‘Another level’ for Michkov, Avon’s climb and more from Flyers rookie camp originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia
VOORHEES, N.J. — Another long line formed outside Flyers Training Center as the team’s prospects returned to practice Sunday morning.
Fans filed in at 10:30 a.m. and the bleachers were pretty packed 15 minutes before the 11 a.m. practice even started.
Matvei Michkov mania was put into motion Thursday and it picked up Friday at PPL Center for the 19-year-old’s first game action.
After the Flyers’ prospects split their weekend series with the Rangers, let’s get into three more observations from Sunday’s rookie training camp practice.
‘There’s another level’
There had to be a sense of reward for the Flyers’ front office Friday night, that Michkov was here and playing a rookie game in front of the team’s fan base two years ahead of schedule.
The top prospect looked as advertised, scoring a goal and generating all kinds of chances in big minutes.
But perhaps the most exciting thing for the Flyers is that they feel it was just a taste of his game.
“He’s a dynamic player,” Flyers assistant general manager Brent Flahr said Sunday. “From the blue line in, he’s driven to score, he’s highly competitive and obviously has the hockey sense, the skill and the drive to generate offense. Like, he wants to score every shift. If he doesn’t, he gets fired up.
“To see that compete level, he was having fun there. I think there’s another level to his game obviously, but to get his feet wet in a North American style game in camp before stepping on with the big guys will be an advantage for him.”
At practice Sunday, Michkov set up Elliot Desnoyers for a goal in a 3-on-2 drill. Looking as if he was ready to shoot, Michkov saw Desnoyers without directly staring his way and slid a pass to him for the tap-in goal.
Keep an eye on Avon
J.R. Avon was unavailable at last year’s rookie camp because of a PCL sprain in his left knee. It was his first year of pro hockey and he had to start it by rehabbing an injury.
Now healthy and with a year of the AHL under his belt, he’ll be a prospect to watch at Lehigh Valley. The 21-year-old can play center or winger. The Flyers had him down the middle in the two rookie games.
“I think there are some things he’s going to have to work on for that position, but you see some of the dynamics that he brings with his speed, quickness and his energy level,” Flahr said. “He’s going to have to work on his game and round out his game to find his…