‘I’ve lost the damn battle. I’m not going to fight it’: Flyers coach John Tortorella on Matvei Michkov’s Michigan goal attempts

Is an old-school coach finally buying into new-school thinking?

During a media availability on Friday, Philadelphia Flyers head coach John Tortorella was asked about forward Matvei Michkov’s attempt of the “Michigan” during the Flyers’ 40-1 win over the Detroit Red Wings on Thursday night.

Tortorella, considered the last of the old guard, admitted he doesn’t like the move, but is starting to accept that it won’t go away.

“Yeah, I’ve lost the battle, right?” Toroterella said. “I don’t think it should be in our game, but I’ve lost that battle. I have talked to [Michkov] early in the year when he was doing it every time. It was just turnovers. The thing I want [Michkov] to understand is, he’s such a good player moving a puck and passing a puck, when he’s behind the net, he’s dangerous to make plays.

“What am I going to do, say don’t do it? What I did was I said you need to understand that there are other pays to be made there too, because a number of the times he tried it early in the year, all’s they were were turnovers. So, yeah, I’ve lost the damn battle with that. I’m not going to try to fight it.”

Tortorella has been very outspoken in the past about his displeasure with how some players approach today’s game. However, with a player as talented as Michkov is, maybe the Stanley Cup-winning coach is learning to deal with the new wave of player.

Michkov has quickly become a popular player in Philadelphia, both because of his skill and his manuerisms. The Russian rookie received a game misconduct late in Philly’s 4-2 loss to the Utah Hockey Club on Sunday, and while he was heading to the locker room, he stopped to sign a fan’s water bottle.

In 28 games so far this season, Michkov has scored 11 goals and 16 assists for 27 points, leading all rookies in goals and points.