Carchidi: Give Ex-Flyers GM Credit for Believing in Travis Konecny

During his tenure as the Philadelphia Flyers’ general manager, Ron Hextall had a track record that was a mixed bag.

But making a trade to move up in the 2015 draft and snaring a certain forward was among his best moves.

The deal enabled him to select Travis Konecny, who signed an eight-year, $70 million contract extension Thursday.

That extension was signed because Konecny has blossomed into just the type of player Hextall envisioned: Tenacious in the corners, a dependable scorer, and a nuisance to opponents trying to set up their power play.

Oh, and someone who is a world-class chirper on the ice.

In the latter part of the 2015 draft’s first round, Hextall dealt a first-round pick (No. 29 overall) and a second-rounder (No. 61 overall, acquired in a trade that sent aging Kimmo Timonen to Chicago) to the Toronto Maple Leafs.

In return, the Philadelphia Flyers moved up five spots, to No. 24 in the opening round.

Good GM Instincts

Hextall did it because he wanted Konecny. Badly. He loved the forward’s potential and thought he had a hard-to-describe “it” factor. Konecny, then 18, was expected to be drafted in the middle of the first round. But teams were leery of his listed size (5-9 1/2, 175 pounds ), and when he kept slipping in the draft, Hextall worked out a deal with Toronto, a city just a two-hour drive from where Konecny grew up.

The GM was captivated by Konecny’s skating and stickhandling ability, his quick shooting release, and his knack for creating scoring chances for himself or his Ontario Hockey League teammates.

“He’s got a motor that runs all the time,” Hextall said at the time.  “He’s got a real good skill level and makes a lot of plays. He can score goals, and I think his character is top shelf. He was captain of his team (Ottawa) last year as a 17 year old, which obviously speaks to his character.”

Added Hextall after drafting Konecny: “He has the heart of a lion.”

At the time of the draft’s broadcast, TSN’s Craig Button said Konecny reminded him of Pat Verbeek, a former NHL star who finished with 522 goals, and that the then-new Flyer was a “little ball of hate.”

Button meant that as a compliment.

Konecny has proven Hextall and Button to be prescient, emerging as a consistent scorer, a terrific leader, and a player that opponents don’t like playing against. He scored a career-high 33 goals last season and, when healthy, has been Mr. Consistent in his career.

All of which led to his big pay day (eight years, $70 million) Wednesday.

Toronto’s loss was the Flyers’ gain, and the much-maligned Hextall deserves props for putting Konecny’s NHL career in motion.

TK says it wouldn't feel like an accomplishment to win a Stanley Cup unless it was with the #Flyers.

— Sam Carchidi (@BroadStBull) July 25, 2024

Michkov impressions

Some first impressions on Matvei Michkov, who was introduced to the media Wednesday in Voorhees.

The 19-year-old Russian winger seems mature beyond his years and has a good sense of humor.

He also seems to grasp English pretty well, though he doesn’t feel comfortable (yet) speaking the language. During Wednesday’s news conference, interpreter Slava Kuznetsov translated Michkov’s comments in English to the media. On  a handful of occasions, Michkov put up his hand to tell Kuznetsov he had something to add. That appeared to be a sign he understood what Kuznetsov was saying in English.

In other words, it wouldn’t be surprising if Michkov was speaking English by the end of the season.

Philly Hockey Now’s Jon Bailey believes Michkov will play right wing on the second line, with Morgan Frost and Owen Tippett as his linemates. Frost and Tippett have good chemistry together, and putting Michkov on that unit makes sense.

There will probably also be times when Tyson Foerster (22 years old), Frost (25) and Michkov (19) are together and forming the team’s Kid Line. (Frost isn’t a youngster, but is just two years removed from his first full season with the Flyers.)

Wherever Michkov ends up, you could tell from his body language Wednesday that he is itching to get the season started.

Sam Carchidi writes a weekly column for Philly Hockey Now. He and Jeff Hare are working on a TV series on the Flyers’ glory days, tentatively called “Bullies.” Carchidi can be reached at samcarchidi55@gmail.com.