In an NHL season that’s had its fair share of player-movement drama, ESPN’s Kevin Weekes dropped another log on that fire Tuesday. He reported, via multiple league sources, that Philadelphia Flyers star Matvei Michkov would prefer a fresh start elsewhere. In a media availability yesterday, Flyers GM Danny Briere denied the report, and both Michkov and his agent stated they didn’t know who the source was.
Amid a turbulent season in Philly, this is just the latest in a long line of disappointments. However, for teams around the league, it presents an opportunity. Michkov is one of the game’s best young talents, and if he truly does want a fresh start with a new team, the Edmonton Oilers should be heavily interested.
Let’s explore the fit and the cost it would take to make Michkov an Oiler.
Michkov could fit in on any team
Michkov’s skill-set allows him to fit with pretty much any team. The hyper-talented 21-year-old emerged onto the league as a ready-built scorer, leading all rookies in goals with 26 in 2024–25, alongside 37 assists for 63 points in 80 games.
After another 20-goal year last season, Michkov has been about the only thing going in Philly. Through 21 games he has 10 goals and five assists. Michkov is leadingg the team in points despite averaging only 16:08 a night. He’s undoubtedly one of the league’s best young players, and he’ll only continue to improve.
He’s also owed a new contract at season’s end. His ELC is expiring and he’ll no doubt reap the benefits of the young player boom of last offseason. Michkov is about everything you’d want in a young winger: highly skilled, proven ability to perform at the NHL level, and a fierce competitor. More than one clip has been captured of Michkov arguing on the bench with teammates, most recently with Nick Seeler just a day before Weekes dropped the trade request rumour.
How would he fit on the Oilers?
If he were to become an Oiler, he’d profile as an instant top-six addition. Either alongside the Connor McDavid-Leon Draisaitl superline, or playing alongside one of them if they split time as first and second line centres.
Maybe Michkov would excel alongside countryman Vasily Podkolzin, who’s continued to take a step during his time in Edmonton. Or perhaps he’d be the trigger-man on a line with McDavid, who’d have no trouble finding him open for passes.
With a skillset like Michkov’s the possibilities are basically endless. He certainly wouldn’t come cheap though, so what would the cost for Edmonton be?
The cost to obtain Michkov
Considering Michkov is young, talented, and for the time being, cost controlled, a trade would likely be costly. The Oilers first-round pick in either 2027 or 2028 would almost certainly be included, as well as Isaac Howard or Matt Savoie. Edmonton also has third-round picks in 2027 and 2028 that could be included. Aside from picks and young players, the Oilers might be able to offer one player who presents a genuine strength to the Flyers.
Jake Walman’s struggles have suddenly moved him into possible trade discussion with multiple healthy scratches. The left side of the Flyers defence is currently anchored by Travis Sanheim and Cam York, but Nick Seeler on the third pair is both aging and lackluster. Sanheim and York both have reasonable salaries at $6.25M and $5.15M respectively, and Philadelphia has $12.3M in cap space to work with. Would a package of one of Howard or Savoie, a first, Walman, and another piece entice the Flyers into moving Michkov?
The other issue for Edmonton would be re-signing him. Michkov would no doubt want a comparable salary to the kinds of contracts Connor Bedard and Macklin Celebrini signed—somewhere in the $15M AAV range. The Oilers are projected to have $24.2M in cap space in 2027–28. However, that’s not including an extension for Savoie, and more critically, not including an extension for McDavid, who will be in the last year of his contract. It’s possible the Oilers could do both, but any extension for McDavid would obviously be the top priority.
A trade for Michkov would be the kind of deal that Edmonton hasn’t made since the Chris Pronger deal. A true “go for it” move, except Michkov is 21 and Pronger was 30. It would be the biggest addition of the McDavid era, and assuming he re-signs, would be the kind of move that could keep Edmonton contending late into his and Draisaitl’s careers. It might cost a lot, but with a player like Michkov, sometimes the cost is worth the risk.
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