Report: 2023 No. 7 pick expected to terminate KHL contract, join Flyers

Russian phenom Matvei Michkov is expected to terminate his KHL contract and continue his career with the Philadelphia Flyers next season, per Russia’s Sport-Express. Sport-Express adds that SKA St. Petersburg will retain Michkov’s exclusive KHL rights until 2026.

This news seems to be first step towards Philadelphia landing one of its biggest prospects in recent memory. Michkov has become a sensation in Russia coming off a season where he recorded 41 points in 48 games with the KHL’s HK Sochi – the second-most any U20 player has scored in the KH, behind Kirill Kaprizov’s 42-point season in 2016-17. That’s the type of company Michkov’s scoring has always earned him, similarly posting the highest KHL points-per-game from a U19 player during his time with Sochi last season, ranking ahead of Eeli Tolvanen, Evgeny Kuznetsov and Vladimir Tarasenko.

Michkov has managed the strong scoring despite playing on one of the KHL’s weakest teams. HK Sochi, who operate as a feeder team for SKA, have won just 28 of its 136 games over the last two seasons, despite Michkov raising their average goals-per-game from 2.01 to 2.47 during his time there. 

The meager setting served both pros and cons, allowing Michkov to emerge as a KHL team’s star but also providing him with little support. He made up for modest deployment when he was younger by absolutely dominating on the international stage. 

Michkov recorded 12 goals and 16 points in seven games at the 2021 World U-18 Championship – leading the tournament in scoring ahead of both Shane Wright and Connor Bedard. The tally also ranked him behind just Gavin McKenna, Alex Ovechkin and Mikhail Grigorenko for the most a U17 player has ever scored at the event. Russia was banned from international events in the following season, limiting Michkov to friendly matches with the country’s men’s team over the last two years.

A move out of Russia should bring Michkov much more team success, especially if it’s a move to the playoff-hopeful Flyers. He’s a phenomenal player, boasting a control of the puck and ability to cut through lanes that is special. Combined with a hard-nosed drive towards the net and a nifty shot, Michkov has all of the traits of a bona fide scorer. He’s proven that at every level in Russia, but now faces his biggest challenge yet in moving to the NHL. How the Flyers support their star prospect, and just how high Michkov’s ceiling can go with that support, will be among the most exciting questions as the 2024-25 season rolls around.