Danny Briere Quiets Expectations for Matvei Michkov

Danny Briere Quiets Expectations for Matvei Michkov

It feels like the Flyers are finally turning the corner and the addition of Matvei Michkov has a lot to do with it. What are the expectations for the Russian important now that he’s a full-time NHL player? Flyers general manager Danny Briere is doing his best to kill the hype machine.

“I don’t have a lot of expectation for Matvei,” he told reporters Tuesday. “What I hope is for him to figure out how he can take the first step and get better as a player as the season goes on. I’m realistic, it’s gonna be a tough season for him. This is the best league in the world. It’s a big step. It’s not going to be easy.

“So my expectations are actually pretty low. I’m excited to watch him play, but he’s going to have to go through a lot before he’s the player that he expects to be.”

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Michkov, 19, was the 7th overall pick during the 2023 NHL Draft. He likely would have gone higher if it weren’t for signability concerns at the draft. Well, it didn’t take Philly super long to convince him to come over to America. Time will tell how the rookie will perform. However, Briere admits that he’s most excited about what Michkov will bring to the table offensively.

“I can’t wait to see how he’s going to create offense,” Briere said. “I think his brain is pretty special and he’s gonna adapt, but it might not be instant. … He’s gonna figure out where he can be most successful.”

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