Ian Laperriere, the AHL Phantoms head coach who manned the bench Friday and is essentially running the rookie camp, knows he won’t have Michkov for long. Perhaps that’s why he seemed to relish his Michkov experience as much as anyone and was pleased with how the player reacted to an increase in ice time late in the Rangers’ 4-3 shootout win.

Philadelphia Flyers head coach John Tortorella and his newest protege, Russian sensation Matvei Michkov, are the talk of the town heading into the 2024-25 NHL season.

On Tuesday, general manager Daniel Briere broke into a wide smile when asked what part of Michkov’s game he is most looking forward to ahead of Thursday’s training camp opening.

Other notable line combinations included Sean Couturier between Konecny and Foerster; Scott Laughton centering Bobby Brink and Elliot Desnoyers; Ryan Poehling with Garnet Hathaway and Nic Deslauriers; and first-round pick Jett Luchanko flanked by wingers Noah Cates and Joel Farabee.

When talking about a 19-year-old rookie like Matvei Michkov, someone who is still unaccustomed to North American culture, it makes sense why some would be conservative in projecting his numbers.

Russian prospect Matvei Michkov connected for his first goal in North American professional hockey competition Friday in a Flyers-Rangers Rookie Series game in Allentown

The Flyers lost 4-3 to the Rangers in a shootout but the fans finally got what they traveled near and far to see: Michkov scoring his first goal.

The Philadelphia Flyers rookies may have lost to the New York Rangers rookies, 4-3 in a shootout, at the PPL Center in Allentown, PA., on Friday night, but there was a lot to like about the performances of a number of players.

Matvei Michkov scored in a 4-3 shootout loss for the Philadelphia Flyers rookies against the New York Rangers youngsters on Friday night in Allentown, PA. Read More The post Michkov shines as Flyers rookies fall to Rangers,