Matvei Michkov played his first unofficial game in a Philadelphia Flyers uniform on Friday and wasted little time proving he was worth waiting over a year for.
Suiting up for the Flyers rookie game against the New York Rangers, Michkov showcased why he's no ordinary first-year player. The 19-year-old not only notched his first goal in orange and black but displayed the same dazzling skill set that prompted Philadelphia to take a risk on selecting him No. 7 overall in the 2023 NHL Draft.
Michkov found the back of the net at the 6:56 mark of the second period, lighting the lamp on the power play after perching himself next to the net before pounding home a perfect pass from the point. The goal is a promising sign for the young Russian and the Flyers, who finished 27th in the league on the man advantage in 2023-24.
Michkov also displayed his invaluable creativity and surprising strength for his stature (5-foot-10, 147 pounds) behind the net. During Friday's contest, he balked at attempting a "Michigan" goal — which he's pulled off several times in the past — before trying to chip a pass over the net to a teammate, as captured by NBC Sports Philadelphia's Jordan Hall.
Likewise, Michkov showed off his well-known passing skills, orchestrating several smooth breakouts while setting up teammates for high-percentage chances. Meanwhile, he was a willing defender in his own zone, a part of his game that received criticism while playing in Russia's top professional league, the KHL.
Michkov fell in the 2023 draft due to the common belief that it would take three or more years before he'd make the jump to the NHL. The Flyers, in dire need of talent, took a leap and were rewarded when he decided to come to North America early, announcing his intentions back in June.
All the hope and waiting culminated with his debut on Friday. Even though the Flyers fell to the Rangers in a shootout, 4-3, the most important takeaway from the rookie game was that Michkov played as advertised.
Michkov's outing came against a team full of first-year players, sure. But, his impact likely would've been more significant had he been playing alongside better, more experienced players like he will when the Flyers open the 2024-25 regular season on Oct. 11 against the Vancouver Canucks.
