OPINION: With Matvei Michkov Pick, Daniel Briere Gives Flyers Fans Hope

Daniel Briere delivered two draft picks to the Philadelphia Flyers on Wednesday night. At 7, Matvei Michkov might be the grandest of grand slams. He was considered the second most talented player in the draft.

At 22, the Philadelphia Flyers chose defenseman Oliver Bonk, son of former NHLer Radek Bonk. Oliver is known as a shutdown defenseman, something the Flyers crave and rarely seem to have.

Beyond the two talented players, the Flyers’ general manager — in charge of his first draft — gave a loyal fan base something they haven’t felt in a long while.

Hope.

Elusive hope.

And a night they could feel good about their hockey team.

That feeling has been pretty rare recently.

Risky Pick

Briere boldly made the draft’s riskiest pick. His task is to rebuild the Flyers. Drafting Michkov is, potentially, a giant leap forward.

The risk with Michkov isn’t his ability but his availability. Michkov is from Russia, a country in geopolitical turmoil. He also is under contract with a Russian team until 2026.

Not all fans will like the Michkov pick. The concern is that a rebuilding team might have wasted a high pick on a guy who might never play in North America. Fair enough.

But … 

If not now, when? Is there a better time for the Flyers to try to improve the team in a hurry? Talent evaluators were saying the Flyers got their next superstar. The Flyers, more than most, need a superstar — or a star of any kind.

If not now, when? Nearly every draft pick is a risk. You can look it up. Obviously, Briere and Flyers management heard enough to convince them Michkov was the right pick at the right time. The Flyers met twice with Michkov, once in Voorhees and again in Nashville.

“I’m glad to be a Flyer. I have no words,” Michkov said. “This is my dream, and my dream is to win the Stanley Cup.”

If Michkov is as talented as the experts say, when would the Flyers have the opportunity to draft such a player? If Bedard is a generational talent, and Michkov a close second, you gotta take that swing when you’re at the plate.

How It Happened

Several unexpected moves set Michkov to the Flyers in motion. First, there was informed talk that he would be drafted at 4 by San Jose, or surely at 5 by Montreal. There was talk that Washington, at 8, wanted Michkov and would trade above the Flyers to get him.

None of that happened. Arizona at 6 took a defenseman slotted to go in the teens or higher. When that happened, Washington’s trade route was cut off.

Then, Briere had either Michkov or Ryan Leonard available. Leonard was considered the safe pick — strong and willful, a kid seemingly born to play for the Flyers. He went to the Capitals at 8.

But Michkov was the crown jewel to a team willing to roll the dice. And in a league where Vegas just won the Stanley Cup, rolling the dice might be in vogue.

And in a draft where future phenom Connor Bedard went to Chicago with the first pick, Briere had to feel pretty good to get maybe the second-best player at 7.

“Everybody that knows me knows I hate losing,” Michkov said through a translator.

“I’m going to do whatever I have to. I’m going to work as hard as I have to, to make a big impact in Philadelphia.”

Michkov doesn’t know when he will play in NHL. He said, in essence, when he arrives the Flyers’ rebuild is going to speed up.

“I guess that means we’re going to start winning when I get here,” Michkov said.

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Michkov, In Case You Missed It:

Here is some previous coverage of Michkov from Philly Hockey Now:

Do the Flyers risk drafting Michkov: https://phillyhockeynow.com/2023/06/13/do-flyers-risk-drafting-russian-star-michkov-if-hes-available/

Opinion: The Flyers want to draft Michkov and will trade up to get him: https://phillyhockeynow.com/2023/06/26/opinion-flyers-want-to-draft-matvei-michkov-and-will-trade-up-if-necessary/

Around The National Hockey Network:

Boston Hockey Now: Bruins tried but failed to get into first round of draft.

Buffalo Hockey Now: Sabres draft a familiar face in Zach Benson.

Calgary Hockey Now: Confident Flames pick Samuel Honzek drops Oilers star Leon Draisaitl’s name as comparison.

Chicago Hockey Now: Time for Blackhawks to build around Connor Bedard.

Colorado Hockey Now: At 31st overall, the Avalanche selected defenseman Mikhail Gulyayev out of the KHL.

Detroit Hockey Now: Connor Bedard nemesis Nate Danielson goes to Wings at 9.

Florida Hockey Now: No trades for Panthers, or anyone, on Day 1 of draft.

Los Angeles Hockey Now: What Pierre-Luc Dubois brings to Kings.

Montreal Hockey Now: Canadiens take defenseman David Reinbacher with the fifth pick.

Nashville Hockey Now: Predators bolster blue line by drafting Tanner Molendyk.

New Jersey Hockey Now: Devils and Tyler Toffoli have mutual interest in contract extension.

New York Islanders Hockey Now: What does a realistic offseason look like for Isles?

Pittsburgh Hockey Now: Q and A on draft night and goalie situation for Penguins.

San Jose Hockey Now: Sharks talk about drafting Will Smith and not drafting Matvei Michkov.

Vegas Hockey Now: Golden Knights take Swedish forward David Edstrom at 32.

Washington Hockey Now: Capitals draft Ryan Leonard — their own Matthew Tkachuk?