After months of speculation, it was the Philadelphia Flyers who finally decided to bet Matvei Michkov and finished seventh overall.
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Michkov is considered the second most talented youngster of the year after Connor Bedard and was selected further than expected due to the geopolitical situation in Russia as well as his contract with SKA St. Petersburg, which does not end before the end of the 2025-2026 season.
This is theoretical, because if it were up to Michkov, he would arrive in the city of brotherly love as soon as possible.
“To be honest, I don’t know exactly when I can get to Philadelphia since I have a contract, but as soon as I get out of there I will come,” he assured through an interpreter minutes after the call.
Photo Getty Images via AFP
A positive encounter
Several rumors sent Michkov to Philadelphia or the Washington Capitals, who finished in eighth place shortly thereafter.
The Flyers met the Russian forward in Nashville in the last few days.
“We had an incredible meeting,” said Flyers general manager Daniel Brière at the TVA Sports mic. We had spoken to him a few times and each time it got better and better. We felt he had a keen interest in the Flyers and that encouraged us. To be able to see him with the whole group in Nashville was incredibly beautiful. “Our whole team was ready to take him on,” he added, revealing that Michkov was among the top four players on their list.
mutual feeling
This feeling was mutual, by the way.
“Every time I met the Flyers I felt good. I thought we spoke the same language. I’m very happy to be with them,” he said, flatly dismissing a question about whether he had tried to influence where he would be called up.
“During the season I focused on what I had to do as a player. I didn’t speak to the recruiters to avoid being disturbed. I focused on my game.
The young winger got emotional when a colleague asked him what his father would think of him if he were still with us. Recall that on April 4, 2023 Andrei Michkov mysteriously died.
His father would be proud
“Right now he would be very proud and happy. We have worked together a lot and he would be proud to see where I am now. He was the one who helped me perfect my game and improve my shooting. He deserves a lot of credit.
Photo Getty Images via AFP
His father is also one of the reasons why he wants to land in Philadelphia as soon as possible.
“I owe everything to my family, my father, my mother and my brother. It’s important to me to achieve the dream my father had for me, which was to win a Stanley Cup. »