Philadelphia Flyers: How Ivan Provorov Can Help The Team

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The Flyers took another defenseman this year in the draft, making it three years in a row. Yet, no one in Philadelphia was against it. Why? Because this year’s defenseman is Ivan Provorov. This a player many scouts believe, when looking back on the draft, could be the best defenseman to come out of the draft this year.

With that said, obviously there’s a lot to get excited about with Provorov. Whether it be his skill or his maturity, you know from hearing from different sources around the hockey realm that this is a player built for NHL contention. TSN’s Craig Button called him a “complete defenseman” and said, “Ivan understands the game extremely well and is able to use his considerable talents to contribute in any area and every situation. Calm, poised and competitive he is in command when he’s on the ice. The best defenseman in this draft and I see him as a number one who will anchor a blue line.”

Calm, poised and competitive he is in command when he’s on the ice.

That is what is wanted in a player beyond great talent to make it in the NHL, poise. Poise is what the Flyers need on their blueline, someone to slow the game to his pace and be very careful with the puck. The Flyers have been notoriously known for poor transition play, which coincidentally, Provorov is excellent at.

There’s one good example of Provorov’s great puckhandling, smoothing skating and great awareness- and it is all in this play:

Another area of the game the Flyers could get some help on is the powerplay. Provorov scored 10 of his 15 goals last season on the powerplay, and was second on his team in PPGs. This all can be attributed to his aforementioned skills, and ability to make plays happen.

The Flyers’ new head coach Dave Hakstol even had some praise to give from when he saw him play a couple years ago in the USHL when he was talking to TCN’s Breakfast on Broad:

"“It’s a big step. I saw him play two years ago when he was a rookie in the USHL as a young guy. The thing I know there, he didn’t play like a rookie. He’s got great presence, a little bit ahead of his time in terms of maturity. Whether or not he’s ready to make the step and whether it’s the right step for him and our team, those things have to be answered as we get into training camp and the exhibition season. But he’s a special young man on and off the ice.”"

The Flyers could definitely benefit greatly from Provorov’s presence on team, as long as he proves he is ready in training camp and pre-season. Having a young, mature player like him that can bring a lot of energy to the team is a great prospect for the team. His status on the roster is something to watch all the way until regular season opens up in early October.

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