The wait is over. Matvei Michkov is officially a member of the Philadelphia Flyers organization.

In the midst of the flood of new contract signings and trades that always accompany July 1, Flyers general manager made the announcement that fans of the club had been desperate to hear since Michkov’s KHL contract with SKA St. Petersburg was officially terminated on June 25: Michkov was signing his first NHL contract, and it would be as a Philadelphia Flyer, in the form of a three-year, entry-level contract.

“We’re excited to have Matvei under contract and we look forward to him joining our team at training camp in September,” Brière said in a statement. “We’ve kept a close eye on his development since the draft and to be able to add a player like Matvei, who brings a high-level of talent, skill and game-breaking abilities, he will be a key piece to our future.”

Michkov has been the Flyers’ top prospect ever since being selected with the seventh overall pick in the 2023 NHL Draft, and stands as the organization’s best hope for a homegrown superstar-level talent. Originally, the expectation was that Michkov would play out the remainder of his contract with SKA St. Petersburgh, and come to the United States for the 2026-27 season. Now, he’ll be here two full seasons early, in 2024-25.

“I’m extremely happy to officially become a part of the Flyers family,” Michkov said in the announcement. “Being in the NHL has been a dream for me since childhood. I would like to say a huge thank you to the Flyers management for their trust. I will do everything possible to meet their expectations. I can’t wait to join my teammates and start preparing for the new season together, and I would especially like to greet our fans. We have the same dream to win the Stanley Cup and I promise that will do my best to help this team and make that possible.”

Check back at PHLY Sports for more details on the contract, the Flyers’ reaction to Michkov’s arrival, and the implications for the roster on the whole.