We have another twist in the saga of Matvei Michkov and him potentially joining the Philadelphia Flyers as early as this offseason. Suddenly, SKA St. Petersburg chairman Alexander Medvedev isn’t the only Russian in favor of Michkov trying his hand at the NHL with the Flyers.
Apparently, Michkov’s trainer, Dmitry Yashankin, wouldn’t mind the Flyers getting an early Christmas gift, either.
Flyers fan Lukas Georgas sent Yashankin a direct message on Instagram on Tuesday about Michkov, and Yashankin sent back an interesting reply. “Is Michkov coming to [sic] Flyers this season?” Georgas asked, to which Yashankin replied, “I hope”.
In an interview with MatchTV, Medvedev previously entertained the possibility of Michkov joining the Flyers, though he was cognizant of the possibility that Michkov would need time in the AHL, especially given his lack of experience.
“I think it’s better to leave like Ovechkin or Panarin. When you have already established yourself in Russia, and you are not going to North America to travel between the NHL and the AHL,” Medvedev said of Michkov.
It is worth noting that Michkov’s contract in the KHL with SKA St. Petersburg is supposed to last until 2026, but it does not appear that the 19-year-old is necessarily bound by that the whole way around. Players in the KHL can buy out their own contracts if they pay out of pocket to do so, meaning the Flyers cannot pay it on Michkov’s behalf if this happens.
However, what Medvedev might be referring to is something similar to a European Assignment Clause, which allows NHL clubs to assign players to clubs overseas rather than assign them to the AHL. Something like that would allow Michkov to return to SKA if, for some reason on planet earth, Michkov fails to make the Flyers and stick in the NHL.
Yashankin’s comments suggest that Medvedev’s comments were not just lip service; when there’s smoke, there’s fire.
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