Matvei Michkov Trade ‘Thesis’ Emerges Amid Flyers Saga

Friedman pointed to several reasons Philadelphia is unlikely to rush a trade, including its previous decision to move Cutter Gauthier and Michkov responding to the organization’s offseason demands.

According to Friedman, the Flyers asked Michkov to arrive in better shape and improve his English, and the 21-year-old did both.

“We asked him to do this; he did,” Friedman said of Briere’s viewpoint. “Therefore we have to show a lot more tolerance and understanding towards him and reward that.”

The saga erupted after Michkov’s heated bench exchange with Nick Seeler in Vancouver. Weekes then reported Michkov wanted a fresh start, while Briere said Wednesday that Michkov and his agent, Paul Theofanus, denied being the source.

Friedman, however, believes Weekes received the information from someone close to the situation amid heightened emotions, and made clear the ESPN analyst didn’t fabricate the report.

“I guarantee to you that someone, whether it was Michkov or someone around him, was angry, upset, [saying] ‘I’ve had enough of this,’” Friedman said. “It’s emotional. It happens. It then got to Kevin, and he reported it as such.”