The Flyers 1 Goal Now That Matvei Michkov Is Coming Over

Matvei Michkov Is coming over to play for the Flyers. It is not "official" yet. He is not on U.S. soil or signed officially on the Flyers roster. But there is enough reporting to believe that he will be playing for the Flyers next season.

Danny Briere will tell you that doesn't change their plans. It shouldn't in the grand scheme of things. They should not ditch their rebuild just because Michkov came over 2 years early. Even if he is as good as promised, they are not yet a good enough team to win a Stanley Cup.

In reality, they need a 2nd star. Do we know for sure that Michkov is a superstar? No, but we are operating under the assumption he will be 1 because that is what the Flyers need if they are going to win a Cup. But almost every team that wins, has multiple stars.

Last season the Flyers' leading point scorer was Travis Konecney. He had 68, including 33 goals. But that put him outside the top 50 in points, and outside the top 25 in goals. He is a good player. He is no superstar.

They also have a few nice young pieces. 25-year-old Owen Tippet showed a lot of promise. Tyson Foerster was very impressive in his 1st full season. There is still untapped potential in players like Cam York and Jamie Drysdale. All of these are good players, or at least have the potential to be good. None of them are stars.

Related: The Mad Russian: What Matvei Michkov Reports Mean For The Flyers

We have seen teams win without multiple stars. Last year the Golden Knights had no players in the top 50 for points. But before that, the Avalanche had 4 in the top 30. This year the Oilers and Panthers both have 3 in the top 30, with the Oilers having 2 in the top 10.

1 great player is usually not enough to make a team great. You usually need 2, a great goalie, and a whole lot of good players around them.

The goalie question is also up in the air. Sam Errson was impressive for a rookie but did fall off at the end of the year. Was that just the rookie wall? Did they overuse him? Possibly. But we cannot say for sure he is a franchise goalie. There are even more question marks about Ivan Fedotov. Goalie is still a need as well.

But apart from the goalie, they need to find another star to pair with Michkov. Originally, we hoped that would be Cutter Gauthier. That is obviously not in the cards anymore. But with him gone, they need another option.

With that said, you are not looking for that star immediately. The Flyers can't slip into old habits and go chase after an aging star. Ideally, it would come either in the draft or via a trade for a young player.

They aren't going to win next year. Michkov will need time to develop and adjust. It does not necessarily need to be in this draft, or for this season, that you get this 2nd star. That is just the end goal. To have another top-level player to pair with Michkov when the time to compete finally comes.

If Matvei Michkov is their Lindros, they need the LeClair to go with him. The Leon Draisaitl to go with Michkov's Connor McDavid. To be clear, I am not saying Michkov is as good as Lindros or McDavid, he hasn't proven anything yet. I am just saying that they need the Robin to go with his Batman.

Don't move up or change the timeline. And to be honest this was the goal even before Michkov terminated his contract early. But now that he is here, they can laser focus on getting that 2nd high-level player. Even if it takes them time to do so.

The Philadelphia Flyers currently own 10 picks in the 2024 NHL Entry Draft. Danny Briere will make his first selection at the Las Vegas Sphere in the 12th-overall spot. The Flyers also own the first-round pick of the Florida Panthers.

The first round will take place on Friday, June 28 at 7pm EST. Rounds 2-7 will take place on Saturday, June 29 beginning at 11:30am EST.

The Flyers have sold at four consecutive trade deadlines. They’ve stockpiled an impressive arsenal of picks to restock the prospect cupboard and provide ammo for trades.

One of the 10 picks, a second-round pick acquired from the Columbus Blue Jackets, could be used either in 2024 or 2025. It will not be determined until after the draft begins.

The Flyers also currently own two picks in each of the first two rounds in 2025.

Danny Briere and assistant general manager Brent Flahr will easily identify needs up and down a flawed roster during the rebuild. However, most players in the NHL Draft are 18 or about to turn 18 before the upcoming season.

Most of them stay in junior hockey, play at the NCAA level, or play professionally overseas in the seasons immediately following the draft.

Organizational needs can change quickly, and selecting the “best player available” provides the best long-term strategy.

The unrelenting passion of Philadelphia sports fans sometimes creates conversation about the local teams moving up in their respective drafts to land a crown jewel of the first round.

Trades in the top half of the first round aren’t nearly as common in the NHL Draft as they are in other sports, however. Deals throughout draft weekend are much likelier to include current NHL players. Front office executives have the opportunity to negotiate with important league personnel all in one place.

Related Content: Reevaluating The Flyers Rebuild After The 2023-24 Season

Briere, Flahr, and the Philadelphia Flyers front office will also consider the priority of the rebuild to find the high-end skill players who can skate at the top of the lineup for a Stanley Cup contender.

They’ve passed on the opportunity to bottom out with sights on higher draft lottery odds, so they might consider taking chances of less certain players with higher ceilings and lower basements if they’re picking 12th.

Defenseman, London Knights (OHL)

Keith Jones respects the London Knights of the Ontario Hockey League as much as any junior program in the world.

His friend and former teammate Dale Hunter runs the organization to prepare players for the NHL and other professional opportunities.

The Flyers drafted Oliver Bonk and Denver Barkey out of London in 2023.

Could Sam Dickinson follow in the footsteps of his two former teammates?

Left Winger, US National Development Team Program (USHL)

Eiserman became the latest top prospect with a big year offensively for the US National Team Development Program.

The Flyers have selected Joel Farabee, Cam York, and Cutter Gauthier with first-round picks out of the USNTDP in recent drafts.

All three went directly to NCAA hockey in their first seasons after getting drafted. Eiserman will attend Boston University next season.

Center, Guelph Storm (OHL)

Craig Button of TSN mocked Jett Luchanko to the Flyers in the 12th-overall spot. The 17-year-old averaged over a point per game in the OHL last season. His performance helped him rise through draft boards despite beginning the season with less of a reputation.

The Flyers will search for players who can reach the high ceiling of a top-line forward. They could take a chance on Luchanko if he’s available.

Center, Spokane Chiefs (WHL)

Catton broke out offensively at the junior level right before reaching draft eligibility. He scored 116 points in 2023-24 in the Western Hockey League, among the top junior leagues in Canada.

The Flyers would love to see the high-scoring center slip to the 12th-overall spot. However, most mock drafts have him off the board in the top 10.

Center, Medicine Hat Tigers (WHL)

Injuries limited Lindstrom to only 32 WHL games in 2023-24. However, scouts know the Canadian Hockey League (WHL, OHL, QMJHL) better than any other talent pool that produces top NHL Draft prospects.

The limited sample size might not factor in as much into the evaluation as it might for an international prospect with less scouting information.

The 6-foot-4 forward might play center or wing in the NHL. If he’s available when the Flyers pick, they’ll unquestionably gush at his size and potential.

Left Winger, Kelowna Rockets (WHL)

The Calgary Flames hold the ninth-overall pick. Would they pass on the son of Jarome Iginla, arguably the best player in their franchise history?

If he somehow slips past the Flames, the Flyers will consider Tij Iginla. The industry consensus ranks him in the top half of the first round.

Right Winger, Oshawa Generals (OHL)

The Athletic mocked Beckett Sennecke to the Flyers in the 12th-overall spot. They described him as a “highly skilled winger with size and smooth skating.”

Although a right winger doesn’t fill an organizational void, Briere and Flahr should not pass on the best player available because of a perceived surplus at a position.

The future of some of Philadelphia’s right wingers is anything but certain. Sennecke still has time before he’ll be an NHL contributor. Things change quickly. 

The Flyers also had success drafting Scott Laughton out of Oshawa in 2012.

Center, Jokerit (Liiga, Finland)

The Hockey Writers called Helenius “one of the most well-rounded prospects available in 2024.”

The 5-foot-11 center played in 2023-24 in Liiga in Finland, one of the best professional leagues in the world.

The Flyers likely won’t prioritize NHL-ready prospects as a draft strategy. Helenius might also come off the board before they make their pick.

Defenseman, US National Team Development Program

The Flyers own two first-round picks that will fall at least 19 picks apart. The opportunity allows them to consider players projected in different ranges of the draft.

EJ Emery could be a target with the pick landed in the Claude Giroux trade in March 2022.

The Flyers could also receive an early second-round pick from Columbus, and it’s realistic to land Emery if he slips a few extra sports.

Center, Barrie Colts (OHL)

Corey Pronman projected Cole Beaudoin as a third-line NHL center. He also comes from the heavily-scouted OHL, which doesn’t produce as many surprises as other sources of draft prospects.

Although the Flyers will more likely search for a player with a higher ceiling in the 12th-overall spot, Beaudoin could be a target with Philadelphia’s second selection in the first round.

Defenseman, Calgary Hitmen (WHL) 

Players slip down draft boards every year. The 2024 NHL Draft doesn’t have the typical level of consensus as past drafts.

Carter Yakemchuk will most likely come off the board before the Flyers pick. However, if the opportunity presents itself, Danny Briere should pounce on arguably the best defenseman available in the draft.