Matvei Michkov, a highly sought-after Russian prospect, might be joining the Philadelphia Flyers before everyone thinks.
As per an English-language article by Russian media outlet Sport Express’s Arthur Khairullin, Michkov is anticipated to end his KHL contract with SKA St. Petersburg and pursue his career in Philadelphia. Michkov was barred from the NHL until his five-year contract with the KHL expired in 2026, having been signed in 2021. According to Kevin Kurz of The Athletic, the Flyers are still investigating the veracity of the Sport Express allegation as of this writing.
Michkov fell into the Flyers’ lap during the 2023 NHL Entry Draft due to his long-term KHL contract and the current geopolitical tensions in Russia. The Flyers fan base went into a frenzy when general manager Daniel Briere, who runs to the platform, announces that Michkov was selected with the seventh overall choice. In a normal scenario, Michkov would have most likely been chosen second overall, behind prodigy Connor Bedard.
One of the most productive U-20 players to ever come out of Russia is Michkov, a 19-year-old. At just 16 years old, he broke Alex Ovechkin’s record as the youngest player to play for Russia’s national team. This season, while on loan to HK Sochi, he scored 19 goals and 22 assists in 47 games, falling just two points short of breaking the KHL record for single-season scoring by a player under 20 years old, which is currently held by Kirill Kaprizov of the Minnesota Wild. Michkov still needs to sign an NHL entry-level contract before he can officially join the Flyers, even if the KHL decides to cancel his contract.
After meeting and seeing Michkov, Briere told ESPN, “We just felt it’s a talent that we cannot pass up.” Briere had selected Michkov in the previous year’s draft.
