Flyers Grades: Matvei Michkov, Massimo Rizzo Impress in Debuts

The Philadelphia Flyers rookies may have lost to the New York Rangers rookies, 4-3 in a shootout, at the PPL Center in Allentown, PA., on Friday night, but there was a lot to like about the performances of a number of players.

Top forward prospects Massimo Rizzo and Matvei Michkov each scored their first goals in Flyers uniforms – Rizzo’s goal tied the game at 3-3 with 14.4 seconds left – and Jett Luchanko played like a man possessed at both ends of the ice. Carson Bjarnason displayed a strong command of his crease; the scoreline doesn’t tell the full story there.

As you might expect in a Rookie Series game, the flow was generally fast and open, allowing for scoring chances and defensive breakdowns at both ends of the ice. That’s normal for groups of players who hardly know each other and have hardly practiced with each other.

For Michkov, that was especially true as he continues to adapt to life in North America and learn the English language. If it affected his performance or made him nervous at all, you couldn’t tell. Let’s discuss.

Matvei Michkov: A

The No. 7 overall pick from the 2023 NHL Draft was predictably the best player on the ice on Friday night, frequently showcasing his slick hands, decisiveness with the puck, creative passing, and the aggression and determination needed to become a future star athlete.

Michkov was active on the forecheck and backcheck and was the catalyst to almost every Flyers scoring chance on the night. Michkov sneakily positioned himself at the side of the net for a one-touch pass from Luchanko on the powerplay, allowing him to dangle and deposit past a helpless Dylan Garand for his first Flyers goal.

All in all, Michkov came as advertised and looked the part in his first real action since joining the team. Look for more of the same once training camp starts and the NHL preseason gets underway.

Jett Luchanko: B+

Like his linemate, Michkov, Jett Luchanko had a standout performance for the Flyers on Friday night.

The No. 13 overall pick in this summer’s draft was a suffocating presence in the offensive zone, the defensive zone, and the neutral zone, using his speed and defensive instincts to cause the baby Rangers grief all night long.

As the Flyers alluded to during development camp and after the draft, Luchanko doesn’t have the luxury of playing with such skilled players during his time in the OHL with the Guelph Storm. The 18-year-old was shaky and inconsistent at times offensively, but that’s completely fine.

Over time, Luchanko will develop his skills and adjust to the difference in pace at higher levels of competition. He showed enough offensive chops setting up Michkov’s goal to walk away from this rookie camp with a highlight under his belt.

Carson Bjarnason: B+

Although he allowed three goals in the shootout loss to the Rangers, Carson Bjarnason was only truly defeated by some flukes that ended up getting by him and his defense.

The 2023 second-round pick effectively used his size and technique to take away premium shooting angles and seal the ice, which was especially important given that the Rangers frequently received scoring chances at or around the net at inopportune times.

Bjarnason never got rattled or frustrated with how the game was going, kept playing, and was rewarded for that with a strong performance, final score notwithstanding. Brennan Othmann did beat him for the shootout winner, but that was the only shootout goal between the two teams’ six attempts.

Bjarnason is a Flyers prospect worth your attention throughout the next few months and years.

Spencer Gill: B

Spencer Gill, a tall, rangy defenseman drafted after Luchanko in the 2024 draft, surprisingly turned in an excellent performance in Allentown on Friday night.

I say surprisingly because he was the youngest Flyers defenseman in the lineup but played arguably the most complete game; Gill was neck-and-neck with Emil Andrae there, but tie goes to the runner.

Skating was one of Gill’s supposed weaknesses coming into the draft, but he frequently carried the puck up the boards and activated in offensive plays, which resulted in some real quality shifts for the Flyers. Gill was also on the ice as the Flyers pushed for the 6-on-5 equalizer with an empty net. That goes to show that the Flyers, who understandably had a first-round draft grade on Gill, trusted him and wanted him to be on the ice in an important situation like that.

The Flyers’ beliefs were rewarded handsomely.

As the Rangers recovered a loose puck and raced down the ice for a 2-on-1 against Gill with an empty net to shoot on, the 18-year-old defenseman punished the Rangers for their foolhardy mistake of ruthlessly scoring on the yawning cage.

Gill stripped the puck carrier of possession despite being out of gas at the end of his shift, and after the puck was transported up the ice to the other end, Oliver Bonk’s one-timer from the left circle set up Massimo Rizzo’s game-tying goal.

The loss ultimately made the play meaningless, but in a real game setting, Gill would have saved the Flyers a point in the standings, which adds up by the spring.

Massimo Rizzo: B

Massimo Rizzo quietly put some offense on the board in his Flyers debut, registering a power play assist on Michkov’s goal and banging home the game-tying goal later on. Knowing how to be in the right place at the right time matters a lot in the pros.

Rizzo did have some nice moments here and there, playing as the No. 2 center behind Luchanko on a line with Josh Zakreski (later replaced by a double-shifting Michkov) and Samu Tuomaala. His creativity and desire to facilitate offense were evident.

The 23-year-old was effective enough to be considered impressive on Friday night, and it’s important to keep in mind that Rizzo has played in just two games since Feb. 3 – April 11 against Boston and April 13 against Boston College. He played through both of those games with the same injury that limited his participation in development camp and held him out of action during his ATO with the Lehigh Valley Phantoms late last season.

As he continues to shake off rust, expect even better and more dazzling displays from Rizzo in the near future.