Could Ivan Provorov be on the move from the Flyers?
By Scott Cole
When you are a seventh-place team in a competitive division and yet you have talent, teams will come to knock on your door or call you up. They aren’t coming around to say “Hey”.” They want to know if anyone could possibly be for sale. And if so, what’s the price? The Flyers have some pretty desirable pieces for a team looking for a rental player or long-term addition.
In terms of rentals, there is James van Riemsdyk and Justin Braun. Both players will be unrestricted free agents in June and will most likely not be Flyers anymore. Any team looking to contend could take interest in these two veterans as a nice addition moving forward.
But what about players who are signed for the long haul? Yes, there has been some speculation about Kevin Hayes since he was benched. Some hockey experts are thinking that one of the Flyers’ three goalies could move…including Carter Hart. But since Samuel Ersson is doing well and Hart is having a great season, could one be on the move and how high could the price go?
Ivan Provorov could be on the Flyers trading block
One name, however, is starting to get more chatter. That is Ivan Provorov. Provy is the highest-paid defender on the Flyers and is the third highest-paid player currently on the roster (he’d be fourth if Sean Couturier weren’t on the IR). He has two more years on his contract which pays $6,750,000.
Provorov has been an enigma on this team. There are times when he seems amazing. There are times when he is not playing like a first-line blueliner. There are times it appears that he just doesn’t plain care. It’s because of this, rumors of him being traded have persisted for a while.
While he has talent, it really depends on who he is paired up with. He did great when he was paired up with Matt Niskanen in the 2019-20 season. That year the Flyers went deep in the playoff bubble and he had one of his best statistical seasons.
This year, he’s been shuffled from first line to second line often. It’s clear he wants to be a first-liner, but he doesn’t always play like one. He has had one of the worst offensively productive seasons in his career; only two goals and 12 assists so far this season. The emergence of Cam York, with Egor Zamula waiting in the AHL, could make Provy expendable. The surprise play of Nick Seeler also doesn’t help his cause.
If the rumors are true that Provorov is unhappy in Philly, then by all means ship him out. Good players shouldn’t have to rely on a wing partner to make them better. Rather, good players make their teammates better.
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Travis Sanheim is locked up for a long time as is Rasmus Ristolainen. Tony DeAngelo signed an extension after being traded. York and Seeler are playing well. While I’d rather see Risto traded than Provy, Provy will probably get you more back. It might be time to consider cutting ties if the price is right.