Matvei Michkov Called Out By His Idol Alex Ovechkin Over His Antics
Matvei Michkov is a bright talent for the future of the NHL, but according to his idol and fellow Russian Alex Ovechkin, he's got to stop showing off on the ice as The Great 8 called out the rookie in a surprising interview.
The hype surrounding Matvei Michkov coming into 2024/25 brought with it plenty of expectations, and thus far the 19-year old rookie has delivered, as he currently sits third among rookies with 36, showing that he's a key piece of the Philadelphia Flyers future.
It's not all been smooth sailing however, as the public rivalry with Head Coach John Tortorella has stirred up plenty of controversy, with the old-school coach clearly not a fan of the way Michkov goes about his business.
Now, Michkov's idol Alexander Ovechkin has sung the praises of the former first-round pick, but has made it clear that his antics at such a young age aren't great, as he called him out in a recent interview.
"Michkov is a great guy; he's doing well. He played against us recently, so I got to see him. But I wish he would show off a little less. Otherwise, everything is great."
That isn't to say that Ovechkin believes Michkov should stop playing with flair and confidence, but the reliance on the Michigan and other over the top style plays certainly isn't necessary, especially as the Flyers fight for a playoff spot behind his production this season.
Ultimately, this could also just be a fun jab from Ovechkin, who is aware how Michkov and other young Russian's look up to him, but if Matvei can get his personality and his flair under control, we could be looking at the star of the next generation in the NHL.
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