When Matvei Michkov wants more minutes and I’m wondering why he even has to ask

When your franchise player speaks, the front office would be wise to start listening. Matvei Michkov has had enough, and he’s not hiding it.

The 21-year-old leads the Flyers with 10 goals this season. He’s their best player and their most dangerous scorer, and for whatever reason, he’s averaging just 15 or 16 minutes a night on a team sitting at the bottom of the league at 4-10-4.

Now Matvei Michkov is asking for more, and he has every right to do just that.

Matvei Michkov’s message

Big words spoken from Michkov here. Time for Danny to support his franchise player. pic.twitter.com/OCuvG1fMop

— Flyers Zone (@TheFlyersZone) November 8, 2026

Here’s what Michkov had to say:

“When we win I’m so happy. Right now, no good situation. We lost lead. This is so bad. I want more play. I want more support. I know, hockey for me is my life & I’m so emotional sometimes. This is my mentality.”

Matvei Michkov said he’s comfortable out there and loved playing on a line with Porter Martone and Noah Cates. Then Rick Tocchet broke that line up to shake things up during the losing streak. Clearly, that’s a kid who cares and on a team that’s lost its way, that should count for something.

This is on Tocchet (Obviously)

Think about how backwards this is. The Flyers can’t score, can’t hold a lead and can’t beat anybody in their own division. Their best goal scorer is begging for more shifts. And the coach’s answer to a losing streak was to split up the one line that was working.

You don’t solve a scoring problem by giving your top scorer less help and fewer minutes. Matvei Michkov should be out there in every big moment, on the power play and with a lead to protect, and with linemates he’s clicking with.

Instead, he’s being managed like a third-liner. In what world is that okay?

Time for Danny to step in

Danny Brière, this one’s on you now. Matvei Michkov is the franchise. He’s the reason people still have hope for this rebuild. When your franchise player goes public asking for more ice time and more support, the GM needs to back him up.

The fans are already flying a plane over the arena, don’t make Matvei Michkov the next guy to run out of patience.

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