Less than halfway through his debut season coaching the Philadelphia Flyers, Rick Tocchet is already growing weary of repeatedly being asked about his favorite players. Matvey Mitchkov, the team’s young forward, has not delivered the sophomore season many anticipated. The 21-year-old Russian has recorded eight goals, 11 assists, and 19 points in 34 games, and appears headed for a significant statistical decline overall.
Mitchkov’s shooting percentages remain strong (12.3% compared to last season’s 13.1%), but his average ice time has dropped to 14 minutes and 43 seconds, nearly two minutes less than the 16 minutes and 41 seconds he played under previous coaches John Tortorella and Brad Shaw. While he hasn’t shown visible regression in play, the Flyers’ switch to a cycle-based system has notably reduced his offensive output compared to the transition-focused strategy under Tortorella.
Under Tocchet’s five-year contract, it is his responsibility to help Mitchkov regain his form and provide guidance when needed, but Tocchet is uninterested in giving regular statistical updates on Mitchkov’s progress. The Flyers are evolving as a team midway through the 2025-26 season, boasting a solid 17-10 record, with several other players positively contributing, such as Vladar, Drysdale, and Yawkey.
Tocchet emphasized that hockey is a team sport and criticized the media’s focus on any single player, noting Mitchkov is improving defensively and playing smarter team hockey. This scenario is reminiscent of Tocchet’s time coaching the Vancouver Canucks, where he faced similar scrutiny over star Elias Pettersson’s performance. Pettersson also experienced a challenging season under Tocchet, dropping from an elite 102-point season in 2022-23 to just 45 points in 64 games.
Similarly, former Flyers forward Andrei Kuzmenko suffered a steep decline under Tocchet, scoring only eight goals and 21 points in 43 games in 2023-24, after a 39-goal season in 2022-23. New coaches like Tocchet have historically struggled to fully harness the offensive potential of their key players long-term. Though some players like Trevor Zegras are flourishing now, Tocchet warns against focusing too heavily on any one individual on the 23-man Flyers roster.
Fan Take: This ongoing challenge of developing young offensive talent under new coaching strategies is critical for the Flyers and hockey fans alike. How Tocchet manages players like Mitchkov will influence not only the team’s future success but also shape broader conversations about coaching philosophies and player development in the NHL.
