If Matvei Michkov is really available, the Flyers won't be short on suitors, and seven teams stand out right now.
The 21-year-old played 20:44 and picked up an assist in Philadelphia's 3-2 overtime loss at Edmonton last night. The talk around his future keeps growing, and fans are already sorting out where he would fit best.
Start with what a buyer would get. Michkov has 10 goals and 15 points in 21 games this season, and five of those goals came on the power play.
He is also a -11, which is part of why the conversation exists.
Chris Johnston weighed in earlier today on Michkov's Flyers future, and his read on Philadelphia was not a comfortable one.
The contract matters too. Michkov is on an entry-level deal worth under $1 million that expires after this season, and he is a restricted free agent at expiry. Any team that lands him is buying a 2023 seventh overall pick and the right to negotiate his next deal.
Which team makes the most sense for Michkov?
Utah. The Mammoth are 10-8-1 and 16th in the NHL, they have lost three straight, and they scored 3 in a loss at Vegas last night. They host St. Louis tonight. A team stuck in the middle with Andre Tourigny behind the bench could use a winger who scores on the power play, and Bill Armstrong has the room to take a swing.
Calgary is the other obvious fit. The Flames sit 25th at 8-10-1 with a -19 goal differential, and they managed just one goal against the Rangers last night. Craig Conroy could sell Michkov a bigger role than he would get on most contenders.
Chicago looks good on paper, since the Blackhawks have scored only 39 goals, the fewest of these three. But they are 31st, have lost six straight and have allowed 76 goals. One scorer doesn't fix that, and Jeff Blashill's group hosts Buffalo tonight still looking for answers.
Edmonton would be the most fun. The Oilers are first in the NHL at 14-3-3 with 81 goals scored, and they just beat Michkov's team. Playing next to Connor McDavid or Leon Draisaitl would be a dream, though Mike Babcock's club is the one that needs him least.
The Rangers just beat Calgary 3-1 behind two goals from Mika Zibanejad, and Washington and Pittsburgh are the other names fans keep throwing into the mix. Elliotte Friedman has already tried to set the record straight on the Michkov chatter, so the Flyers' next move is the one to watch.
Michkov's deal runs out at the end of this season, and that clock gives Philadelphia a decision to make before long.
This article was written with the help of artificial intelligence, based on public reports and official sources.
Where should Matvei Michkov land if the Flyers trade him?
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