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Former Vancouver Canucks Head Coach Rick Tocchet Drawing Major Criticism For How He's Treating Matvei Michkov
Photo credit: James Guillory-Imagn Images
Former Vancouver Canucks Head Coach Rick Tocchet is already drawing some criticism for how he's utilizing star forward Matvei Michkov in Philadelphia early on.
The Philadelphia Flyers are are 0-1-1- though two games in the 2025-26 season and while it's still early, it hasn't been the start that Head Coach Rick Tocchet was hoping for in his return to The City of Brotherly Love.
Prior to Saturday's game, the former Canucks bench boss told reporters that he needs to see improvement in Matvei Michkov's game after a tough season opener on Thursday.
"You have to let him be who he is, but there's parts of his game that he has to improve upon. I think sometimes he likes to slow the game down a bit, I would like to see him play more North style." Tocchet said.
Rick Tocchet drawing criticism for how he's using Matvei Michkov early on this season
Last night, the Philadelphia Flyers were in Carolina for their second game of the season, with Rick Tocchet's group down 3-2 after 40 minutes before Travis Sanheim tied things up late in the third period to force overtime.
With just seconds remaining in the extra frame, Hurricanes forward Seth Jarvis ended it, with his third of the season, giving Carolina their second win of the 2025-26 campaign.
Matvei Michkov finished last night's game with no shots, two penalty minutes and was a minus-one while skating in just 13:27 and afterwards, Rick Tocchet drew criticism for his use of the Perm, Russia native.
"The way Rick Tocchet has talked about and used Matvei Michkov early on I think comes from a place of misunderstanding.
Team is 0-2. Michkov has been neutered. Has played 13 and 14 mins. Coach keeps talking about how he needs to play north and says all of the top players do." Scott Wheeler of The Athletic said.
He added, "I don't know how you can watch Kucherov, Draisaitl, Marner, Kane, Panarin, Rantanen, Strome, Reinhart, Stone, Fox, Boldy, Bouchard (the list goes on) and come to the conclusion that the next development step for Michkov has to be downhill pace rather than leaning into strengths."
Team is 0-2. Michkov has been neutered. Has played 13 and 14 mins. Coach keeps talking about how he needs to play north and says all of the top players do." Scott Wheeler of The Athletic said.
He added, "I don't know how you can watch Kucherov, Draisaitl, Marner, Kane, Panarin, Rantanen, Strome, Reinhart, Stone, Fox, Boldy, Bouchard (the list goes on) and come to the conclusion that the next development step for Michkov has to be downhill pace rather than leaning into strengths."
The Philadelphia Flyers drafted Matvei Michkov seventh overall back in 2023 to help them offensively and he did exactly that in his rookie season, putting up 26 goals and 63 points in 80 games.
In order to see that sort of offense, or even more, this year, Rick Tocchet has to give Matvei Michkov the opportunity to produce, because having him play below 14 minutes a night isn't going to cut it.
Previously on Vancouver Hockey Daily
| POLL | ||
OCTOBRE 12 | 1039 ANSWERS Former Vancouver Canucks Head Coach Rick Tocchet Drawing Major Criticism For How He's Treating Matvei Michkov Do you think Rick Tocchet should be giving Matvei Michkov more minutes next game? | ||
| Yes | 737 | 70.9 % |
| No | 302 | 29.1 % |
| List of polls | ||
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