Most of you reading this weren’t alive the last time a team in Philadelphia won a Stanley Cup. 1975. That’s 51 years of waiting, and the Flyers might be getting ready to chase another franchise cornerstone out of town.
First, Cutter Gauthier wanted absolutely NOTHING to do with the organization and was traded before ever playing a game. Now Kevin Weekes is reporting that Matvei Michkov would prefer a fresh start elsewhere. There’s no confirmed formal trade request yet, but the possibility of losing two of your most promising young players within a few years is hilarious.
Can you even blame Michkov?
He’s Philadelphia’s leading goal scorer, yet Rick Tocchet continues to keep him on a short leash. Sure, Michkov showed up to camp out of shape last season. That’s on him. But at some point, maybe you should figure out how to get the most out of your best offensive weapon instead of constantly finding reasons to sit him.
The Flyers have done practically nothing to convince anyone that this rebuild is going somewhere. Noel Acciari isn’t exactly helping Michkov win hockey games.
Now Michkov is getting into screaming matches with teammates DURING GAMES. He and Nick Seeler nearly had to be separated on the bench against Vancouver. Apparently, part of the disagreement might have involved Michkov not passing Seeler the puck.
And frankly, why the hell would Matvei Michkov want to pass the puck to Nick Seeler? I wouldn’t either.
Does Michkov come across as a diva sometimes? Absolutely. But I’d probably be miserable too if I were one of the most talented young players in hockey and my organization couldn’t get out of its own way.
Fortunately, I know a place where he wouldn’t even need to change his license plate.
Pittsburgh.
A coach in Dan Muse who actually gives young players opportunities, a captain in Sidney Crosby who knows how to run a winning locker room, and a potential Michkov-Chinakhov duo that would be an absolute nightmare to play against.
Seems like a pretty good landing spot to me.
Go where winners go, Matvei. Get out of that hellscape of losing they call Philadelphia.
