Brent Flahr gives updates on Matvei Michkov, other Flyers prospects
As rookie camp comes to an end and training camp is on the horizon, we can start to evaluate those who are locks to make the roster, those who are on the cusp, and those who have some work to do. It’s also a time to take a look at the farm system and what’s to come soon and in the future. As the Flyers are set to open training camp in a few days, Brent Flahr discussed some of the standouts from this weeks rookie camp on Monday morning.
One of the biggest topics outside of camp has been about Matvei Michkov’s development in the KHL. After hardly seeing any ice time with SKA, Michkov was loaned to Sochi, where he spent most of last season as well. He has three assists in three games while playing over 16 minutes per game. There was certainly frustration for not only Michkov, but likely the Flyers as well. There has been constant communication as Riley Armstrong has been in contact through a translator app he downloaded on his phone. Fellow Russian prospect Egor Zamula has also spoken to Michkov regularly. The opportunity in Sochi allows him to play and not worry about anything else. In the end, that’s all that anyone wants.
Matvei Michkov gets another point in the KHL. 🍎
— Nathan "Grav" (@NathanGraviteh) September 18, 2023
Love the little details on this play, his physical prowess along the boards has REALLY improved.
pic.twitter.com/3QRsmJ5l1n
“I think for him to move back to Sochi, he just wants to play and, personally, that’s all I care about. He’s a young kid, he needs to play games. He’s very driven, he’s very focused. He’s going to play lots of minutes and get opportunities. Hopefully they wins some games, too, which is great.”
The topics surrounding those at camp has been around players such as Tyson Foerster, Bobby Brink, and Elliot Desnoyers. All three have a shot at making the NHL roster come October, with Foerster being the front runner to earn a spot. None of the three stood out enough during the rookie games over the weekend and left the coaching staff wanting more. Jobs aren’t lost in these camps, as there will be more opportunities when the trio will be paired up with NHL players. Once the pace picks up and the games get more intense, there’s a likelihood that things will open up.
While Ian Laperriere wasn’t that impressed, Flahr had a minder approach to what he saw over the weekend.
“I thought Tyson was frustrated. He worked, he competed. Brinker, the same, I think his execution was off. Desy looked off a little bit to me, but I know he has come in great shape. He has been here a lot of the summer and worked hard. I’m sure he’ll figure it out. I’m not too worried about any of them.”
Rookie camp may not necessarily mean as much to players like that who are closer to the NHL than others. So it’s possible they don’t put much stock into those kind of games. Nevertheless, they will need to step it up and make it a hard decision on the organization to send them to the AHL. Despite Laperriere being unimpressed with what he saw, he did previously say that he does not expect to see Foerster with the Phantoms. He said the same about Noah Cates last season and was proven correct.
There were some standouts that Flahr had more than a few positive things to say. That included Zayde Wisdom, who was talked about as one of the most impressive players. While he scored the team’s only goal on Saturday, it is his physicality that could earn him a role on the Flyers at some point. That is what makes him the most effective.
“Last year, he was just spinning his tires there. He lost his confidence and got away from the type of game he needed to play. We want him to score, but the biggest part of his game to be effective and earn a spot is physical play and being involved. You saw that this weekend.”
Emil Andrae is another prospect who has an outside chance to make the Flyers roster. Regardless of what happens, this will be his first full professional season of hockey. He was given permission from his SHL team to remain in North American even if he doesn’t make the NHL roster to start. Rules originally had his junior team receiving him back if he didn’t make it. Andrae was a little late to rookie camp as Flahr mentioned there was some passport issues. So the team gave him some extra time to get acclimated, the reason he did not play in the first game. But there was plenty to like about what he did on Saturday.
An Emil Andrae sequence that exhibited some of his strengths.
— Jordan Hall (@JHallNBCS) September 17, 2023
Strong outlet pass that led to a shot on net for Flyers. Then good recovery and a play under pressure in defensive zone.
Ian Laperriere liked his game. pic.twitter.com/TBetSHQ3I3
Camp invite Matt Brown also stood out as well. While he’s not necessarily on the radar of an ELC at this time, he is signed to an AHL deal with the Phantoms. So the Flyers will continue to have a good look at what he is able to do this season. He didn’t have a chance to get into any games with Lehigh Valley last season so this is their first up close look at what he can do.
“He’s as advertised. He’s a shorter kid, but to see him off the ice, he’s a tank. Obviously his speed is notable, energy, he’s goes to the hard areas. He got a couple looks and finished one off on Friday. I think he opened some of the coaches’ eyes. I think it was good for him and hopefully he’ll get a better look at camp.”