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Pre-Scout: Spotlight on struggling Michkov as Oilers arrive in Philadelphia
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Photo credit: © David Kirouac-Imagn Images
Michael Menzies
Nov 12, 2025, 10:00 ESTUpdated: Nov 12, 2025, 10:09 EST
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There seem to be two schools of thought with the Philadelphia Flyers right now: either fight like hell to stay in the fight, or sort out the major issues, finish where you may, and continue to collect assets so the rebuild isn’t done in half measures. 
The Flyers’ record of 8-5-2 is smack dab in the middle of the Eastern Conference, supported by playing 10 of their first 15 games at home. 
Philly is sitting at home waiting for Edmonton, having not played since their 3-2 OT loss to the Ottawa Senators. Meanwhile, the Oilers embark on a seven-game Eastern road trip after the gutcheck comeback win at home against Columbus. 
Yet the conversation around Matvei Michkov isn’t so much brotherly love. The Russian dynamo’s sophomore slump sees him at a pedestrian 3-5–8 start. He led all rookie forwards in points last year with 63, including 16 points in his last dozen games of the year, largely played under Brad Shaw once John Tortorella was canned. 
Philly’s best offensive piece is receiving some tough love from new coach Rick Tocchet, and some comments from captain Sean Couturier got a lot of attention. 
To me, they seem perfectly fair. You decide:
“He’s a great goal scorer and has a lot of skill. I think you just got to find a way to contribute to helping the team win in other ways when you’re struggling,” Couturier told reporters after Saturday’s overtime loss. “You’re not always going to be scoring goals every game.” 
Much ado about nothing.
It’s continuing to learn the North American game for Michkov. How to be good without the puck, sharpening the things you aren’t as good at. Michkov has scored in back-to-back after a nine-game drought. His game could be finding him. 

Stiffling McDavid

Tocchet returned to the venue where he played 11 seasons this off-season, ditching Vancouver to return to the Flyers. Excluding the bubble, the Flyers haven’t made the playoffs since 2018, nor won a playoff round since 2012. 
That’s a long time for a proud hockey market, hence the uneasiness from some about seeing a playoff push, or the staying the course crowd. 
Tocchet was asked about preparing for McDavid on Tuesday. 
Q: “When preparing for an opponent you said it’s 85% about you and 15% about the opponent. Does that change when it’s Connor McDavid?” 
A: “Yeah it’s probably about 50-50,” he said jokingly. “They are a hard team to coach against. But there are specific things you have to do as a team – everybody, not just one or two guys, to counteract their strengths.” 

On the rebound

Trevor Zegras seems rejuvenated as a Flyer, leading the team in scoring with 4-12–16. In year one of his 8x$8.75M extension, Travis Konency is not far behind either at 5-8–13. Noah Cates is having a fine season so far, with 4-6–10. 
But the Flyers’ back end is playing really sturdy. Travis Sanheim is flirting with Team Canada ambition and is one of the TOI mules in the NHL this year, averaging 26:05 a night, third highest in the league. For added context, that’s roughly an hour more than anyone else on PHI. 
Plus, oft-injured Jamie Drysdale is also playing well. The advanced metrics like the former sixth overall pick, and it’s easy to forget he’s just 23. The same can be said for another former first-rounder in Cam York. 

Notes:

  • Tyson Foerster is close to returning to the lineup, taking regular reps with usual linemates Bobby Brink and Noah Cates. He hasn’t played since Nov. 1, but Tocchet wouldn’t commit to him playing as of Tuesday.   
  • Owen Tippett is goalless in his last nine games, but Tocchet said he likes that he’s getting chances. “He gets in and out of the game…but he’s working on the mental part of it. But the good part is he’s getting chances.” 
  • The Flyers are 31st in Expected Goals For and first in Expected Goals Against, according to Moneypuck. What does this translate to? Low-scoring hockey games. 
  • PHI has scored more than three goals just three times, and allowed more than three goals just four times. 
  • This is a one-off at home before a back-to-back road swing to St. Louis and Dallas. Ah, to play in the Northeast with its travel. 
  • Dan Vladar is second in GAA (2.18) and fifth in save percentage (.917). 
  • The Flyers’ PK is really good: 88.2%. It could be strength on strength in that department against EDM. 
  • If your memory is stuck on the Oilers not playing too well in Philly, you’re right. The Oilers have lost four of five at the Flyers, including a 6-3 loss on Feb. 22. Michkov and Couterier had three points, Tippett two goals.   

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