSanPhilly) pic.twitter.com/7fxrGeozr4

— On Pattison (@OnPattison) October 15, 2025

For his part, Michkov is working hard at building a good relationship with his new coach. He's had two spirited practices. He asked Tocchet to do additional video work. He's doing the things he needs to do. 

"Everything is good with coach," Michkov said. "We talk every single day. "he tells me how he sees my game and I tell him how I see my game. We talk, get to common (ground) and work toward the future."

There will always be hurdles, and Michkov will have to clear them. But he knows how he can best traverse his defensive shortcomings.

"I should play more in the offensive zone and be more offensive," he said. "Then I don't have to defend as much."

Loose Pucks

• All signs were already pointing to Cam York (lower body injury) making his season debut Thursday. However a team source confirmed to On Pattison that he will be in the lineup against Winnipeg at Xfinity Mobile Arena. 
• To make room for York, the Flyers needed to make a roster move. There was a lot of internal discussion about possibly waving a player - most likely Yegor Zamula - but they chose, instead, to send Emil Andrae back to Lehigh Valley of the AHL. Zamula has a lot of value to the Flyers as an off-ice mentor and a communicator for Michkov. But that role can only go so far. They nearly pulled the trigger this time. Assuming everyone stays healthy, they may not be as reluctant to do so once Rasmus Ristolainen is healthy in a few weeks. 
• Tocchet said he is using Trevor Zegras in a hybrid role - sometimes at center and sometimes on the wing - but the long-term plan remains for him to be a center in the NHL. 
• Sam Ersson was first off the ice at practice on Wednesday, which is usually the indicator that he will start in goal in the next day's game.

 Don't miss Snow The Goalie, tonight (10/15) live at Chickie's and Pete's of Malvern, 10 Liberty Blvd., at 6PM. The show will broadcast from a different Chickie's and Pete's location every week throughout the Flyers season.