Rick Tocchet and Matvei Michkov both answered the trade chatter today, according to Ryan Rishaug, just hours before the Flyers face the Oilers in Edmonton tonight.
The Flyers coach wasn't interested in feeding the story. Michkov, for his part, tried to keep the focus on the game.
"You can't comment on somebody blogging something that is not true," Tocchet said when asked about the speculation.
That's a direct swipe at the rumor mill, and it comes one day after Kevin Weekes' report on Michkov's future said the 21-year-old prefers a "fresh start elsewhere." Tocchet didn't say which part he considers untrue, so the denial leaves room for interpretation.
Michkov kept his answer short and a bit guarded. "I'm no read all news, I no talk in interview, I need concentration on tonight's game," he said.
Asked directly whether he's happy in Philadelphia, he replied, "Yeah of course."
Michkov also confirmed he recently had dinner with Nick Seeler, the defenseman he was seen on video arguing with on the bench just a few games ago. That detail matters because the bench exchange is part of why the noise got louder in the first place.
Does Michkov's situation in Philadelphia actually change tonight?
Not on the ice, at least. The Flyers sit 27th in the NHL at 5-10-5, and they're coming off a 3-1 win in Vancouver on Monday.
Michkov leads the team's chatter and its goal column, too. He has 10 goals and 14 points in 20 games, including 5 power-play goals, but he's a -11.
We examined the ice-time debate on Saturday in our look at Michkov's minutes under Tocchet. That's the real tension underneath all of this: a young scorer producing, and a coach who keeps his usage in check.
A public denial from Tocchet is fine. It doesn't answer why a player with 10 goals is the center of a trade story on a team that is 27th in the league.
The Flyers have a decision to make eventually, since Michkov's entry-level deal runs through 2026-27 and he is an RFA at expiry. Moving on from a 21-year-old seventh overall pick who is scoring would be a risky call, and Philadelphia's record doesn't give it much margin for error.
For now, the Flyers head into Edmonton with the noise unresolved, and every shift Michkov gets tonight will be watched closely.
Quick hits
PHILADELPHIA FLYERS: Danny Briere told Frank Seravalli the Flyers have "no plan" to trade Matvei Michkov, and the GM's answer lands hours before puck drop in Edmonton. That's the loudest denial yet.
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ANAHEIM DUCKS: RotoWire reports Laurent Brossoit starts in goal for the Ducks tonight against the Predators.
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BUFFALO SABRES: Andrei Vasilevskiy looks like the Lightning's goalie tonight at KeyBank Center, according to EddieInTheYard, who watched the optional morning skate in Buffalo.
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MONTREAL CANADIENS: Mike Matheson is travelling with the Canadiens to Boston, per HabsInHighHeels, and a return Thursday looks possible.
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DETROIT RED WINGS: Hockeytown West Podcast reports Nate Danielson headed to the Griffins locker room after a rough hit in Grand Rapids. Worth watching.
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This article was written with the help of artificial intelligence, based on public reports and official sources.
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