Farabee says ‘sky’s the limit’ for Michkov, ‘can’t wait’ for Flyers fans to see him

Farabee says ‘sky’s the limit’ for Michkov, ‘can’t wait’ for Flyers fans to see him originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia

Joel Farabee has been in Philadelphia since early June, spending most of his summer around the Flyers Training Center.

That means he’s seen Matvei Michkov up close on the ice as much as anyone else. The 19-year-old top prospect arrived at the Flyers from Russia a month and a half agoFarabee is one of those who skates with him about three or four times a week since he arrived.

What is the screening report?

“You can see his talent and the way he sees the ice is pretty remarkable,” Farabee said Tuesday in a phone interview with NBC Sports Philadelphia. “But honestly, it’s hard to tell until we get to live action. I think as we go through training camp and preseason games, you’ll get a better understanding. Our summer sessions are mostly about skills and things like that, so it’s hard to say what his game is in its entirety. But we’re really excited for him. I saw the clips of him playing in Russia last year, so if he can bring that skill set here, I think it’ll be great for him.”

More: The Flyers challenged Farabee — and he wants it

Michkov is a dynamic winger with a unique skill set. An expert considered it the second best player in the 2023 NHL Draftbehind only the first overall pick Connor Bedard. For various reasons, Michkov slipped to the Flyers in seventh place overallHe is now in Philadelphia two years ahead of schedule and fans are rightly excited.

But as Farabee noted, it’s impossible to simulate game action in the summer. Combat drills at training camp and play against other teams in pre-season This month will be a real playground for Michkov to test his strengths.

The Flyers will be patient with a teenager who will be moving from the KHL, Russia’s top professional league, to the NHL, the best league in the world. They believe his arrival in July should only help him in that September preparation phase.

“It’s really nice to have him out there every day, to let him see what it takes to be an NHL player,” Farabee said. “I guess it’s It’s quite overwhelming for him with the language barrier and things like that, but I think the Flyers organization did a tremendous job of setting it up.

“I think his mom and brother are here now. You can see him at the rink now, he’s starting to feel more comfortable. I think with most of our team in Philadelphia now, he gets a chance to meet everybody. I think for him, the sky’s the limit. He’s a really good player on the ice and I can’t wait for the fans to see him live and see what he can do.”

Learn more about Michkov

• Why Michkov playing on Couturier’s line would make sense for many Flyers

• Flyers confident locker room will ease Michkov’s transition

• Michkov throws out the first pitch during the Phillies-Yankees game

• From the plane to the press conference, Michkov shows more than just talent

• Michkov Has Arrived — Flyers’ Top Prospect Arrives (With Phillies Cap)

• Got it — Johnson helps Michkov prepare for transition to Flyers

• Briere: Tortorella will train Michkov “as he does with everyone”

• Flyers surround Michkov with help as important as his arrival

• How Flyers prospect Michkov’s rise was evident in ‘a title fight’

• What makes Flyers prospect Michkov a ‘star player’