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30 Comments (12 conversations)
Warren Broudy
I think we need to give this more time . It would help Michkov to pair him with a quality top 6 center
Les Bowen
That’s a valid argument, Warren.
Matt O'Brien
Still a shit stirrer after all these years. Go back to retirement
Les Bowen
Matt, what in here specifically do you object to?
Daniel Houwen
What’s the point of the last 2 paragraphs? Like we shouldn’t buy the concept that he’ll come to camp in shape next season?
Les Bowen
Well, the point is that they said the same warm and fuzzy things last year, and it didn’t happen. Maybe it will this time. Maybe it won’t.
Glen Fisher
Still a shit stirrer after all these years. That’s a badge of honor. 🤓
Keep stirring, Les.
Les Bowen
Yep, I kinda think they jumped really hard on the Michkov hype because they didn’t have much else, before this year.
I don’t know that I would say Tocchet is unconcerned with his development. He seems concerned with and has aided the development of guys like Drysdale, Barkey and Bump.
Michael Curran
Les,
All those years pissing off Big Red now the Michkov Army. What’s going on?
I have read your column for years for that reason. You don’t bow before the sports teams altar in this town. Keep doing your thing.
Les Bowen
Sorry Glen, somehow my reply to another comment got posted under yours — just meant to say thanks!
Craig Goldstein
100%. You know the Flyers accomplished something this year when Les dusted off his hockey pen! Win for us.
Randy
Matt objects to his own pathetic, unhappy life, but projects that anger and disappointment onto others, it seems. Clearly, and a$$hole who doesn’t deserve the dignity of a response, but looks like you are a better person than some of us, Les. Chuckle. Good on ya! Go Flyers…..
Michael Curran
Michkov army member I think.
Michael Finn
I became a PHLY diehard to hear from new and different voices. Not sure Les fills the bill.
Les Bowen
What if I try writing with a British accent?
Bob MCH
Great article Les, and a poignant issue you raise. Always enjoy your insights and glad you are writing for allphily. Above trolls are clueless. Been reading your outstanding journalism for decades. Your work has always been a must read for me.
Les Bowen
Bless you, Bob.
Hey I could be wrong, I often am. But I try to be honest about what I see and hear.
Hughbert Green
Great article Les. I agree with all that you said about the Tocchet haters. Irrational and illogical. I am a Michkov fan too. I hope he gets back on track. Having a high end Michkov will obviously be a great help going forward.
Les Bowen
Thanks much
James Heim
I enjoyed this article & I’m not sure how anyone can object to a thought exercise like this. As someone with Tocchet concerns I’d like to point out part of it is can he get the most out of guys like Michkov & Martone. Turning Tippett into the best version of himself is great but that is still not the level of player needed. The point about the jerseys & the Flyers focusing things on Michkov was a good one. My 9 year old son actually wanted a Zegras jersey & when we went to the Carnival this year but the shop only had 39’s on the shelves in youth sizes. Seems odd that any one spoke to be the only selection. The Flyers made him the focus then hired a coach unconcerned with his development. That can be good in the sense of icing the best team in the moment but time will tell if it’s the best long term.
Les Bowen
Yep, I kinda think they jumped really hard on the Michkov hype because they didn’t have much else, before this year.
I don’t know that I would say Tocchet is unconcerned with his development. He seems concerned with and has aided the development of guys like Drysdale, Barkey and Bump.
James Heim
Yea unconcerned probably isn’t the right word. It isn’t a priority above the other spokes in the wheel. Which to use the football analogy is like saying we are focused on developing Wentz as much as Corey Clement. Tocchet definitely deserves credit for a lot. He eventually moved Zegras to C & was using Barkey there which I never thought I’d see here. I’m not sure it’s enough to overcome the lack of a truly elite players.
Richard Eisenberg
Excellent article, Les. Your articles are a must read for me, as you demonstrate your mature perspective and sports wisdom while retaining a healthy dose of humility and respect for ever-present unpredictability. A definite positive for us PHLY readers!
Les Bowen
Hey, thanks
Steve Cleff
Les I’m thrilled to have my favorite hockey writing pitching in this year. Your clear perspective is welcome in an age of media personalities picking an opinion based on how much reaction it will provoke. Your logic is appreciated and I’ve always admired how the way you write is so sincere that I can hear you saying it as if it were on a podcast.
Glad you’re here, hope it’s for a long time.
Regarding Michkov, it sounds like the language barrier is a real issue and I was encouraged to hear his teammates and Tocchet use some empathy to understand the challenges he’s facing. It’s amazing how after two years it looks like it really could go either way, but at least he seems to have support and an opportunity to get on track.
Les Bowen
I wonder if having a veteran Russian player around might help, instead of leaning so heavily on an interpreter. Also, at some point, if Michkov is going to be a key player here, maybe he should try to become reasonably fluent in English.
Michael S
Thanks, Les. I do want to point out that talking about Michkov as the potential wheel last year made sense—there was nothing else to talk about because everyone else except maybe TK was clearly a spoke.
This year we have a lot more spokes. If Martone turns out to be the wheel and Mich becomes a better TK, that’s a pretty exciting scenario.
Vandit Kalia
“Here’s the thing, though. Michkov wasn’t supposed to be “a spoke in the wheel,” he was supposed to be the wheel.“
No he wasn’t. Not to anyone who knows hockey and realizes it is a team sport.
David LaVeck
Les, you bring up some valid points that hint at a disconnect between the front office and the coaching staff. The front office is all-in on Michkov while the coaching staff views him merely as another player. The fans were sold on Michkov being an elite level player. The problem is he was never treated that way by the coaches who saw his defensive deficiencies as something they would need to cover up for all season. Michkov was put on a line with its center being more defensive minded in an effort to rub off on Michkov. What happened is that Michkov’s offense rubbed off on the defensive center so it was a win-win for the team but hopefully Michkov can be given some more offensive freedom to determine his true ceiling. We’ll see, I am hopeful for now. Good arguments but they need Michkov to hit his ceiling for them to be considered contenders.
Daniel Metzger
I really don’t care who Briere builds this team around as long as they progress into a contender…That being said, Mchkov had 18 pts in the last 16 games of regular season. That shows me he can succeed in Tochet’s system. Let’s see how he matures…