Matvei Michkov含羞草研究社檚 first dose of culture shock in American hockey hit the teen sensation when he skated in the opening days of Philadelphia Flyers含羞草研究社� training camp.

Flyers fans were already dressed in his No. 39 jersey. Lots of them. Kids. Adults. The Flyers open the doors to the public for most practices, and fans 含羞草研究社� who haven含羞草研究社檛 had much to cheer for since 2010 含羞草研究社� flocked to South Jersey to catch a glimpse of the talent who含羞草研究社檚 buzz has already drawn comparisons to another franchise great, Eric Lindros.

含羞草研究社淚t含羞草研究社檚 an unbelievable feeling to see the fans already showing up,含羞草研究社� Michkov said through a translator. 含羞草研究社淚t helps go though the hard training. Sometimes, we含羞草研究社檙e doing it for the fans and it helps overall.含羞草研究社�

The 19-year-old Russian also noted he含羞草研究社檇 never seen so many fans before wearing his jersey.

He better get used to the early fame.

In a sports city loaded with the biggest athletes in sports 含羞草研究社� from Bryce Harper to Joel Embiid to Jalen Hurts 含羞草研究社� the once-mighty Flyers have languished in obscurity with rosters filled with mostly indistinguishable skaters.

Michkov could be the breakthrough star the Flyers desperately craved as they make the climb back into the playoffs 含羞草研究社� and relevancy.

The hype comes with one critical caveat, per coach John Tortorella.

含羞草研究社淚t含羞草研究社檚 not going to be the Mischa show, because I think it含羞草研究社檚 unfair to him,含羞草研究社� Tortorella said. 含羞草研究社淚含羞草研究社檓 going to watch that very closely, because I want to give him every opportunity to get his feet planted in here and go about it the right way.含羞草研究社�

The Flyers are even still amazed Michkov is in the States to help push the team for the first time since 2020, and in the 50th anniversary season of their last Stanley Cup championship.

His slick playmaking had scouts projecting Michkov might have been drafted right behind Chicago含羞草研究社檚 Connor Bedard in 2023 had he not been tangled in a long-term deal with his team in Russia含羞草研究社檚 Kontinental Hockey League.

General manager Danny Briere preached patience when the Flyers selected Michkov with the seventh pick in the 2023 draft, knowing he had three years left on his KHL contract. After tricky negotiations, SKA St. Petersburg instead let Michkov over the summer, paving the way for the 5-10, 176-pound right wing to arrive in Philadelphia ahead of schedule.

The early returns impressed the Flyers.

含羞草研究社淵ou could tell he has a lot of confidence, he含羞草研究社檒l try some stuff that most guys won含羞草研究社檛,含羞草研究社� Flyers goalie Samuel Ersson said. 含羞草研究社淚 know in the scrimmages we had here a little bit before camp, he scored some nifty goals on me. So it含羞草研究社檚 kind of like, all right, I got to be ready for everything here when he comes in.含羞草研究社�

With opening night not until Oct. 11 in Vancouver, the Flyers have experimented with line combinations. Morgan Frost, a first-round pick in the 2017 draft, has centered a line that included Michkov and Owen Tippett.

They含羞草研究社檝e let their play do the talking, as Michkov, who turns 20 in December, crams to learn English.

含羞草研究社淚 think sometimes it含羞草研究社檚 a little harder for him to say what he wants to say,含羞草研究社� Frost said. 含羞草研究社淚 think everyone含羞草研究社檚 trying to make him welcome, and he seems to have a great attitude and he has fun out there.含羞草研究社�

Michkov含羞草研究社檚 transition to America has been eased somewhat with the Flyers use of a steady translator 含羞草研究社� who sat with Michkov in the Phillies dugout before a recent first pitch 含羞草研究社� and playing with Russian teammates Egor Zamula and Ivan Fedotov.

Michkov, who is from Perm, Russia, is just one of the boys in the locker room. Before a recent practice, Michkov was left a message at his locker written in both English and Russian, just so nothing was lost in translation.

含羞草研究社淒id you already find US woman,含羞草研究社� Zamula said, laughing. 含羞草研究社淚含羞草研究社檓 like 含羞草研究社� Right away? It含羞草研究社檚 too soon guys, focus on hockey.含羞草研究社�

Teammate Erik Johnson was the instigator, just a little fun to loosen up the training camp grind.

含羞草研究社淚含羞草研究社檓 going to help him as much as I can, joke with him, have fun with him,含羞草研究社� Johnson said. 含羞草研究社淢aybe try and teach him some new words. I don含羞草研究社檛 know what those will be, but we含羞草研究社檒l see. I含羞草研究社檒l try and help him on a day-to-day basis. Maybe do some trivia, I don含羞草研究社檛 know, just little stuff to kind of make it fun and help him with his English.含羞草研究社�

He needed little help in Russia with his hockey. Michkov was the property of SKA St. Petersburg, where he appeared in one game before being loaned to HC Sochi for the remainder of the season. He had 19 goals and 22 assists for 41 points in 47 games. He recorded 11 multipoint games and finished the season with five goals and eight points in his last nine games.

含羞草研究社淗e含羞草研究社檚 got some personality,含羞草研究社� Tortorella said. 含羞草研究社淪ometimes it goes the wrong way with a coach and a player, but at least it含羞草研究社檚 personality. I think it含羞草研究社檚 boring sometimes in this league where there含羞草研究社檚 no personality with the guys. He does. You can see the puck follows him. He含羞草研究社檚 skilled, you can see that.含羞草研究社�

Philadelphia is just now deftly orchestrated by Briere and beginning to transition into a contender.

Who knows? The missing piece just might be a teenager out of Russia.

含羞草研究社淗e含羞草研究社檚 got those hands, that vision, he can make plays,含羞草研究社� Flyers captain Sean Couturier said. 含羞草研究社淲e含羞草研究社檒l see, but I think we got to be careful also not to just judge right away. He含羞草研究社檚 only 19, and he含羞草研究社檚 coming to a new country. I don含羞草研究社檛 know how many times he含羞草研究社檚 been over here, but there含羞草研究社檚 a lot of new stuff in his life. I think we got to be patient and let him grow into the player he can be.含羞草研究社�