In A Shocking Turn Of Events, Matvei Michkov Is Going To End Up Saving Rick Tocchet's Job
Icon Sportswire. Getty Images.Rick Tocchet an entire year last year trying to sabotage Matvei Michkov's career. He took pretty much every opportunity he could to shit on the kid to the media. He'd throw him out on the ice for maybe 10 minutes a night. He made him a healthy scratch in the playoffs. He had his dipshit idiot lackeys on the Spittin Chiclets podcast constantly talk about Michkov like he was already a bust. The way that Rick Tocchet treated Matvei Michkov last year was abhorrent, and it created this environment where it just seemed impossible that the two of them could coexist. Rick Tocchet has a history of destroying young, skilled, European players. It would be such a goddamn shame to see Rick Tocchet destroy Matvei Michkov the way he did with Elias Pettersson.
Then came the start of the 2026-27 Philadelphia Flyers season. And people finally came to the realization that Rick Tocchet is a shitty coach. That the same thing happens to him everywhere he goes. He might be able to whip a few guys into shape in year 1 when he gets to a team, but that's it. After that, the teams fall off a cliff. They don't shoot the puck, they can't generate any offense, and they end up playing too much defense to keep the puck out of the net. After an 0-6-3 start through 9 games this year, there wasn't a single Flyers fan who wanted Rick Tocchet to keep his job.
The only reason he might be safe now is because not even Rick Tocchet could dampen the superstar that is Matvei Michkov.
So I'm not sure if you guys can see it or not, but there's a little fella out there by the name of Cale Makar who just got taken on a trip around the entire offensive zone by Michkov before that goal. Michkov toying with the $20 million defenseman. Makar is on the ice, MacKinnon is on the ice. He's playing against 2 of the top 10 players in the world, and he was the best player out there.
And he almost had his 2nd goal of the night even earlier in the game when he almost buried this one.
I would have been pregnant if that went in.
4 goals and 5 points in the last 3 games for Michkov. He had the team's only goal in a 2-1 loss to Detroit, which was their 9th straight loss to start the season. Then he had a goal and an assist in the Flyers' first win of the year against Ottawa. They won that game 3-1, with the only other goal coming from a Zegras empty netter. And then last night he follows that up by scoring 2 goals in a 3-2 win against Colorado.
Without Matvei Michkov running the offense, the Flyers are nothing right now. That's 3 straight games in a row where Michkov carried this team. We've heard from plenty of idiots in the past that Michkov isn't well liked among his teammates, but he sure as shit sounds like a guy who is becoming one of the most loved guys in that locker room.
Advertisement
He is producing offensively. His game is actually looking really solid defensively right now. He put in the work in the offseason to get into great shape. And he's been putting in the work to learn enough English to really connect with his teammates. Last year might have been a bumpy ride, but Matvei Michkov is doing everything right now that you'd want to see out of a Russian superstar. Offensive weapon, not a total liability on defense, and just incredible postgame soundbites.
There's reason to be excited right now as Flyers fans, and it's all thanks to Matvei Michkov. The more you fall in love with this kid, the less you give a shit about Rick Tocchet still being employed. If Ricky Boy knows what's good for him, he'll throw Michkov out there for 20 minutes a night and tell the Chiclets boys to finally pipe down.
Advertisement
It's no wonder the Big Deal Selects have never won a Chiclets Cup. Biz is such a shitty GM who doesn't even think Michkov would be worth a 1st rounder.