Al Morganti on Matvei Michkov joining Flyers: 'He's a star'

19-year-old Russian phenom Matvei Michkov has reportedly decided to join the Philadelphia Flyers for the upcoming season.

"This is big," Al Morganti said on Monday's 94WIP Midday Show. "Ironically, it may be bigger kind of outside of Philly than inside of Philly."

The Flyers selected Michkov with the No. 7 overall pick in last year's NHL Draft, despite knowing that Michkov had three-years remaining on his KHL contract in Russian.

"They're getting a skilled player, this is what they've needed for so long," Morganti said of Michkov. "A star. A guy that you're going to want to buy the jersey and take you out of your seat with great plays. Now, he's not big. I thought maybe he can play center, but that didn't work out. He's going to be a winger. But boy his skill level is off the chart."

Many people believe Michkov only fell to No. 7 because of the ambiguity of when he would come to the NHL.

"We he was available a year ago, a lot of people thought he was right there with [No. 1 overall pick Connor] Bedard, maybe in front of Bedard just on raw skill."

What does this do for the Flyers' rebuilding plans?

"I don't know that it pushes the rebuild to this year, but I know it pushes the rebuild—it accelerates it," said Morganti.