Athletistic / Hockey. Olympic hockey champion and now member of the FHR coaching council Sergei Svetlov spoke about forward Matvey Michkov’s decision to leave for the NHL. This week, the 19-year-old Russian will sign a three-year entry-level contract with the Philadelphia Flyers.
“This is a decisive moment for Michkov, when he needs to take a step forward, to develop as a professional,” he says. “The coaching factor is of great importance in this matter. Last season, Philadelphia was on the verge of entering the playoffs, and every game within the conference was, in fact, for four points. In such a situation, it is usually not easy for newcomers, and their playing time is limited, guys have no room for mistakes.
Of course, it would be a little easier for Matvey if Philadelphia were now either at the top or at the bottom of the standings. In these situations, the player has the right to take risks – and there is confidence in youth. Let’s see how Philadelphia’s next season will go from this point of view,” Svetlov said according to Russia-Hockey.ru.
Matvey Michkov was selected by the Philadelphia Flyers in the first round, seventh overall, of the 2023 NHL Entry Draft. He spent last season on loan in Sochi. Matvey’s contract with SKA was valid until the end of the 2025/2026 season, but the St. Petersburg club agreed to release the Russian to the NHL ahead of schedule.
Source: Sport
I’m Emma Smith, a dedicated journalist and avid storyteller. I have been writing for news websites for the past 5 years, reporting on hockey news and delivering in-depth analysis of the sport. In my current role as Author at Athletistic, I write about hockey events from around the world to keep followers up-to-date with what’s happening in the sport.
