Matvei Michkov, Ultimate Puck Knower, Thinks That Dump and Chase Hockey Is As Donkey-Brained As It Gets
Matvei Michkov had a really strong rookie year with the Philadelphia Flyers. But it's not like he lit the world on fire or anything like that. 63 points in 80 games. Those are really good numbers, but it's just good enough to be in the top 100 all-time among rookies.
There were a few reasons why he wasn't closer to a point-per-game. He was playing in North America for the first time, on North American ice. He's playing a longer, more demanding schedule than he was used to in the KHL. John Tortorella was never going to let him fully play up to his offensive capabilities. And the most obvious reason of all? Well any time Matvei Michkov gave up the puck, he was giving it to someone who just simply isn't as skilled as he is.
The Flyers are a better team when the puck is on Michkov's stick. That's just a fact. Why would you ever want him to just voluntarily get rid of the puck by dumping it in?
Obviously dump & chase hockey works. Just ask the Florida Panthers. They won back-to-back Stanley Cups by running teams into the ground with it. But that's a team who is built with the ability to win all those battles for the loose pucks along the boards. The Flyers aren't especially fast to win those battles. They aren't especially strong to win those battles. They aren't especially skilled with their sticks to win those battles. For the most part, the Flyers dump the puck into the zone and then they don't touch it again. So maybe just let the best, most creative player on the ice see what he can dial up when he carries the puck into the zone with possession.
And sure. It's easier said than done. The ice is smaller in the NHL than in Russia. The defensemen are bigger, faster, and stronger. There's a reason why dump and chase hockey is so popular in the NHL, and that's because it's pretty damn difficult to just carry the puck cleanly into the zone without it being a turnover that gets jammed down your throat the other way. But it doesn't make sense to draft a guy like Matvei Michkov if you're not going to let him actually use the most dynamic part of his game.