TAMPA, Fla. — In a notable move, rookie Matvei Michkov of the Philadelphia Flyers was a healthy scratch during Thursday evening’s match against the Tampa Bay Lightning. Coach John Tortorella characterized this decision as simply a natural aspect of the development process for the young player.

Michkov, who is just 19 years old, was selected as the seventh overall pick in the 2023 NHL draft and currently holds second place on the Flyers’ roster with a total of 10 points, comprising four goals and six assists, over the span of 13 games.

Prior to the game, Tortorella emphasized the importance of allowing young talents to observe from the sidelines, stating, “With young guys, they can watch games, too, as far as development. It’s trying to help him.” Although Michkov was named NHL rookie of the month for October, his recent performance has seen him contributing only one assist in the last five outings.

As for the Flyers, they faced the Lightning while sitting at the bottom of the Metropolitan Division, with a mere nine points amassed in their 13 games played thus far. The team is looking to regain momentum as they navigate through a challenging season.