ESPN: NHL team is boiling – the best goal scorer wants out!

Philadelphia Flyers forward Matvei Mitshkov may be on his way out of the team. According to ESPN insider Kevin Weekes, the Russian star wants a fresh start with another NHL team.

Weekes reports that he has received information from several NHL sources. He considers the 21-year-old Mitshkov to be a very interesting trade target for other teams.

Philadelphia has run into difficulties right from the start of the season. The Flyers have won only five of their 20 games, and there have been conflicts within the team.

Mitshkov’s relationship with head coach Rick Tocchet has been a point of attention before. Tocchet publicly criticized the Russian’s fitness last season, during which his playing time noticeably decreased from his rookie year.

On the ice, Mitshkov has still been one of the Flyers’ most effective players this season. He has scored ten goals and collected a total of 14 points. Both figures qualify him for the top spot in the team’s internal statistics, tied in points.

The Flyers selected Mitshkov as the seventh player in the summer 2023 NHL Draft. He immediately scored 63 points in his rookie season, but that total dropped to 51 points in the following season.

The Russian’s contract expires next summer. He is set to become a restricted free agent at that time.

However, no formal trade request has been confirmed. According to ESPN‘s Emily Kaplan, the Flyers have not been informed of any direct desire from Mitshkov’s camp to be traded.