Matvei Michkov had one of the best rookie seasons in Philadelphia Flyers history. The 20-year-old Russian forward gave it everything to become the franchise’s first-ever Calder Trophy winner — the award given to the NHL’s best rookie. He led all NHL rookies in goals and topped his own team in that category too. Yet, surprisingly, he wasn’t even named a Calder Trophy finalist.
Michkov’s Impressive Rookie Stats
Michkov scored 26 goals this season — more than any other rookie. He also led all first-year players in even-strength points. For the Flyers, he was their top scorer and brought high energy and passion to every game, much like Flyers legend Bobby Clarke.
Despite all this, Michkov didn’t make the top three in the Calder Trophy voting. The Professional Hockey Writers Association picked three other rookies instead:
Lane Hutson (Montreal Canadiens, 66 points),
Macklin Celebrini (San Jose Sharks, 63 points),
Dustin Wolf (Calgary Flames goalie with 2.64 GAA and .910 save percentage).
It’s important to note that although Wolf is 24 and played 17 games last season, he still qualifies as a rookie under NHL rules.
Why Michkov Was Overlooked
There are several possible reasons why Michkov was snubbed. He started the season in a tough position. At just 19 years old, he joined the NHL after playing in Russia’s KHL for most of the 2023–24 season. That meant he had to quickly adjust to smaller NHL rinks, a new culture, and a new language — all at once.
On top of that, he played under Flyers head coach John Tortorella, known for being strict. Tortorella often limited Michkov’s playing time and even benched him for two games. When Tortorella was fired and Brad Shaw became interim coach, Michkov’s ice time jumped to 19 minutes and 36 seconds per game. The result? In just nine games under Shaw, Michkov scored 12 points — six goals and six assists.
Even though he finished the season tied for second among rookies with 63 points, he was not picked as a finalist. That decision puzzled many fans and experts.
Defense Was a Weak Point
If there was one area where Michkov struggled, it was defense. He had a minus-18 rating. But when you compare that to Celebrini’s minus-31, it’s hard to say Michkov’s defense was a bigger problem. Plus, Michkov played under pressure in a challenging environment.
Flyers’ Front Office and NHL Legends React
The Flyers’ front office didn’t comment on Michkov’s snub. Reporters reached out, but no one replied. However, former Flyers star Bill Barber, who himself lost the Calder Trophy vote in 1973 despite better stats, shared his thoughts. Barber said he wasn’t disappointed back then — he just focused on helping his team and used the loss as motivation to do even better.
Michkov has a similar mindset. Earlier in the season, he said that winning games mattered more than individual awards like the Calder.
Matvei Michkov had one of the best rookie seasons in the NHL this year. He scored the most goals among all rookies, overcame huge challenges off the ice, and still managed to shine. While it’s surprising that he wasn’t named a Calder Trophy finalist, history shows that not winning the award doesn’t define a player’s career. Just like Flyers legends Eric Lindros and Bill Barber, Michkov has a bright future ahead. The snub may just give him the motivation to come back even stronger next season.
