The Philadelphia Flyers’ first month of the 2024‑25 NHL season has been marked by a series of disappointing results. On the night of October 12, the team recorded its tenth loss of the season when the New York Rangers defeated the Flyers 3–2. The defeat came after a shaky start to the campaign, with the Flyers struggling to find consistency on the ice. A fan account, Flyersphans, posted a screenshot of the game’s statistics on Instagram, highlighting the low point totals of the team’s leading forwards, Porter Martone and Russian winger Matvei Mitkov. The post prompted discussion among followers about why the two players had contributed so little in the game. Mitkov, who is 21 years old and considered a top prospect, immediately liked the post. The like was noted by several fans, some of whom captured the interaction as evidence. About a week earlier, Mitkov had told NHL reporter Kevin Kurz that he had deleted the Instagram app from his phone in order to focus on his hockey development. The timing of the like has led some to speculate whether it came from someone close to the player. Mitkov has yet to secure a regular spot in the Flyers’ NHL lineup. Last summer, the organization sent one of its coaches to Russia to oversee the player’s training regimen. Since returning to the United States, Mitkov has appeared in 18 games this season, recording 10 goals and 3 assists for a total of 13 points.