Star rookie Matvei Michkov took flight for the Philadelphia Flyers last season, but he wasn't able to adapt and do it all on his own.
Some of that responsibility was left up to Flyers European player development and scouting consultant Oleg Znarok, a four-time KHL coach of the year and Olympic Gold medalist as the head coach of the Olympic Athletes of Russia.
Znarok, 62, has worked with many of the NHL's Russian stars before Michkov and the Flyers, including Ilya Kovalchuk, Igor Shesterkin, Ilya Sorokin, Kirill Kaprizov, and Pavel Datsyuk, who all featured on that 2017-18 Olympic Gold team.
In a recent interview with ЛЁД (Translated: Ice) Special, Michkov took a moment to praise Znarok and his work with him thus far, and offered a little insight into what Znarok contributes to the Flyers.
"Oleg Valerievich is a separate story. He is a very legendary person, a great one. And you should always listen to him, because he is a person with a lot of experience," Michkov said of Znarok.
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"He has been through a lot and, of course, helps the players a lot and gives advice in different moments. And we are talking not only about hockey now, but also in life. He works with European players, including Russian ones."
At the time of this writing, the three-time KHL Gagarin Cup winner is still listed in his consultative role on the Flyers' staff directory, which would indicate that the veteran bench boss will reprise his role overseeing Michkov and the other foreign players for at least another season.
"He is in the locker room, constantly in this kitchen, and knows everything about everyone," added Michkov.
Znarok, like Michkov, will be dealing with some change in the locker room this year, too, at least as it relates to the people he'll have to work with every day.
New head coach Rick Tocchet will be the third head coach the two have dealt with at the NHL level, at least if ex-interim head coach Brad Shaw is included in that equation.
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But that's partly why Znarok is here, right? To be around the group and provide stability and mentorship to Michkov, Egor Zamula, Ivan Fedotov, and other European players.
And, according to Michkov, Znarok's appointment has been a big positive so far.