VOORHEES, N.J. — Maybe Matvei Michkov came across as curt and irritated.

He declined to answer a couple of questions Tuesday at his end-of-the-season press conference.

But he also came across as a 21-year-old from Russia, still learning in so many ways, a fiercely competitive kid who didn’t like how the season ended. Can you blame him for being frustrated? His team was swept in the second round, he was a healthy scratch in the season-ending loss and he had just one point in the playoffs.

The chances of him being rosy were slim to none. And that’s OK.

It doesn’t render his future in Philadelphia as over, just like his rocky season doesn’t mean the panic button needs to be pushed.

“It was the first playoffs for me and I cannot say it was easy,” Michkov said through translator Slava Kuznetsov, a Flyers consultant. … “I’m a player that the team expects to score and make the plays. At the end of it, it’s eight games and one assist.”

Michkov was benched twice during the Flyers’ playoff run. Rick Tocchet had stressed a need for pace in the postseason. At times, Michkov looked a step behind. When he’s at his best, you see the jump in his legs and the playmaking through tight windows. Those aspects weren’t noticeable enough after his strong finish to the regular season.

He called being benched for Game 4 against the Hurricanes “a coach’s decision.”

“I’m a player that should go on the ice and do my job,” Michkov said. “If the coach decides I have to miss the game, I have to take it. Go back on the ice and train and work for the best.”

By now, everyone knows Michkov’s season was far from a smooth one. It was well-publicized for various reasons.

After a standout rookie year, Michkov admittedly did not come to training camp in the best physical shape. Tocchet faced some criticism for his handling of the second-year winger. From the start, the head coach had to battle the intense microscope on Michkov. Danny Briere even had to address the media in February to calm the outside noise.

But the whole process improved, particularly after the Olympic break. Tocchet saw a more comfortable Michkov — from his participation in team meetings to understanding the coaches and connecting with teammates.

“I couldn’t imagine going [overseas] and trying to understand Russian for two years, I’d be pretty lost at times, too,” Travis Konecny said. “When he’s doing the good things and he’s scoring goals and he’s making good plays, you just make sure you’re there to pat him on the back and be like, ‘Hey, this is the good stuff, this is the stuff, you do this over and over, you’ll be a heck of a player.'”

Matvei Michkov said he’s going on the ice after his press conference. He sounds pretty motivated by the season and the two healthy scratches in the playoffs. pic.twitter.com/TtraoSxGxy

— Jordan Hall (@JHallNBCS) May 12, 2026

What should excite the Flyers is that a down season for Michkov was 20 goals and 51 points. That’s a really good floor for someone his age, still making the transition to North America and learning the English language.

“I think you saw throughout the season ups and downs for him personally,” Travis Sanheim said. “And I think it’s to be expected, he’s a young guy, we all went through what he has gone through. The pressure that’s put on him is a lot higher than anyone else has had.

“I think just understanding that he’s just like anyone else, we’ve all been through struggles and good times. You can learn from those experiences and get better and work harder. Ultimately, it’s going to make you a better player.”

When Michkov made his anticipated arrival in July 2024, he talked about winning for the fans. On Tuesday, he said Philadelphia was an “unreal atmosphere” for the playoffs. He was disappointed in letting some people down.

“A lot of kids were wearing my No. 39,” Michkov said. “I’m a little bit ashamed that I couldn’t score for them in the playoffs. Thank you for the fans to be there. Without them, it would not be the same.”