Nov 23, 2024; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Philadelphia Flyers right wing Matvei Michkov (39) in action against the Chicago Blackhawks in the third period at Wells Fargo Center. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Ross-Imagn Images
As soon as the words were uttered in English by translator Slava Kuznetsov, it was a guarantee to be the focus of a story for many a reporter.
“When you get the moment, you have to be cold-blooded and realize it, and finish it,” Kuznetsov said.
He was speaking for the Flyers 19-year-old phenom Matvei Michkov, who scored the game-winning goal in overtime for the Flyers to defeat the Chicago Blackhawks 3-2 on Saturday.
It was also the first matchup between Michkov and Connor Bedard, widely considered the two best players in the 2023 NHL draft class, so it had a little extra hype about it.
Of course, as reporters are wont to do, we get sucked in to the juicy quote. It will make for good headlines. Everyone will pop “cold-blooded” out there in big black print to try to spur the search engines to optimize our stories at the top of the search lists when fans frantically search for Michkov of Flyers.
Heck, I just spent 150 words or so in my lede talking about the same thing.
And it’s understandable why this happens:
The Magic Man. 🪄#CHIvsPHI | #LetsGoFlyers pic.twitter.com/Kf6rsiw98b
But what gets buried behind all that pomp and circumstance and isn’t consumed by the beast unless it has a longer attention span to read more in-depth into an outcome, is the nuance of a game, or even the trajectory of a team that is highlighted in said game.
And it’s unfortunate, because we have all become slaves to the narratives that are created, either by ourselves or others.
And that’s a shame, because there’s so much going on right now with the Flyers, that getting hung up on an overtime power play goal, created by a Bedard turnover and a ticky-tack penalty on Chicago’s Alex Vlasic doesn’t begin to scratch the surface.
The Flyers overcame a 2-0 deficit to the lowly Blackhawks in the third period to force overtime and create the opportunity for Michkov’s heroics, but before those two third period goals, for the better part of 50 minutes, the Flyers couldn’t finish against one of the worst teams in hockey.
Now, coach John Tortorella will tell you that he liked his team’s game because they were generating a lot of scoring chances even though they weren’t scoring – and he’s right. They did. In fact, one-time Flyers’ goalie Petr Mrazek was superb in goal for Chicago for all that time, turning aside good scoring chance after good scoring chance.
And Tortorella is also correct when he says that in games like that, you need to stick with what you are doing, because usually, the goals will come. You will get rewarded eventually for your fine play.
And the Flyers were, as Sean Couturier got the Flyers off the schneid, and Noah Cates tied it a few minutes later.
But what gets lost in the shuffle of the excitement of a comeback victory capped by an overtime goal, by the budding star winger are some very stark facts.
It was nice to see Coots’ score:
The Captain leads the third period charge. 🔋⚡️#CHIvsPHI | #LetsGoFlyers pic.twitter.com/gFrLqu6uUE
And Cates’ shot was perfectly timed through some traffic and had eyes for a destination of the top shelf:
CATER LASER! 🎯#CHIvsPHI | #LetsGoFlyers pic.twitter.com/xew91HGBZG
But those goals are too few and way too far between for the Flyers.
Which is why GM Danny Briere has been on his cellphone more than a middle-aged mom scrolling Facebook in recent weeks.
He knows his team needs centers. He’s out there looking, talking to teams, checking in and seeing what’s available.
And the rumor mill is churning already.
Trade target lists are already cropping up on several websites. The questions are pouring in about several players. Fans, who eat this stuff for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, even more than overtime goals by a 19-year-old, are already making proposed trades.
Then, there are those in our industry who like to take bits and pieces of reports from others and cobble together some kind of "report" of their own that might make sense based on aggregated public information but that it isn’t rooted in fact.
It makes for an outright shit show for more than three months of trying to sleuth as to what’s right and what isn’t.
I can’t stress how many messages I get about this kind of thing. It’s crazy how much I have that pops onto my phone involving the Flyers. Some of it is very real. Some of it is complete nonsense. And some of it is half-truth.
I spoke to one team source Saturday about one of those messages I received, and I was told, “I can tell you that is something coming from the other side because we have talked repeatedly with (that team) and we have interest in every other player at (that position) than (that guy) but they keep pushing (that guy) on us.”
It’s how the information superhighway in the NHL rumor mill works sometimes. You got to know who to trust, who to believe, and who is planting stories.
It’s not always easy. Because sometimes, a team is interested in a player or players on another team, and vice versa, and those conversations between teams take place. It leaks out, but nothing ever happens because the two teams can’t find common ground.
Here’s a real-world example for the Flyers:
Yes, I've heard Minny rlly likes Farabee; I don't think they love the contract, though.
I also believe they like Brink. https://t.co/OS8bhn9ca5
Di Marco’s report here is spot on. Conversely, the Flyers have some interest in NHL players in Minnesota (centers – surprise!) but both teams have hit a bit of a wall in discussions because Minnesota wants more than the Flyers could offer for the players they are interested in, and vice versa.
“It’s just not a good matchup at this time,” One team source told me. “But, maybe down the road something changes because there is interest in players on both sides.”
And where down the line is, would probably be much closer to the NHL trade deadline of March 7.
While there may seem to be more trade chatter around the NHL this season than others in November, the conversations being had with teams is really no different.
One executive told me that the busiest times of year when it comes to trade discussions are, in order:
“You sometimes have a few teams who maybe didn’t get off to the start they were expecting, and that creates some conversation,” the executive said. “But the reality is, this time of year is so busy because it’s when everyone starts laying the groundwork for the trade deadline. There may be a trade or two that happens around the league, but most of these talks are for the deadline.”
But that doesn’t stop the rumors from spreading. Because everyone in the fantasy sports generation loves talking trade. So, we again, feed the beast.
But what you should know about the Flyers is quite simple. They are hunting for centers. They need them. Badly. Other than Jett Luchanko, there’s not a lot of prospects coming down the middle.
It’s why Briere is checking in with teams who may have guys that are talented enough to play in the NHL at a high level but maybe aren’t in the best situation. The Flyers are ripe with opportunity for players of that ilk.
So, don’t be surprised if you hear they are talking to teams like Minnesota, or Ottawa, or Anaheim who may have change-of-scenery candidate players.
But don’t think that Briere has blinders on and is only focused on centers.
If Jiricek is actually available?
I think @NHLFlyers should be in on him. Crazy to me CBJ would think about trading him.
Already 1D in AHL.
In @NHL?
0.74 P/60
-0.03 xGF rel
age 18-20.
worst case scenario he is likely a solid #3. With decent chance of being a 1D. #Flyers
A #Flyers thought: as much as they need centers, I would be very interested in defenseman David Jiříček if he becomes available for a trade.
As @sportsology can confirm, I was a big proponent of drafting him, even over Cutter Gauthier.
Are the Flyers interested in David Jiricek? Yes. But I’m sure there are about 20 other teams as well. Talk about a bull market to trade for a player.
The Flyers could likely put together a competitive offer for him – and I’m told Columbus GM Don Waddell wants young players in return if he moves on from the soon-to-be 21-year-old who was the No. 6 overall pick in the 2022 draft – but would it be overwhelming enough for the Jackets to trade such a highly touted prospect in-division?
If all things are equal in trade offers between a division rival and another team, I’m betting on the other team.
All of this to say is, in the moment, it’s nice to celebrate goals like Michkov’s on Saturday. But the big picture for this Flyers hockey team is, it needs a lot of help down the middle – and maybe even some more on the blue line – that can come from other teams since it isn’t in the pipeline currently.
Barely scratching out a win against Chicago should tell you that in flashing neon lights.
“We have no business looking by anybody,” Tortorella said of facing a subpar Chicago squad. “Who the hell are we to be looking by anybody? We’re in it with Chicago. We’re in the same mess that they’re in trying to find traction in this league.”
Which is why the next few months will be fascinating for Briere and his team as they try to help the Flyers get out of that mess.
