David Pagnotta says he'd be surprised if anything happens with Matvei Michkov before the March 1st trade deadline, even with teams calling the Flyers.
That's the latest on a saga that has followed Philadelphia all week, and the Flyers (5-10-6) are in Columbus tonight with Michkov's name still hanging over the room.
Pagnotta spoke on the Tom Gazzola Show on Thursday, according to the NHL Rumour Report. His message was that a mid-season deal isn't likely, but that won't stop other teams from picking up the phone.
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That fits with what Elliotte Friedman said earlier. We looked at Friedman's read on Daniel Briere's stance on Michkov, and the picture is of a general manager who is listening but not rushing.
Michkov is 21 and was the seventh overall pick in 2023. He has 10 goals and 15 points in 21 games this season, and five of those goals have come on the power play.
That production matters. Those numbers don't belong to a player the Flyers are desperate to move, and teams calling is exactly what you'd expect for a young scorer with that profile.
Why the Flyers have little reason to move Michkov now
Philadelphia sits 28th in the NHL with a minus-22 goal differential. Trading your most dangerous young scorer from that spot would mean selling low on a player who is still developing, and that's a bad idea.
He is also a -11 this season, so the flip side is real. Not everything about his game is clean, and some executives will point to that when they negotiate.
The ice time angle has been the other thread. Friedman believed the Flyers changed course after Michkov's ice time against the Oilers, and Rick Tocchet said after Friday's practice that management sent no message about his minutes.
His entry-level deal runs through 2026-27 and he is an RFA at expiry, so the summer is the natural window for a bigger decision. For now, the Flyers face the Blue Jackets tonight with Michkov in the spotlight.
This article was written with the help of artificial intelligence, based on public reports and official sources.
When should the Flyers make a decision on Matvei Michkov?
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