SEARCH


John Tortorella 'Lost the Battle' With Matvei Michkov After He Broke One of His Most Controversial Rules

PUBLICATION
Tom Banks
December 13, 2024  (3:12 PM)
SHARE THIS STORY

Matvei Michkov of the Philadelphia Flyers.
Photo credit: The Liberty Line

John Tortorella's handling of Matvei Michkov was always going to be interesting, and now he admits he's lost the battle against the rookie with the Michigan.

Matvei Michkov arrived in Philadelphia this off-season, and while there was so much excitement in the city around him, there were also worries about how he would be handled by the old-school coach behind the bench.

From the outset, John Tortorella has tried to instil his values onto Michkov, and while he's clearly improving on the defensive end, there's some things that you simply can't teach 19-year olds.

Apparently, one of those things you can't teach them is how to stop attempting the Michigan, a lacrosse style goal from behind the net, with Tortorella officially admitting that he's lost the battle against the rookie on this one.

Yeah I've lost the battle, right? I don't think it should be in our game but I've lost the battle. I have talked to him early in the year when he was doing it every time, it was just turnovers. The thing I want Mich to understand is, he's such a good player moving the puck and passing the puck, when he's being net, he's dangerous to make plays.

What am I going to do, say don't do it? What I did say was I said was that you need to understand there are other plays to be made there too, because a number of the times he tried it, all's there were was turnovers. So yeah, I think I've lost the damn battle with that, I'm not going to try fight it.

I don't think it should be in our game, but it is what it is.

We've seen Michkov try the Michigan already, almost pulling it off in the team's latest game, and while only a handful of players have successfully done it, it's safe to say that the rookie is going to keep trying it.

Whether or not the old-school people like it, it's a major part of hockey culture for young players now, and with 27 points in 28 games, it's safe to say that Tortorella doesn't have a whole lot to complain about when it comes to Michkov.


Warning: include(/home//inout/pub_inline.php): failed to open stream: No such file or directory in /home/marqueur/public_html/news/auto/blogs_id/458629.php on line 37

Warning: include(): Failed opening '/home//inout/pub_inline.php' for inclusion (include_path='.:/opt/cpanel/ea-php74/root/usr/share/pear') in /home/marqueur/public_html/news/auto/blogs_id/458629.php on line 37
POLL
DÉCEMBRE 13   |   189 ANSWERS
John Tortorella 'Lost the Battle' With Matvei Michkov After He Broke One of His Most Controversial Rules

Will Matvei Michkov win the Calder Trophy this season?

Yes10153.4 %
No8846.6 %
LIST OF POLLS

TRENDING NOW
2025-2026
NHL STANDINGS
GPWLOLPTS
Sabres8250239109
Lightning8250266106
Canadiens82482410106
Bruins82452710100
Senators8244271199
Red Wings8241311092
Panthers824038484
Maple Leafs8232361478
GPWLOLPTS
Hurricanes8253227113
Penguins8241251698
Flyers8243271298
Capitals824330995
Blue Jackets8240301292
Islanders824334591
Devils824237387
Rangers823439977
GPWLOLPTS
Avalanche82551611121
Stars82502012112
Wild82462412104
Mammoth824333692
Blues8237331286
Predators8238341086
Jets8235351282
Blackhawks8229391472
GPWLOLPTS
Golden Knights8239261795
Oilers8241301193
Ducks824333692
Kings8235272090
Sharks823935886
Kraken8234371179
Flames823439977
Canucks822549858
COMPLETE STANDINGS