Flyers Bench Matvei Michkov Amid Development Concerns

Matvei Michkov, a rookie for the Philadelphia Flyers, has started his NHL career with a decent performance but has encountered challenges along the way. Head coach John Tortorella has opted to healthy scratch him for Thursday's matchup against the Tampa Bay Lightning, emphasizing that it is part of the developmental process. Michkov previously faced limited playing time in the last two games, even snapping a four-game pointless streak with an assist. Nevertheless, his offensive production has slowed after a strong start, during which he accumulated nine points in eight games and earned the NHL's Rookie of the Month for October. The Flyers remain focused on Michkov's long-term development rather than immediate results, signaling that they will take a measured approach as the team navigates through a rocky start that includes issues with production and goaltending.