Philadelphia Flyers top prospect facing backlash due to team's choices

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Josh Tupper
September 3, 2023 (7:45)

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The KHL kicked off on Friday, with the majority of opening games taking place over the weekend. The weekend schedule featured one of the league's most popular teams, SKA St. Petersburg, facing off against Dynamo Moscow.

There has been plenty of hype surrounding SKA St. Petersburg for this upcoming season, especially when considering their team features former NHLers Alex Galchenyuk and Sergei Tolchinsky, 2024 projected top-five pick Ivan Demidov, and Philadelphia Flyers top prospect Matvei Michkov.

When SKA St. Petersburg released their lineup ahead of Saturday's game, there was a very noticeable omission. It was immediately noted that Michkov was not listed and was reportedly a healthy scratch.

Matvei Michkov is a healthy scratch for SKA in their regular season opener today.� Bill Meltzer (@billmeltzer) September 2, 2023

No #FueledByPhilly Matvei Michkov for SKA today. #CBJ Sergei Ivanov backs up Mattsson 🥅
Alex Galchenyuk 1C#LetsGoCanes Alexander Nikishin 1D#Yotes Ilya Fedotov 3LW#mnwild Marat Khusnutdinov 3RW#LetsGoBuffalo Vasili Glotov 4LW#2024NHLDraft Ivan Demidov 13th forward pic.twitter.com/wOOEDb7IAy� Hockey News Hub (@HockeyNewsHub) September 2, 2023

Rachel Doerrie, a former staffer member of the New Jersey Devils and Vancouver Canucks' analytics department, noted something very important. The Philadelphia Flyers are currently involved in a heated disagreement and court battle over Ivan Fedotov, which could be the catalyst for Michkov's benching.

Fedotov, who's also a Flyers prospect, was banned from competing in the KHL from September 1st to December 31st by the IIHF, but defied them and played in Friday's season opener.

"It shouldn't be lost on anyone that Michkov's rights are owned by Philly and this occurs while the Fedotov situation is ongoing. It's Russia/KHL, there are always shenanigans. Given the NHL/KHL agreement is effectively useless, I'd try and get MM here ASAP." Doerrie said.

It shouldn't be lost on anyone that Michkov's rights are owned by Philly and this occurs while the Fedotov situation is ongoing. It's Russia/KHL, there are always shenanigans. Given the NHL/KHL agreement is effectively useless, I'd try and get MM here ASAP. https://t.co/31I8J2OoJh� Rachel Doerrie (@racheldoerrie) September 2, 2023

Following Saturday's game, SKA St. Petersburg will have a quick turnaround and will be back in action on Monday taking on HC Lada Togliatti.