Fans of the Philadelphia Flyers can finally breathe a sigh of relief regarding Matvei Michkov's situation. On September 11, it was confirmed that he had been loaned to HC Sochi from SKA St. Petersburg, a team he's familiar with.
Returning to Sochi wasn't an easy choice for Michkov. Last season, a tragedy struck when his father, Andrei, went missing on April 2, 2023, and was found dead two days later at the age of 51. This was a traumatic event for his son, making the prospect of going back to Sochi a difficult one.
When Michkov wasn't dealing with personal tragedy, he was excelling on the ice. In just 27 games with Sochi, he managed nine goals and 11 assists, totaling 20 points. For a teenager in one of the toughest leagues outside North America, this was an exceptional performance. It's worth noting that without the off-ice drama, he could have been a top pick in almost any draft class. The Flyers were thrilled to select him seventh overall.