You can't deny the fact that the Philadelphia Flyers are not off to a good start this season. They have dropped their first nine games, losing six in regulation and three in overtime.
Ahead of their contest with the Detroit Red Wings on Oct. 15, trade rumors were swirling around Matvei Michkov. These rumors came just a day after rumors circulated that the Flyers are growing frustrated with Travis Konecny.
Brandon Sommermann, a Flyers beat reporter for On Pattison, shared on social media an update on the Michkov situation: "Per two Flyers sources… PHI have NO intention of or even considering trading Matvei Michkov. One source called it “laughable” that people would actually believe that. Another called it "bogus." Can't believe that even had to be said. Carry on…"
Although the rumor mill is open, there is not always legitimacy to these claims. Michkov was a 2023 first-round pick for the Flyers and has been a cornerstone of the team since his first full-time season in 2024-25. He is currently on a three-year entry-level contract, which will expire at the end of this season, making him a restricted free agent.
The Flyers have no reason to trade Michkov, especially considering he is nearing the end of his contract. As one of their best-performing players to start the season, there's no reason to offload him. On top of this, they have the cap space to re-sign him, which is something Daniel Briere should heavily consider.
With all this discussion about trading several players on the Flyers, ones who have a history of the best performance at that, trading all these players is not the answer.
Trading the team will not fix the Flyers' issues
For the most part, this team is still the same as it was last season. They traded Garnet Hathaway to the Florida Panthers, but Philadelphia only received picks, with no players joining the organization. The Flyers also received Joseph Woll and Simon Benoit in a trade, which changed the goaltending situation slightly, as well as the defensive pairings.
On paper, this Flyers team is relatively the same as it was in the 2025-26 season, when they made it to the Eastern Conference Semifinals and were ultimately defeated by the Carolina Hurricanes. They had such a strong showing last season, so why do they look so rough to start 2026-27?
There is not one right answer, as this issue the Flyers are having is not on one sole player. This is a team game, and every single player on the ice looks like they are still on the golf course. They aren't swinging sticks; they're swinging clubs, and that is when they even manage to get a chance to shoot the puck.
There is no putting this lightly right now. The Flyers are in a bad spot. They need a wake-up call so they can finally try to get the win they are hoping for. At their core, these players are all strong. It's unclear why they aren't performing well, but the answer isn't to just completely up and trade players.
If Briere starts offloading strong players, everyone will be seen as replaceable, and no one will be performing well. Plus, if the Flyers receive a new player on their roster in a trade, there's no guarantee they'll have good chemistry with the current team. It could be a recipe for disaster as they try to mesh with the current roster.
Everyone is so quick to sell the team, but there are so many more moving parts that trading everyone is not the answer the Flyers need right now. Philadelphia needs to snap out of this funk and hopefully get their first win with their current core.
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