A suggestion for a change to the last paragraph;
“Is Matvei going to ultimately mess up Michkov” ?

I think that is the more relevant question

I have no doubt both people got a talking to. I think your “whats he have to do …..” Question started this off .kudos. Going too far on Michkov assist. Rewatched it , he wasnt challenged, he did’nt even skate and made a no contact beer leauge pass. How about , “I said, ‘Matvei, if you come around the net, fake and hold that puck, the weak side’s open.’ And he did.” Maybe that doesnt happen as much as it should? And nobodys metioning Michkov shortshifting. Thats a big deal at some level. Funniest thing was when Tochet asked you about giving him 17 minutes. The silence was defening for a second. Where you surprised or deciding which way to go?

“His lingering problem, per the source, is his strength, which Michkov apparently didn’t build up to sufficient levels over the summer and the team believes is preventing him from looking as explosive as he did as a rookie.”

I thought the training camp reports suggested that Michkov prioritized off-ice strength work over the summer as opposed to conditioning?

Great response article to Briere’s comments, I really appreciate your interpretations to his responses. If I am not mistaken, Michkov’s line led off each period, at least the first two. That alone shows a concession on Tocchet’s part as I can’t remember too many times his line led off any period led alone more than one in a game. This alone helps Michkov’s TOI as they were fairly lengthy shifts each time. Play him when he is freshest. I believe his PP unit was also given the first shift as well. Michkov seemed to handle the added mins just fine so it seems he might be able to handle the 17 min mark that Tocchet believed he couldn’t. I wonder if Tocchet gave him the added mins seeing if he would fail and then been proven right? Regardless last night was a welcome sight all the way around, let’s hope it is here to stay.

A great Coach never lets this happen. T was hired to execute the Flyers rebuild and to do that, when you only have one true potential elite talent on the roster, well, any coach entering this job would make sure he would never bury that elite talent, period. This was a critical coaching error, almost to the point of complete arrogance, to not nurture and let the only elite talent on the roster get a lot of ice time. Tocchet is coming across as a “my way or the high way” bully, as a self-evident elitist, who is not going to acknowledge the reality of this dismal roster, and the necessity to groom any potential all-star talent as a key part of his work. Bottom line, T was a bad hire, wrong coach, and just like they fudged up the Gauthier situation, are again fudging up the Michkov situation. Does this franchise want all-star elite young talent in orange and black, or don’t they? This is where a great GM and Prez grab the bull and show him who is boss. Maybe I will be wrong, but from this armchair it sure looks like the damage done is permanent, and if I was MM’s camp, I would be asking for a trade ASAP, Shaw would have been the right coach to lead this development phase of the rebuild. T is better suited for a roster filled with top shelf vets. It was a mistake hire. Hilferty, Jones and DM need to right the ship, fire T, and bring in someone like Shaw to nurture, play, and develop the young potential studs that are so difficult to acquire in a 32 team league. Cut bait, your first loss is your best, DB. For now, as a fan, our best hope is for them to tank baby tank, get another top five talent in the coming draft, and start over again with a better fit coach for the stage this rebuild finds itself in.

At the risk of sounding like a broken record – a dump&chase style with 3rd line wingers isnt the best way to maximize Michkov’s skills.

Dump&chase is a method used by less talented teams to try to match up against those with more talent – by reducing the game to a grind-it-out affair, it reduces the talent gap. I can see why Tocchet has adopted it this year, with the goal of making the team competitive. When you dont have elite talent but reasonably good depth, this is a very sensible way to play.

But having a 185lb winger play that style is never going to be so effective. How exactly is Michkov going to showcase his creativity when his entire line is spending its entire shift battling for pucks along the boards, and just hoping for something to shake free?

Remember how Torts opened up the Flyers O last year, with the stated intent of having them play a style that would mesh with Michkov’s? And the results were there for all to see – 63 points, despite Torts very much holding Michkov accountable about playing the right way.

TL;DR – the system isnt doing Michkov any favors. They desperate need a better C than Cates/Coots. Robert Thomas, Danny… make it happen.

THis version of the Flyers is like boys playing against men. They are always smaller, mostly slower, and dont have the ‘grit’ of seasoned NHL’ers. They get pushed off too many pucks, bigger forwards bounce off our midget d-men. No one is afraid of anyone onour roster, including NicD. Plenty of (well, enough) talent, but they need to be kept together. Let them get punked and beat on for a few years, and, if it is as tight a room as we hear, they’ll all grow into men together. Men with a purpose and the dedication to each other to fight to the top.
Became a Flyer fan while visiting Grammie in Philly, and she let me turn on the forbidden TV. There, I watch a gap toothed rookie pull a wrap around stuffer and I was hooked for life. GF in high school got me a 16 jersey and, a year later we had the cup. Then another! Then… the desert. A few oasis’s along the way, but enthusiasm never wanes.
For instance, 15-7-4? Totally Doable! Let’sGoFlyers!

Tocchet is an egomaniac and has zero evidence of being a good coach. No one speaks publicly in support of him, except we have been told Quinn Hughes. Bad hire, wrong coach at wrong time. Cut bait this summer, especially with the Michkov extension on the horizon. You can still sell tickets and be an exciting team even if you’re losing if you have an attraction, which is Michkov not Tocchet. Look at San Jose and Chicago. They’re terrible but there’s still an excitement around the those teams.