Michkov 'lighter and stronger' at Flyers training camp

VOORHEES, N.J. -- Matvei Michkov feels lighter, quicker and ready to make a bigger impact for the Philadelphia Flyers this season.

"I actually look good," Michkov said Thursday after training camp practice. "Good summer. ... I feel really good right now. I think I'm ready for season."

It's a big difference from last season's training camp, when Michkov's subpar conditioning led to his production slipping. After leading NHL rookies with 26 goals and tying for second with 63 points in 2024-25, he had 20 goals and 51 points last season.

But the Flyers saw a noticeably different player when camp opened Thursday.

"It's the first day, but he looks lighter and stronger skating," coach Rick Tocchet said. "His stride is longer. When guys start getting tired their strides get choppier and his still was elongated. That is a good sign."

It's a result of Michkov (5-foot-10, 172 pounds) altering his training regimen and eating habits, leading to a significant weight loss -- he told a reporter in Russia that he's 30 pounds lighter than a year ago.

"I think in the summer all guys relax but you need to work," Michkov said. "This is a little bit hard for me. ... I eat right now just good food, no fast food, no sugar. Maybe a little bit on day off; I like chocolate but just on day off. This is hard work too. This is hard work not just on the ice but on life too, total. This is new for me. New eating, but good. I want to play better for the team, for the Flyers."

And they need him to be better.

When the Flyers selected Michkov with the No. 7 pick of the 2023 NHL Draft, they envisioned him being one of their offensive drivers when they returned to postseason contention. And when they went 18-7-1 after the break for the 2026 Winter Olympics to make up an eight-point deficit to finish third in the Metropolitan Division and end a five-season Stanley Cup Playoff drought, Michkov was their leading scorer with 22 points (seven goals, 15 assists) in 26 games.

But that play never carried into the postseason, when he had one assist in eight games.

The ups and downs of last season showed Michkov how hard the work is. As a result, he had Flyers performance development coach Lorne Goldenberg visit him in Russia.

"We together work two weeks and this is good work," Michkov said. "We have in one day two (workouts) in the gym and one on ice so three practices in one day. This is hard weeks, but this is good for me."

Goldenberg's trip to Russia was seen as a chance to take Michkov's work during the Olympic break and amplify it.

"He decided to, even though he didn't have a lot of time, he completely changed what he was thinking of doing, just going on vacation and having fun," Briere said. "He decided to take care of himself, and it showed in the last stretch of the season, which I think mentally was a good thing for him to see, 'Hey, I took care of myself. Look at the impact I was able to have.' I think he went with that mentality into the offseason, with instead of 10 days to do it, having three or four months, and then that's kind of what you see in how he looks at the moment, and how he just walks around with a different swagger than he had probably two years ago."

One area of focus for Michkov was strengthening a shot that he and the Flyers want to see used as more of a weapon this season. Michkov's best assets are his playmaking, vision and hockey IQ, but a more diversified approach should help the Flyers improve on the 2.93 goals per game they scored last season; among teams that reached the playoffs, only the Los Angeles Kings scored less (2.68).

"I have to practice and work on my hands, one-timers," Michkov said. "But I think that's a little bit my problem. I need to shoot harder on one-timers. This is a good way to score for me. ... We talk together with 'Tocc,' 'Tocc' told me I need to work on one-timers and I worked on one-timers all summer and I think now I'm feeling better."

Michkov also is feeling better about living in North America. He arrived in Philadelphia in 2024 and couldn’t speak English. He didn't feel comfortable conducting interviews without a translator until just before the playoffs last season.

When he met the media Thursday, he sat at a table alone, with a translator nearby only if he didn't understand a question.

"I know now a little bit better English," he said. "My first year was so hard for me. I stayed in Philly with zero English. Second year little bit better, now little bit better more. ... I feel now much better. I think Philly is my second home."

That can only help Michkov become further integrated into the team.

"The communication is huge," forward Travis Konecny said. "I feel like the conversations I've had have been a little bit better with just understanding each other. That's always positive. When it's a heated situation on the bench or during a game, you can understand what each other is trying to say and the message ... it's like when you're texting somebody, you can really go two different ways with how your text looks. So when you understand what each other is trying to say I think it goes a long way. Hopefully we see that transition this year."

So far things are pointed in the right direction, and Briere is positive Michkov will stay on the right track.

"Everybody has a different path," he said. "You wish that guys were all like Sidney Crosby, and they were at 16 years old a total pro. But the reality is, those are really rare. Everybody has a different path along the way. But what I was excited to see was, I think his maturity level increased as the season went on. In the offseason, seeing him here, he's got a pep in his step. He feels good. He looks good. So I'm excited about Matvei's season."