Analyst Floats Matvei Michkov as Maple Leafs Target Amid Ice-Time Concerns

The Toronto Maple Leafs have finally begun to accept the reality that they may need to act as sellers ahead of the March 6 trade deadline for the first time in the Auston Matthews era.

Not only would that require accumulating more draft picks and prospects to a cupboard that is relatively bare, it would also include targeting young NHL players who could impact the team as they look to execute a quick retool. Finding those players is far easier said than done; however, one analyst has suggested keeping an eye on the situation involving a former seventh-overall pick in Philadelphia.

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Matvei Michkov has had an up-and-down 2025–26 season, to say the least, and it reached a new low on Saturday afternoon when he logged just 10:21 of ice time in an overtime loss to the Kings. As a result, analyst Nick Alberga floated the idea that the Maple Leafs should target the potentially disgruntled Russian winger.

Alberga wrote:

“Leafs should go after Matvei Michkov. **** it,”

The 21-year-old Michkov’s sophomore season has been a struggle so far, tallying 28 points (13 goals, 15 assists) in 53 games after bursting onto the scene with a 63-point rookie campaign (26 goals, 37 assists). He’s in year two of the three-year, $2.85 million entry-level contract signed with the Flyers in 2024.

What Is Going on With Matvei Michkov in Philadelphia?

While Alberga was likely throwing the idea of Toronto targeting Michkov out there tongue-in-cheek, it’s fair to wonder what exactly is going on with him in Philadelphia right now.

After playing a season-low on Saturday, HC Rick Tocchet was unsurprisingly asked why he’s limiting his ultra-talented winger’s ice-time — and he didn’t sugarcoat it. “So you think he should get it because he’s earned it? Matvei did not come into camp in shape, and it’s hard to play yourself into shape. He’s having a tough time in those situations (one-on-one, off the rush). We’re trying to get him to that level — how to develop him, practice habits, making sure you’re on time for treatments, the way you eat — that’s it. You don’t become a star overnight. That’s kind of the rules of winning. The crest supersedes everything, not the individuals.”

Tocchet was certainly honest about what he’s seen from Michkov, and the fact that conditioning remains an issue this deep into the season is concerning. That said, GM Daniel Brière should not even be considering trading Michkov less than two years into his NHL career.

The Flyers haven’t exactly been flush with high-end talent in recent years, so now that they have a player as gifted as Michkov, they need to find a way to get the best out of him. That will only come through opportunity, and allowing him to gain the experience needed to grow into the star he can be.

Nonetheless, this will be a situation to monitor the rest of the season and into 2026-27, because if things stay the same as Michkov heads toward RFA status, it could get dicey in Philadelphia.

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