The Philadelphia Flyers were swept by the Carolina Hurricanes last night, and with Philly out, the Nashville Predators got the opportunity to make a steal of a deal.
A common complaint by Analysts of the Flyers management this postseason is the constant absence of Matvei Michkov from the lineup, at least with consistency. Michkov played eight games in the playoffs. Among those, he averaged around 11:50 minutes of ice time per game. Considering he was one of Philadelphia's top scorers after the Olympics, that is way too little.
The most notable absence was when head coach Rick Tocchet scratched Michkov in Philly's elimination game against Carolina, which they did not win. Michkov played a major role in the Flyers' game six overtime victory against the Pittsburgh Penguins, sending them to the second round. He served the pass that ended up winning the game. However, he is rarely getting the chance to do those things on a frequent basis.
Current and former management have underutilized Michkov for too long, and some speculate that Thursday might've been the last time we will see him wear a Flyers jersey. If that is the case, the Nashville Predators should seriously consider making a move for the young winger.
Michkov is NHL-proven, he just needs more opportunities
I believe Michkov would thrive under the Predators system. In recent years, we've supplied the youth with many opportunities. General Manager Barry Trotz has been pretty good at calling up, and retaining, his prospects. If anything, this season has been the most successful in recency when it comes to player development. Matthew Wood, Ryan Ufko, Zachary L'Heureux, Reid Schaefer and Ozzy Wiesblatt have all stepped up and become core pieces to the lineup.
Trotz also isn't afraid to trade away pieces to make room. He shipped off Nick Blankenburg to give space for guys like Ufko, and potentially Tanner Molendyk, for future games. Trotz dealt Michael McCarron and Michael Bunting to make way for L'Heureux, Schaefer and Joakim Kemell. Michkov, who's been shut down in the lineup a lot recently, would thrive under this system.
With more playing time, Michkov would prosper. He's a proven goalscorer. The former seventh overall pick scored 20 goals and 51 points in the regular season this year. As mentioned, he was one of Philly's top scorers following the Olympic break, scoring 22 points in 26 games (nearly 70-point pace). We've seen what our youth can do here in Nashville; Michkov would only be given more scoring talent.
The one thing that puts Nashville down against their youthful competition in Chicago and San Jose is an elite player. Adding Michkov would add the Preds into the conversation. If given the proper ingredients, Michkov could become one of Nashville's best players. However, the process of acquiring Michkov isn't all sunshine and rainbows.
Acquiring Michkov would require a huge asset swap, but the Preds got them
For starters, we have the 10th overall pick in this year's draft. That adds a ton of trade value to the deal. Philly could retain the pick or quickly ship it off for a roster player if they wish to return to the postseason.
A pick alone won't get it done. Adding a separate second rounder, or two, and additional picks would sweeten the value. However, as mentioned, Philly is wanting to get back into the playoffs. This is why they'll likely ask for an NHL-ready player.
The first person that comes to mind is Joakim Kemell. While not as developed as Michkov, the two got a similar playstyle on offense with their accurate snap and wrist shots. Kemell is one year older than Michkov, but that high ceiling along and built-in physicality, something Michkov struggles with, could be a talking point for Philly. The Flyers are notorious for being a physical team, and Kemell would only add onto that.
To top it off, management could add Jonathan Marchessault to the deal. The former Conn Smythe winner struggled to find his footing in Nashville. In Philly, he would be a solid middle-six goalscorer. His playoff history along with veteran presence could help boost morale in the locker room and amp up the Flyers' young stars like Porter Martone.
It isn't guaranteed that Michkov will leave Philadelphia, but events as of late give him a good reason to. If the Preds want to head back to the playoffs, pushing hard for Michkov would be a good start.
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