**Flyers GM Daniel Briere Addresses Locker Room Rumors Ahead of Game**

*PHILADELPHIA* — The last thing the Flyers needed was more gossip about an unsettled locker room situation. That’s why general manager Daniel Briere chose to hold an unscheduled media conference just 20 minutes before Tuesday night’s Flyers-Washington Capitals game at Xfinity Mobile Arena.

Rumors have swirled since the beginning of the season about a possible rift between coach Rick Tocchet and Russian second-year player Matvei Michkov. It’s well known that Michkov arrived at training camp last September in less-than-ideal shape. And if there’s one thing Tocchet won’t tolerate, it’s a player who isn’t game-ready when the season starts. Naturally, trade rumors began to circulate.

“One thing I can tell you is Matvei Michkov isn’t going anywhere,” Briere said firmly. “Let’s make that clear. Matvei is going to be here for a long time. He’s going to be a good player for the Flyers.”

Few expected Michkov to match his impressive 26-goal performance from his rookie season last year. After all, the so-called “sophomore slump” is a well-known phenomenon in sports.

“What he’s going through right now is all part of the learning process,” Briere explained. “So that’s out of the way. He’s not going anywhere. He’ll be here, and he’ll be a good player.”

Briere emphasized that Tocchet’s willingness to go out of his way to teach Michkov how to play the game the right way is a positive sign.

“They [the young Flyers] are learning,” Briere said. “And that’s what Rick Tocchet is trying to teach them. I’ve been through it. Team president Keith Jones has been through it. Rick Tocchet has been through it. It’s all part of the process.”

The GM acknowledged that bumps along the road were to be expected when Michkov arrived. This current situation may be one of those challenges.

“I talk to Rick Tocchet on a daily basis, and he wants Matvei to succeed,” Briere said. “He wants to develop him to be the best player he can be. Along the way, there are tough lessons that come with that. It’s like raising a child. There are tough lessons he’s learning along the way.

“He and Matvei have a good relationship. Sometimes they’re fiery when you’re not winning. Things are said and done, but they always come back to what’s best for the team and Matvei.”

According to Briere, Tocchet is focused on teaching these young players to be better professionals, emphasizing the importance of everything off the ice — training, nutrition, getting massages, and being ready for the next game.

Briere noted that, with the exception of Wayne Gretzky, virtually all players go through similar trying times. Perhaps things might have been different if Michkov had reported for training camp in top shape.

“One thing I know about Matvei is how driven he is,” Briere said. “He wants to be the best player he can be. He admitted himself he wasn’t in the best physical condition coming in. It’s going to be tough catching up, but he’s going to do that in the offseason. It’s going to make him a better hockey player.”

Regarding the Flyers’ recent slump and temporary fall from contention, Briere preached patience.

“There’s a little bit of noise going around,” Briere acknowledged. “Especially with this rocky patch we’ve hit lately. I know it’s upset a lot of people, but it’s just the reality of a team growing. Early in the season, when we were fighting for one of the top positions in the division, we realized that was probably a little ahead of schedule.”

Over the past month, a series of poor performances have dropped the Flyers roughly 10 points out of a playoff spot.

“What’s happening now, the way we’ve been playing, it’s not as bad as some think,” Briere said. “So we’re somewhere in between all that. It’s important to keep an even keel.”

Briere reiterated that the Flyers are still in a rebuild, even though this is his third year at the helm and the team faces the possibility of missing the playoffs for a franchise-record sixth consecutive season.

This much is clear: No one cares more about the Flyers’ future than Daniel Briere. He is committed to doing everything in his power to navigate this process the right way — even if it means addressing what’s going on behind the scenes just minutes before an important game.

*Wayne Fish is a freelance writer. Follow his coverage at www.flyingfishhockey.com.*
https://www.trentonian.com/2026/02/03/flyers-gm-briere-attempts-to-defuse-perceived-tocchet-michkov-conflict/