Let’s address some recurring questions and hot takes on Matvei Michkov.
Why does Michkov get benched but not Tyson Foerster or [insert a player you’re angry at here]?
Michkov is a kid who is still learning the North American version of hockey and is working to overcome the hurdles of language and culture. He’s an inconsistent and emotionally-driven player who is just as likely to stick up for a teammate as he is to score a filthy goal or take a dumb penalty. That’s not a knock on him, just a recognition of the current state of his maturity.
These issues are not new. Even when he was playing in the KHL, he was getting benched. There’s a pattern here, not a sign of a rash decision on the part of head coach Rick Tocchet.
As for Foerster, he’s a veteran player and leader both on and off the ice. You don’t just bench guys like that in case you’re trying to make a big statement, and the back half of a playoff series is not a time to do that. Additionally, teams do not have a surplus of talent just sitting around waiting to be tagged in to a game. There’s nobody who could come in and be an upgrade over Foerster.
Finally, Foerster is likely still playing through the injury that was supposed to keep him out for the entire season. He rushed back to help the team and that’s the kind of energy and spirit that motivates a team — and it did motivate the Flyers to will themselves right into the playoffs.
Why would the Flyers even want to bench Michkov?
On paper, it looks like Michkov stockpiled points and ended the season on a heater, which is great. The problem is that he’s not defensively responsible — again, not a knock on him, but it’s neither his game nor his interest — and he has put the team in bad spots by taking avoidable penalties. That sort of thing can deflate a team, especially in a powder-keg series against a team that could explode on offense at any point.
You work your butt off, lay yourself down on the ice to block shots, and your work is quickly negated when another player takes a penalty or gives the puck away to the other team and it leads to a goal against. It kills morale and mood. This, in turn, could impact how you adjust to the other players on the ice.
How does adding an even younger kid with less experience make this any better?
As it has been said, you expect a bump (pun intended) in energy by swapping out Michkov for Alex Bump. The Flyers got exactly that. Bump was on fire, scoring a goal, generating scoring chances, and drawing a penalty. The Flyers may have dropped Game 5 to the Penguins, but it was not because of Michkov or Bump.
What about the fact that Michkov assisted on the series-clinching goal in Game 6?
That’s great! He should be thrilled about that. So should you.
Michkov has shown a tendency to bounce back after being benched. It’s a good sign that he responds that way, but also reinforces the theory that he’s emotionally driven and still needs to mature. From a big-picture perspective, benching Michkov proved to be the correct move. His absence did not hurt the team in Game 5 but it certainly helped it in Game 6.
Well, some random guy on social media said that things are bad between Michkov and the Flyers and everything is going to go up in flames.
Technically not a question, but let’s discuss it.
Apparently, someone posted on Twitter/X that the Michkov’s camp won’t discuss a contract extension unless Tocchet is fired. First off, this is classic misinformation. Additionally, it’s a disingenuous strategy for growing your social media presence.
How do you gain followers on social media? One easy way is to make outrageous claims that catch people’s attention. That’s exactly what this college kid with maybe 30 followers at the time did. Quite frankly, I won’t dignify that person by sending traffic their way, but I’m sure he’s gained at least a few hundred followers today. As that number grows, their ridiculous claims will begin to sound more legitimate. That’s the dark side of social media.
All you need to do when you see any suspicious information is ask a few basic questions. Here are some to apply to this situation:
- Why would Michkov, his agent, or the Flyers be discussing a contract extension during a playoff series and with over a year left on his entry-level contract?
- What would they gain from having this discussion right now?
- How do they think it would reflect positively on Michkov?
- How would some college kid know this information?
- Why is it not being reported by any legitimate sources?