Matvei Michkov, the highly regarded prospect of the Philadelphia Flyers, engaged in a conversation with the media alongside interpreter Slava Kuznetsov, shortly after his arrival in the Philadelphia region from his homeland Russia. Additionally, Flyers General Manager Daniel Briere also shared his thoughts with the press.

Throughout the press conference, Michkov consistently stressed his ultimate objective with the Flyers: to aid the team in achieving victory and, ultimately, securing the Stanley Cup.

According to Kuznetsov, Michkov expressed his intention to “infuse fresh talent into the team, score goals consistently, and contribute towards securing victories every single night. Ultimately, he aims to assist the team in achieving overall success.”

Michkov mentioned that he has specific personal stat objectives for his inaugural NHL season, yet he intends to keep those aspirations undisclosed.

Briere also mentioned that the Flyers organization, along with Michkov’s fellow teammates, are eagerly committed to supporting him in adapting to NHL life, providing assistance both on and off the ice.

Michkov recognizes the importance of family in his journey to settle down. To assist him, his mother, Maria, and younger brother, Prohor, will be joining him from Russia to provide support throughout the season. Michkov fondly recalls that his father, Andrey, who has since passed away, shared a dream with him of playing in the NHL alongside Matvei.

Michkov’s travel itinerary was jam-packed as he embarked on his journey to the United States. Commencing from his hometown of Perm, he embarked on a one-way trip spanning 1,240 miles to reach Moscow. This distance is approximately equivalent to a one-way flight from Philadelphia to Dallas. Once in Moscow, Michkov commenced his transcontinental expedition towards the eastern seaboard.

On Tuesday morning, Briere and President of Hockey Operations Keith Jones went to JFK International Airport in New York to pick up Michkov. They later drove him to Voorhees.

When Michkov arrived at the Flyers Training Center, one of his initial inquiries was about his skating schedule. During Wednesday’s press conference, Michkov revealed that he had the opportunity to skate for the first time that morning on the training facility ice.

Wearing a Phillies ball cap, Michkov eagerly shared that one of his top priorities upon arriving in Philadelphia is to experience the thrill of attending a Phillies game. Additionally, he expressed a strong desire to personally meet the talented players of the team. This longing for a meet-and-greet was initially expressed soon after his transfer from SKA St. Petersburg to Philadelphia.

Despite facing a language barrier, Michkov expressed that Flyers fans have warmly embraced him. He aspires to provide them with plenty of reasons to cheer in the upcoming season and beyond.

The player mentioned that Flyers head coach John Tortorella has not reached out to him yet. He eagerly anticipates the opportunity to meet his new coach. Briere also expressed his conviction that Michkov can gain valuable knowledge from the experienced coach.