NHL · Metropolitan · Est. 1967 · Wells Fargo Center
Updated March 16, 2026
After a dazzling 63-point rookie season, Matvei Michkov has just 33 points through 62 games this year. A move to the bottom six has limited his opportunities, and his minus-11 rating tells the story of a young star struggling on a team that can't keep the puck out of its own net.
Philadelphia dealt Nic Deslauriers to Carolina for a conditional pick, continuing the pattern of a franchise stuck between rebuilding and competing. The Flyers don't have enough talent to contend but haven't committed to a full teardown, leaving Michkov in a difficult development environment.
Michkov is the crown jewel, but everything else around him is a question mark. The Flyers need to figure out whether they're building around their young Russian star or just treading water. The clock is ticking on his development years.