We heard earlier this week that the Philadelphia Flyers could be getting Matvei Michkov to join the team in time for the 2024-25 season. His contract with St. Petersburg which was expected to hold up his NHL debut has been terminated.
Michkov was the seventh overall pick in the 2023 NHL Draft and many believe that he would have been drafted much higher had he not been locked into a KHL contract. He is talented enough to be considered among the elite of his class.
Now, the Flyers could take another risk in the 2024 NHL Draft one year later. They should trade up (if they can) and select Michkov's friend Ivan Demidov. People are skeptical about him for similar reasons but there is no reason to be.
If the Flyers took Demidov, he'd welcome it with open arms because that means he gets to be on the same team as Michkov.
Matvei Michkov would love if the Philadelphia Flyers drafted Ivan Demidov
This is a move that the Flyers should be wanting to make. Demidov is one of the most skilled players in the draft. Some people have him as high as second overall.
In 2023-24, Demidov scored 23 goals and had 37 assists for 60 points in 30 games played last year with St. Petersburg's MHL team.
This kid could very well be ready for the NHL right now but only time will tell if he does make that leap. The talent to do so is there.
We know the Flyers are going to get a good player in the first round but they could go above and beyond. 12th overall is a great spot but they won't be getting a Demidov-level player there.
They'd need to act on this idea to better their future. It won't be the end of the Flyers' chances to win if they don't get him but they might as well try.