I think the biggest difference between our perspectives is you feel every team is on the same playing field. If he gets drafted by one team you probably think it would be the same for the Flyers, I don't. There's a reason why certain teams draft/sign more Russians than others. It is highly political. If Vancouver drafts Michkov I have little doubt he doesn't come over.

Now if we were talking about Leo Carlsson and he had a signed 3 year contract obligation I wouldn't hesitate to still draft him. Unfortunately the political side and relations plays a bigger part with Russian players.
- Glak18

plus Putin was an alternate on that red army team that lost to the flyers. He was in the building though didn't dress and I bet doesn't forget that...

plus Putin was an alternate on that red army team that lost to the flyers. He was in the building though didn't dress and I bet doesn't forget that...
- hello it's me 2050

So what you’re saying is the flyers are the reason the guy is a total bumhole now?

I think the biggest difference between our perspectives is you feel every team is on the same playing field. If he gets drafted by one team you probably think it would be the same for the Flyers, I don't. There's a reason why certain teams draft/sign more Russians than others. It is highly political. If Vancouver drafts Michkov I have little doubt he doesn't come over.

Now if we were talking about Leo Carlsson and he had a signed 3 year contract obligation I wouldn't hesitate to still draft him. Unfortunately the political side and relations plays a bigger part with Russian players.
- Glak18

Do you think that is Michkov, or the Russian Hockey establishment that would make that decision? (honest question)

plus Putin was an alternate on that red army team that lost to the flyers. He was in the building though didn't dress and I bet doesn't forget that...
- hello it's me 2050

I'm sure the Flyers/Russia hate is there still, but there are other issues than just that.

I have 0% doubt that Michkov comes to the NHL when his KHL contract is up. If not sooner.
- MBFlyerfan

Exactly how in the world do you have ZERO percent doubt? Inquiring minds want to know.

Do you think that is Michkov, or the Russian Hockey establishment that would make that decision? (honest question)
- MBFlyerfan

Michkov has less say than you think. It's not as easy as saying "Hey Matvey, here's a big bag of cash and here's a bag for your government brothers" and he comes over.

Many fans have been complaining about the archaic nature of the flyers leadership. It’s not unreasonable to think they have chosen not to leverage what’s available to them. I can’t say for sure that’s the main issue but it certainly seems very possible. Odd to me that everyone is jumping to the conclusion that the analytics department is the problem and not considering that there are key people in the organization failing to leverage it.
- funmaster18

Uncle Lou and Babcock were as old school as they come but Dubas was still able to carve out a niche and win over hearts and minds there. Same thing with Carolina... not like Waddell, Bill Peters and the rest were that open to a data-driven approach when Tulsky was first hired. He worked his ass off to educate and gain the confidence of everybody above him.

Not really seeing that with Ian Anderson. He's irrelevant at best.

Best Player Available is the same as "build the right way". The definition of which rests solely in Danny's head. Danny will pick whoever he wants based on whatever criteria he decides and that player will be announced as the BPA.

That term get's overused in all sports.
- Flyers_01

It goes without saying that beauty is in the eye of the beholder, right?

Michkov has less say than you think. It's not as easy as saying "Hey Matvey, here's a big bag of cash and here's a bag for your government brothers" and he comes over.
- Glak18

That is not why I asked. So your answer is the Hockey federation.

Because again, based on everything I've read, he said he wants to play in the NHL.

So if the Russian hockey federation prevents him from coming over here. I could see a new era of defections and other PR disasters for the KHL if that became the new normal.

Uncle Lou and Babcock were as old school as they come but Dubas was still able to carve out a niche and win over hearts and minds there. Same thing with Carolina... not like Waddell, Bill Peters and the rest were that open to a data-driven approach when Tulsky was first hired. He worked his ass off to teach and gain the confidence of everybody above him.

Not really seeing that with Ian Anderson. He's irrelevant at best.
- Tomahawk

But none of them have been in charge of anything on the flyers. I just think it’s shortsighted to think it’s the analytics department fault and not those “country club” alumni and leadership teams. I think all is possible.

Michkov has less say than you think. It's not as easy as saying "Hey Matvey, here's a big bag of cash and here's a bag for your government brothers" and he comes over.
- Glak18

You realize he could just defect right?

This is the guy they've decided they can't live without and half the fanbase loves.
- Flyers_01

This franchise is hitching themselves to his wagon. He's looking to move into the front office. It is likely to continue the disaster.

This franchise is hitching themselves to his wagon. He's looking to move into the front office. It is likely to continue the disaster.
- MJL

Regardless of Tortarella and his ability to coach the flyers, I just wish for once they would bring someone in, in any capacity, that was a visionary and on the cutting edge of where the game is going. Not where it is or where it was.

That is not why I asked. So your answer is the Hockey federation.

Because again, based on everything I've read, he said he wants to play in the NHL.

So if the Russian hockey federation prevents him from coming over here. I could see a new era of defections and other PR disasters for the KHL if that became the new normal.
- MBFlyerfan

What do you think Michkov is going to go full American, have a hissy fit then take the Federation to court?


I know the Mogilny, Fetisov, Federov stories are fascinating to watch, but they don't make stories about the ones who didn't make it. Even the ones who did needed great timing and some luck.

You realize he could just defect right?
- Tomahawk

Sure, easy peazy. I mean most likely the rest of his family ends up in a pond too and other consequences that come later.

Many fans have been complaining about the archaic nature of the flyers leadership. It’s not unreasonable to think they have chosen not to leverage what’s available to them. I can’t say for sure that’s the main issue but it certainly seems very possible. Odd to me that everyone is jumping to the conclusion that the analytics department is the problem and not considering that there are key people in the organization failing to leverage it.
- funmaster18

I think it's fair to include the decision makers being unwilling to listen but why does an organization spend a bunch of money and make a number of reported new hires. To only then ignore what they produce? Most likely it's a combination of both but there is no evidence that the Flyers analytics department is effective. Whether that is providing the data or in convincing the decision maker on any one issue. I guess we can safely assume that the analytics department provided the data of the teams OT record and recommended changing the player deployment in OT.

I'm sure the Flyers/Russia hate is there still, but there are other issues than just that.
- Glak18

I was with the Flyers Alumni on their hockey tour of Russia in 2017. In St. Petersburg, the Alumni game sold out SKA's arena and they dressed several players who were only a year or two removed from retirement. We got it handed to us. The fans were into seing their Alumni team beat a ragtag "Flyers" team that only had 13 bonfide former NHL players (10 of whon were Flyers alums if you include Andrei Kovalenko, plus Bobby Carpenter, Andrei Nikolishin and Alexander Semak) and long retired Sergei Gimaev (a Soviet national team fixture of the 70s and 80s turned longtime national broadcaster of similar stature to Don Cherry in Canada).

We did meet a few Russian Flyers fans, which was pretty cool.

Also must say that Nikolishin was one hell of a nice guy and he made sure the North American guys felt at ease.

I think it's fair to include the decision makers being unwilling to listen but why does an organization spend a bunch of money and make a number of reported new hires. To only then ignore what they produce? Most likely it's a combination of both but there is no evidence that the Flyers analytics department is effective. Whether that is providing the data or in convincing the decision maker on any one issue. I guess we can safely assume that the analytics department provided the data of the teams OT record and recommended changing the player deployment in OT.
- MJL

It’s clear there is enough failure to go around. I just don’t think it’s so one sided as some are suggesting. I guess we will see going forward if anything changes dramatically with Briere and “Jonesy” on board. The entire organization has been dysfunctional and there is no one person to blame, unfortunately, in my opinion. They just haven’t found anyone at the top that can correct it yet.

You realize he could just defect right?
- Tomahawk

He sure could but does he have family over there? One does not just defect without there being possible ramifications. I won't get into it but there is a strong possibility that the world drastically changes in the next few years and relations get far worse. Don't worry though, I don't think NHL teams are going to consider any of that.

You realize he could just defect right?
- Tomahawk

How? With Russia banned from all international tourneys for the foreseeable future? (That was often the readiest way to sneak a player away and transport him.) With the government restricting travel? It's not easy. Hell, only Russia-based scouts, such as the Flyer Ken Hoodikoff, readily able to see KHL/VHL/MHL hockey even the in-person scouting side is tougher these days.

Sure, easy peazy. I mean most likely the rest of his family ends up in a pond too and other consequences that come later.
- Glak18

Is that what happened to the families of all the players that have defected in the past?

Regardless of Tortarella and his ability to coach the flyers, I just wish for once they would bring someone in, in any capacity, that was a visionary and on the cutting edge of where the game is going. Not where it is or where it was.
- funmaster18

Agreed. Tomahawk said it best. Other than Tortorella, the Flyers continue to believe that the solution is within their current ranks. That they hired Tortorella in the first place. Is really telling of where this franchise is at.

I was with the Flyers Alumni on their hockey tour of Russia in 2017. In St. Petersburg, the Alumni game sold out SKA's arena and they dressed several players who were only a year or two removed from retirement. We got it handed to us. The fans were into seing their Alumni team beat a ragtag "Flyers" team that only had 13 bonfide former NHL players (10 of whon were Flyers alums if you include Andrei Kovalenko, plus Bobby Carpenter, Andrei Nikolishin and Alexander Semak) and long retired Sergei Gimaev (a Soviet national team fixture of the 70s and 80s turned longtime national broadcaster of similar stature to Don Cherry in Canada).

We did meet a few Russian Flyers fans, which was pretty cool.

Also must say that Nikolishin was one hell of a nice guy and he made sure the North American guys felt at ease.
- bmeltzer

I have worked with a lot of Russians/Ukrainians over the years and even mentioning the Flyers brings out a certain animosity, even recently. Some may not care, but it almost feels like it's built into their nationalism to hate the Flyers.

Is that what happened to the families of all the players that have defected in the past?
- Tomahawk

Their families often had a tough time. Ask Petr Svoboda what his family went through in Czechoslovakia after he defected -- and it could be worse in the USSR.

Their families often had a tough time. Ask Petr Svoboda what his family went through in Czechoslovakia after he defected -- and it could be worse in the USSR.
- bmeltzer

Still, not like family lines were extinguished. We need to get a grip here.