Matvei Michkov Being A Healthy Scratch Is A Disgrace

Matvei Michkov is the future of the Flyers. Even at 19 years old, his ability on the ice is apparent. He is also on a Flyers squad that to put it gently, is not destined to win anything this year.

So you would think this was a year for him to take his lumps. A year where young players can play through their struggles, and learn from them. Not according to John Tortorella. Because 13 games into his career, Tortorella is already pulling his usual nonsense with the young player.

The Flyers will take the ice in Tampa tonight, but Michkov will not join them there. John Tortorella has made him a healthy scratch. 10 points in 13 games was not good enough for Tortorella. Tortorella talked about the choice, and as per usual, had no real defense for it.

If you have paid attention to Tortorella in the past, this is not a surprise. He made another young player, Tyson Foerster, a healthy scratch earlier in the season. This is the man who named Sean Couturier Captain, and then 2 weeks later undermined that captain by making him a healthy scratch multiple games in a row. It is what Tortorella does.

This team is not winning this year. Their goaltending situation is a mess, and while there are some young promising players, they don't have the talent to make up for it. This is a rebuild.

Has Michkov made a few mistakes? Yes. That is what rookies do. They make mistakes. In a year where you aren't winning anything, you let him take those lumps. You don't bench him in games, you don't take away ice time, and you certainly don't make him a healthy scratch. Especially not this early in the season.

What Tortorella did is a disgrace, and it is reflective of what many fans felt going into this rebuild. He is the wrong coach to oversee this type of rebuild. He is too old school, and too outdated, to be coaching a team full of young guys who need to learn. The way you learn is by making mistakes, not sitting on the bench.

Tortorella is coaching like wins and losses matter this season. They don't. Even if he is the best coach in the league this year, this team will not win. Nor should they even want to at an organizational level. The best case for them this season is that Michkov looks great and grows as a player, but they get a great draft pick.

That is not to say they should lose on purpose. The players should be trying to win every night. However, the organization should not be prioritizing winning over what is best for them long term. What is best for them long term is not just getting a better pick, but Michkov playing as much as possible so he can learn.

John Tortorella doesn't get that. We won't get any real answers out of him about his thought process on doing this because he shows as much respect to the fans and media as he shows to his players. He let Couturier sit on the bench last year without knowing what he needed to improve. He gave the media no answers for that either. Now he is doing the same thing with the future of the Flyers, Matvei Michkov.

There is no good reason for this, and Tortorella deserves every bit of heat he gets for it. But he will respond like he usually does, by giving arrogant answers and acting like we are crazy for questioning his hockey genius.

He would rather humiliate his players than develop them. That is why he is the wrong man for this job.

The Philadelphia Flyers have dropped the puck for the 2024-25 season. The fan base is excited to watch budding star Matvei Michkov help lead the franchise back to Stanley Cup glory.

Games at the Wells Fargo Center will draw excellent crowds this season, but there are also things you need to know before a Flyers game.

Matvei Michkov will draw the most attention, but head coach John Tortorella and the Flyers have a roster full of young players with tremendous potential.

Owen Tippett, Joel Farabee, and Tyson Foerster look to make big leaps toward the top of the lineup early in their NHL careers.

Sam Ersson will stand between the pipes as the top goaltender for most of the season.

Captain Sean Couturier and alternates Scott Laughton and Travis Konecny also hope to mold the younger players into successful NHL vets.

The new leadership group under Dan Hilferty, Danny Briere, and Keith Jones has spoken optimistically about the future in Philadelphia.

An NHL game is one of the most entertaining live events in all of sports. The fast-paced, continuous action mesmerizes fans with all different levels of knowledge about hockey.

The crowd even ignites when players drop the gloves for a midgame fight.

Some fans at the Wells Fargo Center are season ticket holders who’ve been to hundreds of games. Some are newer fans of the sport. Whatever your level of expertise, things change every year.

Refresh yourself or learn something new about Flyers games in 2024-25.

It’s not always a no-brainer. You’ll have your Flyers gear on, but make sure a jacket, a hat, or any other clothes you wear don’t rep the visiting colors. Don’t risk getting stuck wearing yellow if it’s a matchup against the Pittsburgh Penguins.

Eight parking lots surround the arena. Availability changes depending on your arrival time, but the C, D, E, F, and H lots surrounding the Wells Fargo Center are typically the easiest to access. The arena lots no longer accept cash.

If you’d rather take public transportation to the game, NRG Station is the terminal stop on the Broad Street Line (SEPTA Orange Line). It lets riders out at Broad Street and Pattison Avenue, just a short walk from the Wells Fargo Center.

The entrances open 1.5 hours before most home games. Season ticket holders can access select areas before single-game fans.

Concession stands and merchandise locations around the main concourse typically open at the same time. The Flyers don’t allow reentry.

Limit what you bring into the arena to make the screening process simpler. Fans cannot bring any outside food and beverage items.

The Broad Street entrance, the 11th Street entrance, and the new premium entrance now have bag entry locations with a screening process to allow bags bigger than 4.5 inches x 6.5 inches and smaller than 14 inches x 14 inches. 

The venues at the South Philadelphia Sports Complex have made improvements since the Covid-19 pandemic to keep lines at the entrances moving quickly.

Digital access has become the easiest way to enter the arena. The Wells Fargo Center offers digital options through its official box office.

If you’re buying or selling, the Ticket Transfer app has also made it easier for people to exchange tickets before the game.

Most weeknight home games begin at 7 pm during the regular season.

However, the Flyers play some afternoon games at home. Plus, any nationally televised games can change the typical schedule. Make sure you check before heading to the game.

You could easily go with the classic cheesesteak, and crab fries from Chickie’s and Pete’s should be on the table. You can even get a milkshake at Toothsome inside the Wells Fargo Center.

The building also introduced new food and merchandise options entering the 2024-25 season.

There are plenty of options at a Flyers game. Many fans will be interested in a cold drink too. Just make sure to avoid cash payments at concession stands also.

The Flyers have plenty of great giveaways lined up for 2024-25. The list this season includes a Gritty night light and a Flyers fanny pack.

Special events also include the Ed Snider Legacy Game on Jan. 9, the Marvel Super Hero Game on March 8, and seasonal holiday celebrations. 

The Flyers put their alumni on full display as well as any professional sports team, so you could run into a famous Flyer from the past.

Check their promotional calendar for all upcoming events.

If you’re looking for a night out after the game, head right over to Xfinity Live. The Sports Complex’s favorite bar offers specials after many games for fans who leave the arena.

South Philly has plenty of other bars close to the stadium, including Chickie’s and Pete’s and Philadium. Center City is also just a short ride away on the Broad Street Line.