Major Michkov Update, With Surprising Answer To Trade Request Speculation
I’m no read all news, I no talk in interview, I need concentration on tonight’s game.
Michkov refuses to deny rumor
In other words, I'm not saying yes, and I'm not saying no. Why not just deny it if it's completely false?
Head coach Rick Tocchet certainly did.
Flyers coach Rick Tocchet on Matvei Michkov trade request speculation: "There's nothing to talk about because it's not true. ... You can't comment on somebody blogging something that's not true."
— Janson Duench (@reporterJD) November 11, 2026
"There's nothing to talk about because it's not true ... You can't comment on somebody blogging something that's not true," Tocchet said about Weekes' report.
None of this really clears up the Michkov speculation. Weekes is a trusted insider at ESPN, and he wouldn't put his reputation on the line if he didn't have some substantial intel to go with. And the fact that Michkov's agent was Weekes' agent when he played certainly lends credence to the fact that the former goalie might know a thing or two about this situation.
The fact is, Weekes did not say flat-out that Michkov has requested a trade (the Flyers have confirmed that he has not), but when you say, "would likely want a new start elsewhere," it definitely gets the radar going.
Michkov didn't comment any further than his aforementioned non-answer, but when asked if he was happy in Philly, he did respond, "Yeah, of course."
Insider Emily Kaplan feels that the Michkov camp may have even put this out there for some kind of leverage against the team. She wrote that "Sources said there has been turmoil behind the scenes between Michkov and the Flyers."
This is not a situation where the #LetsGoFlyers Front Office needs to pick between Rick Tocchet or Matvei Michkov. @emilymkaplan provides more clarity on what’s happening in Philly. Presented by @bet365ca #bet365 https://t.co/verq6ScfrX
— Jonny Lazarus (@JLazzy23) November 11, 2026
Tocchet made some comments about Michkov's conditioning over the summer which the player obviously didn't like, and there seems to be some kind of "disconnect" between player and coach, among other things, Kaplan said.
Is Michkov's camp trying to put pressure on the Flyers with this rumor?
"That said, I always wonder, when a report like this gets out there, what are people trying to say? Maybe he was trying to put pressure on the Flyers for that situation. Maybe his camp was trying to say, 'Like, okay, this is how bad it can get if something doesn't happen'. And maybe they're trying to lean towards one direction or another direction. Maybe it's for some kind of organizational change... Maybe it's for more ice time, and maybe it's for a better contract."
Michkov is a pending restricted free agent, and as the team's current leader in goals this season (by far), he should be in for a nice deal. And from all the reports out there, including a straight out quote from GM Danny Briere, it doesn't sound like a Michkov trade is in the offing.
“One thing I can tell you, first of all, is Matvei Michkov is not going anywhere,” Briere said. “Let’s make that clear. Matvei is going to be here for a long time. He’s going to be a good player for the Flyers.”
Elliotte Friedman added today on The Fan Hockey Show, "I also have heard that one thing the Flyers really believe is that this is a long-term thing with Michkov... And they believe that when this guy is 23, 25 years old, he's going to figure it out and he's going to be a really good player for them."