Goal threshold: how Michkov's first season in the NHL will be remembered

Matvey Michkov's debut season in the NHL turns out to be undulating — the Russian scores points and is among the main contenders for the Calder Trophy, then disappears from sight for several matches or even sits in reserve. With the departure of Philadelphia head coach John Tortorella, the latter should be much less. The chances of the Russian striker receiving the award for the best newcomer of the season are in the Izvestia article.

Let's go for goals

Don't think that Tortorella's temporary replacement, Brad Shaw, has changed anything significantly in terms of tactics. Rather, Matvey himself felt free — in two matches after the change of coach, he scored a double. Michkov failed to score in the third game, but he took part in both of the Pilots' scoring attacks, which brought a minimal victory over Nashville on April 1.

In the middle of the second period, Michkov led Konekna to a shot, and he missed the goal, but at the end of a long shift, Philadelphia still opened the scoring. The home team's counterattack began with Egor Zamula taking the puck, and Michkov moved the game into someone else's zone, beat Osterle's defender and began a three-way run that ended with Pauling's goal.

The visitors quickly equalized, but the Flyers took the lead again in the next shift. Michkov's shot didn't work out — the puck got off the hook, but Drysdale immediately backed up his partner.

Philadelphia defended for the entire third period, but was able to hold out thanks to a great game by Ivan Fedotov, who deflected 28 of 29 shots. The playoffs are still an impossible dream for the Flyers, but for the Russian goalkeeper, the game has become an undoubted success — Fedotov has recently suffered a series of setbacks.

Michkov also came close to the most productive rookie of the season, Montreal defender Lane Hutson, who has 59 (5+54) points. Matvey has one less, but much more goals (24).

Pros and cons

Except that Matvey's indicator of usefulness is hanging: -13. This is the worst performance among Philadelphia's forwards. And if we take the defenders, then only Egor Zamula (-14) and Jimmy Drysdale (terrifying -27) are worse off. At the same time, it is worth remembering the statistics of Connor Bedard, the main talent of the generation and the same age as Michkov, who has the worst record of the entire league: -38.

Another interesting fact: Bedard, whom all Chicago fans literally prayed for, has only one more point this season than Michkov. At the same time, this season is already the second in the National Hockey League for the Canadian, and the debut for the Russian.

Does this mean that Michkov will easily take the Calder Trophy, the award for the best rookie of the season? Not at all. Moreover, it is very likely that the Russian will not receive it. All because of Lane Hutson's monstrous season, which has already been mentioned.

Being a defender, he has already made 62 effective actions. This is the first time in 33 years that a defender has scored more than 60 points in his first season in the league. For comparison, the second most productive rookie defender this year is Drew Helleson from Anaheim (he has 12 points).

What are Michkov's arguments for Calder? The last two months. Yes, the Russian flared up after Tortorella's dismissal, scoring 7 (4+3) points in three matches. But in fact, Michkov has been doing well since the beginning of November: in this rather long stretch, he scored more points in the five-on-five format than Sidney Crosby, Alexei Protas, Brayden Hagel and Robert Thomas.

Philadelphia fans point out that Michkov has no equal among the league's newcomers in terms of playing in equal squads: both Hutson and Celebrini scored much less.

Another statistical fact: since December 1, Matvey has scored only four points less than Nathan MacKinnon in the five-on-five format, but he played 210 minutes less.

Another important fact plays for Hutson: his Montreal is seriously fighting to get into the playoffs, and the defender played a very important role in this. Michkov's Philadelphia floundered around the top 8 teams for about half the season, and then lay low.

Even if Michkov doesn't get a Calder, he can definitely take this season as an asset. We bend our fingers:

1. I managed to play under a domineering coach and was successful under him.

2. I gained confidence and realized that I could be a top player at the NHL level.

3. He proved that you can rely on him as a leader.

There are still six matches left until the end of the regular season. If Michkov continues to score two points apiece, he will be able to catch on to Calder.