Matvei Michkov's KHL team gives Philadelphia Flyers major ultimatum

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Josh Tupper
May 20, 2024 (3:45 PM)

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Following rumors that top prospect Matvei Michov of the Philadelphia Flyers would be joining the team in 2019, John Tortorella has received a warning from his current head coach.

The current head coach of SKA Saint Petersburg, Matvei Michkov, has a strong warning for the Philadelphia Flyers organization and Tortorella should they not use him appropriately next season, according to Dylan Robillard, a journalist for Flyers Nitty Gritty.

SKA Head Coach: "If Michkov does not play on Philadelphia's first line, he will return to SKA."

"There is no official decision yet. And we can't say that we are letting anyone go. You see, this is a serious question. We can talk about some agreements, including rights. You know that Michkov is a high-level player. And if someone wants to buy these rights, let's discuss."

"I don't want to reveal a commercial secret. But you understand that we invested a lot in Matvey. And if he does not become the leader of Philadelphia, then we will definitely wait for him back in the KHL.

And I will emphasize that this whole story was influenced by Michkov's family situation. We need to support him in this. This is not a hockey issue, but a family issue. And we all must support Matvey.»

#LetsGoFlyers

Michkov looks to be joining the Flyers for the upcoming season, but he'll go back to his club side if he doesn't immediately get top line minutes.

The Flyers must pay attention to Tortorella's squad in his native nation if they hope to acquire their best prospect. Tortorella has a reputation for being harsh with his players, especially his rookies.

Even with all the information at their disposal, it appears that Michkov could turn out to be more of a pain in the neck than they had anticipated when they drafted him.

As the National Hockey League approaches the offseason, this is definitely something to keep an eye on.