As the Philadelphia Flyers prepare to resume their season against the Washington Capitals, much attention remains focused on winger Matvei Michkov, whose performance has dipped since his impressive rookie year. The 21-year-old’s relationship with head coach Rick Tocchet has been a major topic among Flyers fans, worried that tensions may be limiting Michkov’s ice time. However, Michkov spoke to the media for the first time since early December, aiming to clarify that his connection with Tocchet is not strained.
Michkov described their dynamic as a typical player-coach relationship, emphasizing their shared objective of winning.
“Very common relationship between player and head coach. Everybody has the same goal — the coaches and players – to win. So we’ve been working that way,”
he said.
Regarding ice time, Michkov expressed acceptance of how Tocchet is managing his minutes.
“I’ll play as much time as I’ve been given, and I have to do my job. That’s the only thing I care about,”
he noted, adding,
“The way (the coach) plays me, that’s the way he decided to play me. I’m a player, and I have to concentrate 100 percent on what I’ve been doing at the moment.”
One notable change that has affected Michkov’s game is Tocchet’s switch in deploying him from his usual position on the right wing to the left. This adjustment is intended to encourage a more direct, north-south style of play and to speed up Michkov’s impact on the ice. Yet Michkov admitted the transition has been challenging, as the left side feels unfamiliar, especially in the offensive zone.
He remarked,
“I was always playing the right. I was always there. Now I’m playing on the left. It’s a new role. If the coaches see me there, I have to adapt as quick as I can. For me, on the right, I can create a lot more moments. Now I have to switch everything to the left, and do the same thing,”
highlighting the difficulty of this adjustment while remaining determined to adapt and produce results.
Training and Mindset During the Olympic Break
Amid the midseason pause for the Olympics, Michkov’s approach to training drew attention because it contrasts significantly with his prior breaks. After last season’s four-nations break, he took time primarily for rest before entering a strong finish to that year. This time around, Michkov chose a more intense regimen because he was unsatisfied with his performance so far.
“The last year after the 4 Nations was not too long of a break, so I was just resting,”
he explained.
“This time, I was not planning to rest. I was not happy with the way the game (was) going, so I was working the entire break. … My emotions depend on hockey, how the hockey goes, and that’s why I decided to work to set up the rest (of the season).”
Michkov spent his break in the Dominican Republic, not relaxing by the beach but engaging in rigorous training with a personal coach. He detailed,
“I was training every day. I was not resting there. Two training (sessions) a day. First one was the gym, second was conditioning and stamina. Seven days of the same training.”
This commitment contrasts sharply with Michkov’s summer preparation, when he admitted he had not skated or trained specifically for hockey, focusing instead on general fitness, an approach he now views as a mistake he does not plan to repeat.
Understanding Michkov’s Current Season Performance and Future Outlook
While Michkov’s 29 points in 55 games this season align with a typical second-year player’s output, it falls short of the 26 goals and 63 points he scored during his standout rookie campaign. The difference is striking and fuels the scrutiny around his development and use by coach Rick Tocchet.
Michkov emphasized the importance of continuous, intelligent training throughout the season to avoid injury while maintaining readiness.
“You have to be smart when you’re training in the break, don’t (suffer) an injury, but training must go,”
he said. He further remarked on the demanding nature of the NHL, stating,
“There’s nothing new in (the) NHL. The NHL is hard work. If you take a four-months break, it can reflect (in) your game. You have to concentrate on hockey all the time, and you cannot take even a month of break.”
The Flyers’ coaching staff and management will be closely observing whether Michkov’s committed offseason and Olympic break training helps him regain his previous scoring touch. His adaptability to new positions and ability to rise to expectations amid season pressures remain crucial for both his and the team’s success.
As the Flyers face the Washington Capitals to begin their remaining 26 games, all eyes will be on Michkov. Should he find the net early, fans will be electrified by the prospect of his resurgence as a dominant force on the ice once again.
My big Michkov takeaways today:
– Made it clear his "vacation" was filled w/lots of training
– Denied having a bad relationship w/Tocchet (didn't say it was great, though)
– Again took responsibility for "four-months break" he took in the summer
– He'd prefer to be at RW over LW— Charlie O'Connor (@charlieo_conn) February 24, 2026
Michkov on his relationship with Rick Tocchet, via Slava Kuznetsov (his translator):
"Very common relationship between player and head coach. Everybody has the same goal — the coaches and players – to win. So we’ve been working that way."
— Charlie O'Connor (@charlieo_conn) February 24, 2026
Michkov on if he paid attention to the pre-break media chatter about him.
"What's happening in the media?" he said with a smile.
It was clarified, and his full response:
"I’ll play as much time as I’ve been given, and I have to do my job. That’s the only thing I care about."
— Charlie O'Connor (@charlieo_conn) February 24, 2026
"For me, on the right, I can create a lot more moments. Now I have to switch everything to the left, and do the same thing."
— Charlie O'Connor (@charlieo_conn) February 24, 2026
Michkov: "The last year after the 4 Nations was not too long of a break, so I was just resting. This time, I was not planning to rest. I was not happy with the way the game (was) going, so I was working the entire break."
— Charlie O'Connor (@charlieo_conn) February 24, 2026
"You have to be smart when you’re training in the break, don’t (suffer) an injury, but training must go."
— Charlie O'Connor (@charlieo_conn) February 24, 2026
