Flyers

Elliotte Friedman Surmises that Flyers Organization was “Unhappy” with the Recent Matvei Michkov Commentary

By Kevin Kinkead

Published: Feb 3rd, 2026 · 10:35 AM EST

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The Flyers’ brain trust did the media rounds at Sunday’s carnival in South Philly, with Keith Jones, Rick Tocchet, Danny Briere, and Dan Hilferty stopping to speak with Snow the Goalie, PHLY, and the like.

The biggest takeaway was the Tocchet comments about Matvei Michkov, reiterating once again that the 21-year-old didn’t show up in shape while suggesting that he hasn’t been “in time for treatments.” There’s a general gist that Michkov hasn’t had the proper focus and approach to his sophomore season, which isn’t surprising considering that he’s still a young kid. He’s not some seasoned pro and still has to learn how to do all of the off-ice things properly – fitness, nutrition, all of the same shit a typical 21-year-old has to learn.

At the same time, he’s been stuck on the third line and playing on his off-wing and learning how to work with a new coach, so the issues go both ways and everybody shares a responsibility for this current bust of a season.

Anyway, it all made Elliotte Friedman’s 32 Thoughts podcast, and Flyers Nation translated a portion:

The Tocchet/Michkov saga has creeped into national hockey discussion now.

Elliotte Friedman (32 Thoughts: The Podcast) doesn’t imagine the #Flyers were too thrilled with Rick Tocchet’s commentary on Matvei Michkov over the weekend.

Friedman: “He’s too important and you have… pic.twitter.com/3dLLeIWhwR

— Flyers Nation (@FlyersNation) February 3, 2026

Friedman said he was calling for “The Briere Signal,” for Danny B to hold a press conference and “put an end” to the Michkov stuff.

More from the podcast:

“This calls for extra measures. If I was running the Philadelphia Flyers, what I would do – Briere is the calmest, he’s not going to let his emotions get control of him. I would just say he’s calling a press conference and clearing the air. We’re putting this all out here, this is what happened. There’s talk of Michkov not showing up in shape, now there’s also talk about Rick Tocchet discussed the possibility of Michkov being late for treatment. If I was Briere I’d say ‘these are the issues, okay it’s over, today is day 1 of a new day.’

…

Matvei Michkov is too important to the Flyers. And I understand if he’s showing up out of shape, or late for treatment, those are issues the Flyers have to deal with, and Michkov has to be better at. But in this day and age it’s a two-way street. It’s a two-way street.

…

He’s too important and you have to finish this season on an upswing. I can imagine the Flyers as an organization were de-happy, unhappy with some of the commentary on the weekend. I think generally you like to keep that stuff in house. That’s why I think Briere is the best-positioned guy to come out and say hey, sometimes a relationship has to hit rock bottom before it gets better. This is rock bottom. This is where the Flyers can say this is rock bottom, it’s over, we’re moving past it, new slate. And it’s on the player and Flyers to finish this up strong. That’s what I would do.”

Works for me. Let’s get ahead of it now. Just come out and say it, that Michkov hasn’t been committed and needs to get it together. Put it out there now and address it and come back strong after the Olympic break. What do you have to lose by doing that? Nothing. It’s better than 10 minutes of ice time and all of this shiesty hinting. You gotta get this sorted before year #3, and the Flyers aren’t competing for anything this year, so figure out how to get this guy going and get everybody on the same page. It should be the organization’s top priority.