A report that Philadelphia Flyers winger Matvei Michkov wants a fresh start has put St. Louis Blues fans in a bit of a familiar spot, weighing a potential start against what it would cost to acquire him. There is no doubting the talent Michkov could bring to the Blues lineup, but the price to acquire him could and would likely be astronomical.
NHL insider Kevin Weekes stated that, from multiple league sources, Michkov "would likely want a new start elsewhere" with Philadelphia's slow start to the season and internal struggles. Weekes did note that Michkov is in the final year of his contract and would be a prime trade candidate for the Flyers. However, shortly following the tweet, Weekes received some pushback stating that no formal request has been made and the the statement by Weekes was news to the Flyers' front office.
For the Blues, the timing of any potential move could be a little ackward. Top line right winger Jimmy Snuggerud scored his 10th goal of the season Tuesday night against the Detroit Red Wings. At this time, St. Louis does not appear to need a top-line right winger. However, the question does need to be asked if Michkov is a player worth making room for anyway.
A true game-changer
Michkov, 21, has 10 goals in 20 games this season with 56 goals and 128 points in his 181 NHL-game career. The right winger is a dangerous scoring forward who rarely becomes available and is a finisher with a ceiling that can tilt games with a flick of the wrist. The Blues have found themselves fluctuating between a team scoring 5 or more goals in a single game and a team that seems allergic to even shooting the puck at the net.
For a team still building toward postseason contention, it is very easy to imagine him playing a game-defining role for the Blues before becoming a restricted free agent.
What the Blues would pay
Any deal would require a significant return. A realistic package could include former first round draft picks Dalibor Dvorsky and Justin Carbonneau, and potentially multiple first round draft picks.
Carbonneau, the 19th overall selection in the 2025 NHL Entry Draft scored 51 goals and 80 points in 60 QMJHL games last season. His first year with Springfield is off to a bit of a slow start with three goals and six points in 13 games with a minus-7 rating.
Nobody can be certain where a prospect like Carbonneau tops out at, which is the fair argument for at least listening. However, a potential future second-line center, a first-round sniper, and multiple picks or prospects is a lot to wager on one position.
A crowded market
Fans would be fooling themselves if the list of suitors across the NHL were not lining up immediately following the Weekes news. Philadelphia is 5-10-5, is not forced to sell on Michkov, and because he would be a restricted free agent, the Flyers keep his rights and can set a high asking price. Even a formal asking price would not guarantee a discount. Just ask Dylan Larkin.
The option already in the pipeline
The Blues have an alternative that would not cost a single draft pick or player to bring into the fold. Winger Dmitri Buchelnikov, 23, who plays for CSKA Moscow in the KHL, was acquired by the Blues in the Justin Faulk trade with Detroit.
His production is already taking a step in the right direction after scoring 15 goals and 54 points in 65 gams in 2024-25; a lengthy injury derailed his season last year to only 14 goals and 25 points in 44 games. He is healthy and on pace now to score 26 goals in 68 games this season. With his KHL contract running through the rest of the season, the Blues could bring him over as soon as 2027-28.
Buchelnikov is not Michkov. At 5-foot-10, his frame is a fair question, and the jump from the KHL to the NHL is never guaranteed. By comparison, one player costs picks, prospects, and a new contract. The other costs a roster spot and some patience, and would arrive on a team that has Snuggerud on a top line and Carbonneau continuing to develop in Springfield.
The second hurdle
Acquiring Michkov would not end the spending. The Blues would be negotiating his next contract the moment the trade is done, and it would land on a payroll that already has five forwards at $6.5m or more. Snuggerud, who is in the final season of his entry-level contract at $950k, will command a raise of his own after this season.
Buchnevich is signed through the 2030-31 season at $8m with a full no-trade clause, making the logjam even more difficult to make room. Adding Michkov to a group that already includes all of these wingers, nd the Blues would be paying a premium for depth they have spent years building.
The bar for this trade could be very high. Michkov is a player who could change the Blues' floor and ceiling offensively, and that is exactly why the answer to what he cost has to make sense.
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