Philadelphia Flyers Defensemen Staying Put At 2016/17 Trade Deadline
By Joel
General Manager Ron Hextall and the Philadelphia Flyers will be taking calls on veteran defensemen Mark Streit and Michael Del Zotto as the deadline approaches.
Philadelphia Flyers
Below we take a look at two names on the Flyers backend that won’t be going anywhere on deadline day .
Shayne Gostisbehere
The 23-year old offensive defenseman is a key part of General Manager Ron Hextall’s plan going forward in Philadelphia. Ghost has been in a sophomore slump this season with just 22 points in 52 games. ”Ghost” finished second last season in rookie of the year voting (Calder memorial). Ghost a Florida Native broke onto the scene last season scoring 46 points in 64 games, setting a rookie defenseman record with points in 15 straight games. Head Coach Dave Hakstol has scratched “Ghost” six times this season.
"General manager Ron Hextall said that expectations of Gostisbehere from “the hockey world” were “not fair.”“There’s a learning curve for a young player and it doesn’t happen in days, weeks or months,” Hextall said. “It’s a couple years and these kids are going through it right now.”“Part of sitting out with young guys, I don’t like it, Hak doesn’t like it, they don’t like it, nobody necessarily likes it, but it’s what the coaching staff deems the right thing right now and I’m fine with it. In terms of the minutes these kids have played this year, they’ve played a decent amount of minutes. I’m happy.” (Dave Isaac) (courierpost)"
Related Story: Philadelphia Flyers: Hakstol Singlehandedly Ruining Gostisbehere
Ivan Provorov
Arguably the Philadelphia Flyers best defenseman at age 19. Provorov who leads the Flyers in minutes played at 21:37 of average ice time per game has an elite hockey sense playing in all situations. Ron Hextall selected Provorov seventh overall in the 2015 NHL Entry Draft and views the Russian defender as a franchise player wearing the orange and black for many seasons to come. Provy leads in defensive points shared at 2.7, and blocked shots with 117.
"Provorov was one of the best defenders available in the 2015 NHL Draft, and now he is Philadelphia’s most talented blue line prospect. A lot is expected from the young defenseman, who brings offensive skills, good skating ability and high hockey IQ. While Provorov can aid with offense, he plays a 200-foot game and is a physical defender. (hockeysfuture.com)"
Provorov is turning heads everywhere he goes Roger Millions of Sportsnet West tweeted this after the Flyers visited Calgary: