Flyers

One Game in and I’m Ready to Crown Matvei Michkov the Next Face of the NHL

By Kyle Pagan

Published: Oct 12th, 2024 · 9:13 AM EDT

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I don’t even think that’s hyperbole. Matvei Michkov debuted Friday night and I’m ready to anoint him the future face of the NHL already. If you didn’t stay up you missed a hell of a game from the Russki and a Flyers shootout win. The future of Flyers hockey is here, folks:

Matvei Michkov and Jett Luchanko going no bucket rookie lap for their show debut 🔥

(via seb.england/IG)pic.twitter.com/LjcjZA8u1m

— B/R Open Ice (@BR_OpenIce) October 12, 2024

Rookie laps may be more fun when you have a buddy with you. 🟠⚫

Welcome, Matvei Michkov and Jett Luchanko! #NHLFaceOff pic.twitter.com/l2KZfl9wzG

— NHL (@NHL) October 12, 2024

One scheduling note before we get into the debut. Starting the season with a west coast trip is a gigantic fuck you to the Flyers from schedule makers. Who in the league office did Torts berate during his playing days to deserve this? One of the greatest fanbases in sports has to stay up until 10 o’clock for the first four games of the year? They’re not showing the next face of the league until the kids are in bed? It’s anti-Russian discrimination.

Anyway back to the game. As they say in hockey, “Lets do that hockey!” And that hockey we did…

Michkov had a couple chances for his first goal of his career:

INSANE PLAY BY MATVEI MICHKOV. WE ALMOST GOT A FIRST NHL GOAL.#LetsGoFlyers pic.twitter.com/G9L5GKIyrT

— Flyers Clips (@Flyers_Clips) October 12, 2024

Has #24 picked his jock up off the ice yet?

If this would’ve went in the entire city of Philadelphia might’ve collapsed on itself or he would’ve gotten a mural in Fishtown:

Matvei Michkov 😩😩#Flyers pic.twitter.com/rWu9obypQB

— Flyers Nation (@FlyersNation) October 12, 2024

You want to know how I know Michkov is good? I’m a casual and I find myself mumbling to no one, “Holy shit.” He’s constantly around the puck. He’s making passes that make your eyes widen. It’s insane. I’ve haven’t watched a guy like this on the Flyers in forever. And he’s unafraid to give direction like he’s a seasoned vet:

The Matvei Michkov Era is underway. #Flyers pic.twitter.com/z04Q3SP3MY

— Flyers Nation (@FlyersNation) October 12, 2024

He should’ve had his first NHL point but Morgan Frost couldn’t bury this:

Matvei Michkov with some sick vision to find Morgan Frost here. #Flyers pic.twitter.com/fwL7hFdfPM

— Flyers Nation (@FlyersNation) October 12, 2024

We’re also winning shootouts and scoring on the power play. The Michkov Effect? The Michkov Effect. A rising tide lifts all boats:

We’re good at shootouts.

We’re decent on the power play.

We have Matvei Michkov.

We’re winning the Cup. pic.twitter.com/5Yqwm3PCbT

— Chris Jastrzembski (@Chris_Jast) October 12, 2024

What passing.

The Flyers are 100% on the power play. Let that sink in. pic.twitter.com/CYhjsG4B5h

— Chris Jastrzembski (@Chris_Jast) October 12, 2024

The Canucks goalie still doesn’t know how he saved this:

Michkov nice moves, no goal in the shootout pic.twitter.com/3I2gLdqljs

— Jamey Baskow (@JameyBaskow) October 12, 2024

Stick taps for the fellas. Stick taps for Matvei Michkov. Stick taps for Flyers fans who’ve endured a long playoff drought and now have a generational player in the lineup at only 19.