‘One other degree' for Michkov, Avon's climb and extra from Flyers rookie camp

‘Another level’ for Michkov, Avon’s climb and more from Flyers rookie camp initially appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia

VOORHEES, N.J. — One other lengthy line shaped outdoors Flyers Coaching Heart because the workforce’s prospects returned to apply Sunday morning.

Followers filed in at 10:30 a.m. and the bleachers have been fairly packed quarter-hour earlier than the 11 a.m. apply even began.

Matvei Michkov mania was put into motion Thursday and it picked up Friday at PPL Heart 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 extra observations from Sunday’s rookie coaching camp apply.

‘There’s one other degree’

There needed to be a way of reward for the Flyers’ entrance workplace Friday evening, that Michkov was right here and enjoying a rookie recreation in entrance of the workforce’s fan base two years forward of schedule.

The highest prospect regarded as marketed, scoring a aim and producing every kind of possibilities in massive minutes.

However maybe essentially the most thrilling factor for the Flyers is that they really feel it was only a style of his recreation.

“He is a dynamic participant,” Flyers assistant normal supervisor Brent Flahr mentioned Sunday. “From the blue line in, he is pushed to attain, he is extremely aggressive and clearly has the hockey sense, the talent and the drive to generate offense. Like, he needs to attain each shift. If he would not, he will get fired up.

“To see that compete degree, he was having enjoyable there. I feel there’s one other degree to his recreation clearly, however to get his ft moist in a North American model recreation in camp earlier than stepping on with the massive guys will likely be a bonus for him.”

At apply Sunday, Michkov arrange Elliot Desnoyers for a aim in a 3-on-2 drill. Trying as if he was able to shoot, Michkov noticed Desnoyers with out straight staring his method and slid a go to him for the tap-in aim.

Control Avon

J.R. Avon was unavailable finally yr’s rookie camp due to a PCL sprain in his left knee. It was his first yr of professional hockey and he needed to begin it by rehabbing an harm.

Now wholesome and with a yr of the AHL below his belt, he’ll be a prospect to look at at Lehigh Valley. The 21-year-old can play middle or winger. The Flyers had him down the center within the two rookie video games.

“I feel there are some issues he’ll must work on for that place, however you see a number of the dynamics that he brings along with his velocity, quickness and his power degree,” Flahr mentioned. “He’ll must work on his recreation and spherical out his recreation to seek out his area of interest, however on the identical time, he has some belongings that may give him an opportunity down the highway. So we simply want to assist him alongside.”

As a rookie with the Phantoms final season, Avon had 18 factors (9 targets, 9 assists) in 65 regular-season video games. He sat as a lot as he performed within the workforce’s six-game playoff run.

Avon latched on with the Flyers in September 2021 after being invited to the workforce’s growth and rookie camps. The Flyers need him to kill penalties and carve out a constant position this season within the AHL.

“He wants to seek out his identification,” Flahr mentioned. “Final yr, it was type of up and down, however he had some good video games. He needed to battle for ice time, discovered some traction there on the finish. As a shootout specialist, he was nice. To have just a bit area of interest like that’s one thing to construct on.

“Turning into a penalty killer this yr, discovering a much bigger position down in Lehigh Valley. Hopefully that a part of his recreation can transition and hopefully subsequent [year’s] camp, he can possibly push for extra video games and hopefully put himself on the map as a call-up or possibly he pushes for a spot, you by no means know.”

Avon confirmed his shiftiness Sunday in a 2-on-2, small-area drill by creating room for himself earlier than sniping a nook.

Barkey bouncing again

Denver Barkey was poised for a giant rookie camp. The 5-foot-9 ahead was coming off a 102-point junior season with the OHL’s London Knights and had gained 15 kilos of muscle within the offseason.

Then, about three weeks in the past, he acquired hit with mononucleosis, preserving him out of camp and the rookie video games.

“Simply discovering out, it was not the most effective timing. It sucked,” Barkey mentioned. “I knew I most likely wasn’t going to have the ability to compete at camp and be part of the video games. The primary couple of a days have been fairly powerful, however I can not actually management it. I am simply specializing in what I can management transferring ahead.”

The 2023 third-round choose is recovering nicely and may very well be cleared for contact later this week. He went by a 1-on-1 rehab skate not too long ago with Patrick Sharp. The Flyers are hoping the 19-year-old Barkey can take part in some unspecified time in the future in John Tortorella’s coaching camp. Their aim is to construct him again up for his fourth season in London.

“I do not know if I have to see him do Torts’ skate or something, however he is anxious,” Flahr mentioned. “For those who’ve gotten to know him, it is driving him loopy sitting right here watching video games being performed with out him.”

Barkey has almost put all the load again on that he misplaced.

“Simply getting again to that, I am virtually there now, simply a few kilos quick,” he mentioned. “I feel my health and conditioning remains to be a bit behind, however I have been working fairly arduous right here, they have been taking excellent care of me. I feel I am proper across the nook.”

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