The Philadelphia Flyers’ largest want each prospect-wise and on their present roster appears fairly apparent. The middle core right here, on the floor, is weaker in comparison with most groups within the NHL. However does that basically matter for somebody like younger phenom Matvei Michkov? And is that basically the case? Let’s discuss it.
Prime Wingers Who Have Completed Heavy Lifting for Their Facilities
There are some examples of top-end wingers who did their magic with out a generational middle by their facet, which ties into the Flyers fairly a bit. The 2 finest within the sport in line with NHL Community, Nikita Kucherov and Matthew Tkachuk, have been wildly profitable with out dominant centermen. Let’s check out their conditions.
When Kucherov was very younger in his profession, he performed a majority of his minutes with middle Tyler Johnson. Making a trio with Ondrej Palat, these three had been important for the Tampa Bay Lightning in a 2014-15 marketing campaign that finally led to a Stanley Cup Ultimate look. Taking part in almost 700 even-strength minutes by one another’s facet, the “Triplets Line” was inseparable.
Whereas the gamers round Kucherov had been sensational in their very own proper, they by no means took a step up after they began to play with him a lot much less. Almost a decade later, his former linemates have by no means matched their level totals from 2014-15—Kucherov has exploded, by means of.
On the finish of the day, we are able to attribute many of the excellence of the Triplets Line to Kucherov. In actual fact, he was arguably the most effective participant on that group, on the ice for a team-leading 80 even-strength objectives within the common season to simply 41 towards. Had he performed as a lot ice time as captain Steven Stamkos, he would have been on tempo for 84 factors—no person on the group had 73.
On the younger age of 21, Kucherov was objectively the most effective ahead on the most effective group within the Jap Convention and the most effective offense within the NHL. He wasn’t doing this centered by a celebrity like Stamkos, however a second-liner. Presently, Brayden Level has definitely been an improve over Johnson, nevertheless it’s nonetheless the Kucherov present—he has largely inflated the previous’s numbers.
In the same scenario, we are able to look to Tkachuk of the Florida Panthers. Since he made the Sunshine State his new dwelling in 2022-23, he has performed 57 % of his even-strength ice time with second-line middle Sam Bennett as a substitute of two-way celebrity Aleksander Barkov. Seeing because the group went to the Stanley Cup Ultimate in 2023 and received a championship in 2024, this plan labored.
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Within the ice time he shared with Bennett in these final two seasons, Tkachuk had elite on-ice numbers with a plus-28 score at even power. It’s clear which participant benefitted essentially the most from this, as, when the 2 had been break up, Tkachuk had a plus-29 score with comparable on-ice numbers whereas Bennett was subpar numbers-wise and had a fair score.
That is much less akin to Kucherov’s scenario, as present-day Barkov is a tier or two above 2014-15 Stamkos, however Tkachuk has had an immense influence during the last couple of seasons. In a position to flip any line into among the best within the league, he doesn’t want a lot assist to try this. With Tkachuk, linemates Bennett and Carter Verhaeghe kind one of the vital offensively potent trios within the league. When the celebrity winger is out of the equation, there’s extreme regression.
The dynamic between gamers similar to Jason Robertson with Roope Hintz, William Nylander with John Tavares, and Kirill Kaprizov together with his facilities through the years isn’t as prevalent however price mentioning. It’s not uncommon for the most effective wingers within the league on the most effective groups to take cost and kind an elite line no matter who’s round them. Fourth-line facilities aren’t thrown within the combine for high outcomes, however competent second-liners may be all it takes in some cases.
Does Michkov Even Want A lot Extra Assist?
I’ve introduced up the Flyers’ necessity for high facilities fairly a bit lately. And, to be honest, they need to attempt to exit and get these by any means attainable—virtually no price is an excessive amount of. On the similar time, although, if Michkov turns into what his unmatched dominance in Russia suggests he’ll, he would possibly have the ability to do with out this sort of assist.
The Flyers have a accountability to construct up their group additional than the place it’s at now. Finally, they most likely will—Michkov is nineteen years outdated. But it surely’s necessary to acknowledge that the Flyers can contend even when they don’t land one other celebrity. The group’s option to not pursue a “true” rebuild by not promoting gamers like Travis Konecny, Travis Sanheim, and others within the 2023 offseason could be very telling as to how they view the teenage Russian.
The Flyers failed within the 2010s with Claude Giroux as a result of they had been by no means able to win. When he turned the face of the franchise in 2011-12, they’d no prospects, dangerous contracts, and poor defenses as soon as Chris Pronger performed his final sport towards the tip of the 2011 calendar yr. There was simply no time to construct an honest roster for Giroux, as he was already in his mid-20s by the point issues went from good to dangerous.
In the present day, the Flyers have good prospects and a few comparatively younger roster contributors. Controlling puck possession on the charge of a contender final season, there’s a hope that the present group can compete for the playoffs. As Michkov improves and hopefully blossoms right into a high participant whereas the remainder of the group progresses at their very own tempo, the thought right here is that this borderline playoff group will turn into a Stanley Cup contender over time. Contemplating somebody like Kucherov’s case, maybe the latter isn’t as distant because it appears.
Since normal supervisor (GM) Danny Briere was provided that function in 2023, he and different large decision-makers haven’t backed off of the take that this course of will take time. There’s some fact to that, however Michkov can significantly change their plans. Maybe earlier than they actually begin including to the group and placing every part collectively, like making a splash for a top-line middle, Michkov may have already taken them to new heights. Rising faster than anticipated is the perfect scenario right here.
Might Luchanko & Michkov Work as a Duo?
I used to be very important of the Flyers’ Jett Luchanko decide at Thirteenth general (extra so for his or her passiveness and never due to the participant) this summer time. However I feel I used to be fallacious to try this. Whereas Zeev Buium has the potential to be a top-pairing defenseman, a participant who they opted not to soak up a trade-down with the Minnesota Wild, there’s upside with a Luchanko-Michkov duo.
In Kucherov’s case, he scored at among the best per-60 charges within the sport on the age of 21 and with Johnson by his facet. Once more, that’s a very good second-line middle when he was in his prime, nevertheless it’s not on the extent of somebody like Stamkos. Kucherov was so good that he actually didn’t want another person to drive play for him and piggyback off of that—he was the weapon.
Upside-wise, I consider Luchanko, a middle, might be just like Johnson however even perhaps higher. The previous is gushing with potential, simply ready for a breakout in his age-18 marketing campaign with the Guelph Storm. Whether or not he lives as much as that Thirteenth-overall hype in 2024-25 is but to be decided, however he appears poised to do it. The all-around offensive expertise right here is precisely what Michkov wants—Luchanko is an elite skater and passer, has a very good mind, and doesn’t draw back from taking pictures the puck. I feel that’s what the group was enthusiastic about, too, after they “reached” for the younger centerman within the 2024 NHL Draft.
Typically, it’s not about placing the most effective participant along with your star—it’s about getting the correct participant. I’m at all times prepared to inform issues how I see them, even whether it is destructive or places the Flyers’ competence into query. However that is one thing I really consider in. Like Johnson earlier than him, possibly Luchanko isn’t such a nasty linemate for Michkov in spite of everything. Maybe he’s the excellent linemate.
I’m leaping the gun right here a bit of bit, however that is to level out that Michkov’s unfathomable upside can change the sport for the Orange and Black. He offers them a lot leniency that the entrance workplace’s job would possibly already be near completed.
The Flyers have claimed that Michkov is not their “savior” and that they’ll do every part to assist him. I don’t doubt that, however I additionally assume he’ll find yourself being the savior anyway. If he’s, the streets of Philadelphia could be painted orange in the future.
