Michkov is by far the better skilled player. He will be a flyer sooner rather than later.

Leonard is great don't get me wrong, but he isn't Michkov

As a Flyers fan, I'm perfectly ecstatic with keeping Michkov. We needed to swing for the fences there. And it's not if he's ever coming over, he IS coming over, we're just hoping sooner rather than later. He's under contract for two more years after this one so he may not be here till 2026-27 if he honors that contract.

I can't remember the last time I felt a sting like I did when Briere called out Michkov's name at the draft as a Caps fan. I was so confident he'd be a Cap. That hurt so much. Leonard is a great consolation prize though. He'll be a beast.

Huh? The only reason they drafted him is because he made it very clear he would love to play in Philly.

I wanted Michkov, but honestly when it got to the Flyers at 7 and Michkov, Leonard, Dvorsky, and Benson were all still on the board, I didn't care who the Caps got as long as it was one of those four

Yes Flyers are happy to roll the die. He is excited to come over. Leonard definitely has Flyers vibes about him, but we need a superstar.

I wanted Benson if we didn't get Michkov, But I was not upset about getting Leonard. I personally did not want Dvorksy, I didn't see his game translating well. Granted he has looked good in the OHL and international but I thought I was right on him when he struggled in the SHL at the beginning of the season

100% better than Leonard for sure, but if he comes at 26, it would suck

Cutter Gauthier said the same thing ahaha

Hate that guy. He deserves all the hate, entitled quitter.

And Briere new about Gauthier long before they drafted Michkov. I don't think he's dumb enough to fall for that

Not a flyer fan, but I kinda agree. You don’t say yes to a team just to quit a year later

For sure, but he himself said he doesn’t know if he’ll ever come. I don’t if he’s hiding something or not but pretty scary

I wouldn't be worried yet about will he/won't he come stuff yet if I was a Flyers fan, even though the Briere interview certainly isn't *good* news. As for Michkov vs Leonard I think all things considered you still take Michkov, but the top of that draft was so good that it kind of was hard to go wrong -- only picks that look questionable right now are Simashev at 6, Benson at 13 instead of 6-9, Perrault at 23 instead of 8-10, and Musty 26 instead of 12-16, but everyone knew that at the time of the draft, Reinbacher at 5 also debatable but people underrate how good his draft year was.

Been some pretty remarkable D+1 years for all of the top 4 + Michkov/Leonard/Perrault/Benson though, don't really think anyone with one of those guys can complain