Elliotte Friedman just reported that Flyers GM Daniel Briere is committed to Matvei Michkov and believes in him.
Friedman has done a lot of work on Philadelphia, and his read is that Briere is not looking to move the 21-year-old. That lands after a wild Tuesday, when Kevin Weekes's report that Michkov asked for a trade set the hockey world buzzing.
The same Friedman update also touched on the other big name in the rumor mill. Larkin has not increased his trade list, so unless he is willing to expand it, talks are at a standstill.
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Minnesota has an offer out there for the Red Wings captain, which Friedman believes is Danila Yurov and three first-round picks. That is a heavy package for a 22-year-old winger with 6 goals and 7 points in 20 games this season.
Yurov is the piece that matters. He is young, he is cheap and he has already played in the playoffs, which is why Detroit would have to think hard about that price.
For the Wild, who beat the Canadiens 2-1 in overtime Tuesday night, it shows they are willing to pay real assets to get a deal done.
Does Briere's backing settle the Michkov situation?
Not entirely. Emily Kaplan reported Tuesday that Michkov has not formally requested a trade, which directly contradicts the Weekes report.
Friedman's information fits more with Kaplan's version. A GM who believes in his player is not shopping him, whatever frustration came out of the locker room.
And Briere should believe in him. Michkov has 10 goals and 14 points in 20 games, including 5 power-play goals, on a team that has scored only 45 goals all season. The Flyers are 5-10-5, and trading away one of the few players who can finish would be a mistake.
The minus-11 rating is a real concern, and it is part of what the Flyers have to fix. But that is a coaching and structure problem under Rick Tocchet, not a reason to sell a former seventh overall pick.
Michkov and the Flyers visit Edmonton tonight, a first look at how he plays with all this noise around him. Larkin's list is the next thing to watch.
Quick hits
NEW JERSEY DEVILS: Johnathan Kovacevic left Tuesday's loss in Winnipeg favoring his left knee, and the Devils have no update yet. Any absence would hurt the blue line.
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COLUMBUS BLUE JACKETS: Rick Bowness says his team is "squeezing their sticks" after the 4-1 loss to the Panthers. Tight hands usually mean tight nerves.
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ST. LOUIS BLUES: Jimmy Snuggerud hit 10 goals as the Blues beat the Red Wings 3-2 Tuesday night to snap a three-game losing streak. It is a mark no Blue had reached since Schenn.
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MONTREAL CANADIENS: Martin St-Louis and Josh Anderson both pushed back after the 2-1 overtime loss to the Wild, and neither held much back on the late slashing call against Cole Caufield.
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TORONTO MAPLE LEAFS: Jack Roslovic tied it 3-3 with a slick backhand, but the Leafs still lost 6-3 to the Avalanche. Another night, another collapse.
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This article was written with the help of artificial intelligence, based on public reports and official sources.
Should the Flyers keep Matvei Michkov no matter what he wants?
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