VOORHEES, N.J. — The process goes something like this: Philadelphia Flyers coach John Tortorella speaks to his team, either collectively or in small groups, and other members of the organization help relay the message to Matvei Michkov, so the rookie forward, who is still learning English, is more aware of what’s transpiring around him.
When it’s between periods, assistant coach Darryl Williams does his best to pass along the bullet points after Tortorella is done speaking. When it’s on the bench, lately it’s been linemate Owen Tippett conveying Tortorella’s message, such as in a home game last week against the Detroit Red Wings when Tortorella wanted the Tippett-Michkov-Morgan Frost line to hop over the boards only if it wasn’t against Dylan Larkin’s line.
Having a one-on-one exchange with a coach or teammate can help Michkov. The communication level with everyone also is improving.
“He’s been over here for a while now. He’s understanding the language a little bit,” Tippett said on Monday, after an off-day Flyers practice. “It’s easier to communicate when you’re on the ice with him, and he understands that. When you understand what people are saying, it’s easier to put it into play during a game.”
Sean Couturier, who centered Michkov through the early part of the season, said: “Even off ice, I think his English is getting better. It’s becoming a little easier to communicate out there, and get on the same page. It’s still a work in progress, there’s a lot of sign language still. It’s been fun. His game has been really improving since the start of the year.”
It has. The numbers back up Couturier’s claim. Since Nov. 10, Michkov has 17 points (seven goals and 10 assists) in 16 games, second only on the team to Travis Konecny’s 20 points. But just as importantly, Michkov hasn’t been a defensive liability. In fact, his plus-11 rating over that span is not only the best mark on the Flyers, it’s tied for sixth in the NHL. The Flyers have scored 12 goals at five-on-five with Michkov on the ice and surrendered just two in approximately 197 minutes.
That isn’t just some arbitrary date, either. Michkov was scratched on Nov. 7 and Nov. 9, missing Flyers road games in Tampa Bay and Florida before returning on Nov. 11. The coaching staff wanted to see more straight-line skating, and stopping and starting from Michkov, and there were some signs that he might have been a bit fatigued, too. There were moments that he was getting exposed in the defensive zone, in particular.
“I think without the puck, especially, he’s starting to learn how to be a little more responsible and to earn that trust to be out there in different situations,” Couturier said.
Tortorella scoffed at a question on Monday about whether he was concerned how Michkov might react to coming out of the lineup last month. “If he doesn’t react the right way, he’ll keep sitting. I’m not talking about Matvei, if (any) player doesn’t react the right way. … I’m not in the business to babysit. I’m in the business to teach,” Tortorella said.
Still, “I knew I wouldn’t have a problem with him,” Tortorella said. “I knew he’d go the right way.”
The relationship between the coach and the organization’s most important player seems to be going swimmingly so far. That’s despite some moments that might have irked Tortorella in the past, or with other players — such as Michkov repeatedly trying “the Michigan,” in which he cradles the puck and tries to jam it into the top corner of the net from behind, or the start of the third period in last week’s game against the Red Wings, when Michkov was whistled for roughing Alex DeBrincat before the puck dropped, leaving his team short-handed while clinging to a one-goal lead in an important intra-conference matchup.
Those two moments essentially represent Michkov’s two most valuable traits — his creativity and his competitiveness. It’s evident that Tortorella doesn’t want to stifle either.
Tortorella’s comments about Michkov’s Michigan attempts, none of which have been successful yet, went viral last Friday when the coach voiced his displeasure with the move — “I don’t think it should be in our game,” he said — but acknowledged that he’s “lost the damn battle” over it in the modern NHL.
In other words, he’s not going to bench Michkov for trying it. He just wants the player to understand that sometimes it’s not the most high-percentage play, and Michkov may sometimes be better off looking for his teammates in other areas of the ice as a strong playmaker. And, in Michkov’s defense, his attempt against the Red Wings on Thursday came on a delayed penalty, which may be the ideal time for that kind of razzle-dazzle.
As for the roughing penalty, it wasn’t the first time that Michkov has been goaded into a minor at an inopportune time. Recall him punching Macklin Celebrini at the 20-minute mark of the third period in a tie game on Nov. 11 at home against the San Jose Sharks, forcing the Flyers to kill off a penalty in overtime before Michkov clinched it with a shootout marker.
Regardless, Tortorella wasn’t about to sit him for that, either.
“I haven’t said one word to him about that penalty,” he said on Monday. “I want him to play. He has some feistiness to him. He has some competitive instincts to him. I love that about him.”
Also on Monday, Tortorella strongly nixed an idea that Michkov might one day develop into a center. That position is still the Flyers’ most glaring need. Despite some success Michkov has had recently with Tippett on the left wing and Frost in the middle, the audition to be Michkov’s permanent center is still ongoing.
“We need to find a center to play with him,” Tortorella said. “Frosty is with him right now. It’s been up and down. I’m not sure if that’s the right marriage.”
He continued: “I do think Frosty has been too inconsistent to say, ‘He’s going to be his center.’ Still working with him. … Our organization, we know that we need to find some answers there. If it doesn’t come from within, we’ve got to find it somewhere.”
That will continue to be a storyline regarding the Flyers until general manager Daniel Briere makes a move or two. In the meantime, Tortorella and Michkov will keep working together amid improving communication lines.
“I couldn’t be happier as far as the route that we’re going on with him,” Tortorella said. “I love where it’s going.”
(Photo of Matvei Michkov: Nick Wosika / Imagn Images)
