On Tuesday, Hockey News Hub reported that Philadelphia Flyers prospect Matvei Michkov would miss the upcoming KHL All-Star Game and KHL All-Star Weekend due to illness. Per KHL News (@rhockeynews) – the account taking over for Hockey News Hub – found the following statement released by Michkov’s club, HK Sochi:
“We wish Matvei a speedy recovery and believe that there will be many hockey celebrations in his career!”
Michkov, 18, already missed some time earlier in the season with an illness, and it looks like the future Flyers star will have to go through that again. The 2023 No. 7 overall pick has also slowed down a little bit recently, with just two assist in his last four. Both assists came in the same game, so Michkov went scoreless in three out of the four.
In the original KHL All-Star Game voting, Michkov was not selected, but was voted in by members of the media when they got to choose players in a last-in type of thing.
So far this season, the Philadelphia Flyers prospect is up to 11 goals, 15 assists, and 26 points in 29 games played. Not accounting for the games he might miss due to illness, Michkov is currently on pace for 22 goals, 30 assists, and 52 points in 59 games played.
This is also the first time in his young career that Michkov was voted in as a KHL All-Star. The 18-year-old only played in 30 KHL games last season, with 27 coming with HK Sochi on loan from SKA St. Petersburg. Michkov took that path again this year – not necessarily by choice – and it’s helped raise his game and his offensive production to new levels. The Flyers are sure to monitor his progress, but they’ll get a little break with his illness and with World Juniors coming up soon.
