He might have been snubbed in terms of Calder Trophy nominations, but Flyers rookie forward Matvei Michkov made the 2024-25 NHL All-Rookie Team. Michkov joins Macklin Celebrini of the San Jose Sharks, Anaheim’s William Gauthier, Montreal’s Lane Hutson, Columbus blueliner Denton Mateychuck and Calgary goaltender Dustin Wolf. Hutson won the Calder Trophy by a wide margin, with Wolf and Celebrini rounding out the nominees. So, in hindsight, the Flyers could’ve had two rookies on this past season’s All-Rookie Team. But let’s move on.
Michkov, who came in fourth in Calder Trophy voting with 645 points, had 26 goals and 37 assists for 63 points in 80 games. He was also named NHL Rookie of the Month on two occasions (October and February) while leading all rookies in power play points with 17 and goals with 26. He also led all rookies with three overtime goals. Although he made a huge impression with his performance over the season, Michkov spoke of his dissatisfaction with the season during year-end exit interviews, surprising Flyers general manager Danny Briere with his responses given how dynamic Michkov was. That, combined with the nomination snub, should provide more fuel or drive for the Mad Russian heading into 2025-26.
The winger became the first Flyer named to the All-Rookie Team since Shayne Gostisbehere was named back in 2015-16. Eleven Flyers have had the honor dating back to the late Pelle Lindbergh in 1982-83. The other nine include Thomas Eriksson (1983-84), Ron Hextall (1986-87), Mikael Renberg (1993-94), Chris Therien (1994-95), Janne Niinimaa (1996-97), Simon Gagne and Brian Boucher (1999-2000), and Joni Pitkanen (2003-04).
Michkov was also in the news earlier this week as he’s been named as one of the participants at a special Russian all-star game in Moscow this July. Michkov will play on a side of Russian-born NHL stars (Team West) versus KHL stars (Team East). The game, set for CSKA Arena on July 13, will also feature Alex Ovechkin, Sergei Bobrovsky, Kirill Kaprizov, Artemi Panarin, and Andrei Vasilevskiy among others.
With the current crop of Flyers in the pipeline, and possibly more talent on the horizon in this year’s NHL Draft at the end of June, it’s possible the Flyers might have a few more rookies worthy of the recognition Michkov so rightly deserved in 2024-25. Hopefully it also shines the spotlight a little bit more on Michkov this coming season given the Calder Trophy snub.