From pranks to a ‘personal assistant’: How Flyers are welcoming Matvei Michkov

VOORHEES, N.J. — With so much outside attention focused on one particular young Russian taking part in Philadelphia Flyers training camp, it was another young Russian who stole the show Friday in his session with local media.

Egor Zamula , who has spent as much time as anyone with Matvei Michkov , including as his temporary roommate last month, detailed an innocent prank played on the rookie that morning. While the specific details are a bit difficult to glean — after all, Zamula, 24, is still learning the finer points of the English language himself — the gist of it seemed to be that a message was displayed at Michkov's locker, written in both in English and Russian, questioning, in Zamula's words, "Did you already find a U.S. woman?"

"I'm like holy ... right away I'm like, it's too soon, guys, focus on hockey," Zamula said through a chuckle, before giving up that it was veteran defenseman Erik Johnson who was the brains behind the operation.

They're just trying to make the 19-year-old feel comfortable. Having Zamula around, as well as goalie Ivan Fedotov , will, naturally, help. Zamula spoke about how they, along with Michkov's mother, Maria, and Fedotov's wife, Nadezhda, have been spending nearly every day together for the last few weeks, from visiting New York to watch the U.S. Open tennis tournament to cooking up various Russian cuisines that evoke feelings of home.

"When I came back in August, into September, is when (Michkov's mom was) cooking some borscht soup, dumplings. I was (like), 'Thank you so much,'" Zamula said.

Zamula — labeled by Johnson as "Michkov's personal assistant" — has embraced what seems to be a mentor role. He can recall his days as a teenager in the WHL when he didn't have any countrymen with whom to converse about hockey, life or anything else, so he can easily put himself in Michkov's shoes.

Those lonesome days early into his time in North America left him "almost crying."

"It's very hard when you're going home after good games or bad games, you want to speak with somebody, and you're talking with TV or your chair," Zamula said. "(The) boys helped me a lot, and I tried to understand them. I started growing, so now it's my turn because I understand how hard (that is). I try to do my best to help (Michkov) get comfortable here. It's different for him, for sure, but he will be fine."

The Flyers naturally want to ensure that Michkov, like any young player they bring into the dressing room, forms bonds with all of his teammates, not just those who speak his native tongue. He's currently seated next to Johnson in the dressing room, which is probably by design as Johnson, now in his 17th NHL season, commands as much respect as anyone on the roster. After he was re-signed to a one-year contract in the offseason, Johnson, who shares the same agency as Michkov, mentioned that he had reached out to the youngster via Instagram.

Several Flyers have mentioned that Michkov is attempting to acclimate himself as much as possible and as quickly as possible. Johnson sees that, too.

"I'm sitting next to him in the locker room so I'll try and work with him on his English, but I think he's really working hard at it," Johnson said. "You can tell he's getting better. He's outgoing and personable, which is not something that you see all the time with new Russian players, so I think that's super encouraging for us and for him. I think he's got an appetite to get better at that. He seems willing to work and learn.

"Super nice kid. Comes with a smile on his face, which is important for a young guy. I'm going to help him as much as I can, joke with him, have fun with him."

Cam York echoed his teammate.

"It's been impressive," York said of Michkov. "To be able to learn the language as quickly as he has, it's been fun to watch."

Coach John Tortorella has enjoyed Michkov's presence so far, too, and not just because the winger could potentially give a needed jolt to the offense.

"He's got some personality, right? He played with some personality out at the rookie game. So yeah, I like players with personality," Tortorella said. "I think it's boring sometimes in this league where there's no personality with guys. You can see the puck follows him. He's skilled. You can see that."

It didn't take long for Tortorella to witness that camaraderie between Michkov and his new teammates. On Thursday, during the coach's notorious skating test, Michkov "fought through it. It wasn't easy for him. Guys were trying to help him out through the skate."

Not that Tortorella was surprised to see that. He mentioned over and over last season how he felt the dressing room was especially strong in the tight bond that was formed among the players after some subtractions were made the previous offseason.

That's vitally important now with a potential franchise cornerstone taking up residence.

"I'd put (this) room up against any team in this league as far as how that room conducted itself last year," Tortorella said. "It's one of the better rooms I've been in. For young guys coming in — especially, I know all the stuff going around (Michkov), I know there's a lot more around him. They'll help him. That's very important for a 19-year-old kid."

Still, Tortorella also suggested he's going to try and protect Michkov if he can. He doesn't want the team to turn into a one-man show in which the spotlight is always shining on the young winger.

"I'll tell you right now, the hype is going to be controlled by me because he's 19 years old," Tortorella said. "You guys (the media) aren't getting him every day. It's not going to be the Mich show because I think it's unfair to him."

Tamping down the hype, though, might be difficult, as Michkov's arrival has noticeably jolted the fan base. One team executive suggested that attendance for Saturday's season ticket holder event at the training facility was approximately double what it was last season. Orange, No. 39 Michkov sweaters were abundant.

The player noticed.

"I've never seen so many jerseys with (my name)," Michkov said through an interpreter Saturday.

There could be many more already in production, but in the meantime, Michkov's teammates seem determined to ensure his path is as smooth as possible.

"He's got those hands, that vision, he can make plays it seems," captain Sean Couturier said. "We'll see. I think we've got to be careful also to not judge right away. He's only 19, and he's coming to a new country. We've got to be patient and let him grow into the player he can be."

(Photo: Brian Babineau / NHLI via )