It’s long past the time that Rick Tocchet was the head coach of the Vancouver Canucks, but the Philadelphia Flyers’ bench boss is bringing the lessons he learned in 2024–25 to the new young core he’ll help lead.

"The Flyers are Philadelphia's hope right now, has to be. Rebuild, rebuild, rebuild, year in, year out. It's time — a lot of good young talent, new coach, fresh blood, looks good," Flyers fan Adam Reiver said.

Michkov led all rookies in goals in 2024-25, with an impressive 63 points, all during a bit of a tumultuous season for the Black and Orange. Therefore, a scoreless first three games for Michkov isn’t ideal,

The stat that sticks out — other than that goose egg in the points column — is Michkov’s ice time. He skated 14 minutes and 54 seconds in the Flyers’ season-opening game on Thursday in Florida, and 13:27 on Saturday in Carolina in a game that required nearly a full overtime — an overtime in which Michkov didn’t get a shift.

While Philadelphia Flyers phenom Matvei Michkov hasn't looked quite like himself to start his second season in the NHL, there is, at least, a reason for that, according to head coach Rick Tocchet.

Teaser Let’s do that hockey. With the puck dropping on the NHL season tonight — the Flyers don’t play until Thursday against Florida — we asked our Flyers beat writer Jackie Spiegel and editor Gus Elvin to pull out their crystal balls to see what’s in store for the Flyers this season under first-year coach Rick Tocchet.