Philadelphia Flyers Prospect Profile: Ivan Provorov
By Leo Kennedy
You’ve probably heard the name, you probably know he’s good, but how much do you know about the Philadelphia Flyers’ hottest prospect?
After a stellar rookie season and nomination for the Calder Trophy, Defenseman Shayne Gostisbehere quickly became a fan favorite. This is fantastic for a Philadelphia Flyers team that has struggled defensively in the not-too-distant past and has had a difficult time raising defensemen in-house, forcing them to trade for players who may or may not work out in our system. However, the best part about the whole situation isn’t even Gostisbehere’s outstanding success, it’s the fact that he’s not even the best defensive prospect the Flyers have.
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Ivan Provorov, the 19-year-old Russian-born blueliner, has had a lot of hype surrounding him, and the hype is real. Provorov spent his 2015-16 season playing for the Brandon Wheat Kings, a Canadian junior team in the Western Hockey League. This was his second season with the Wheat Kings, whose home ice is in Brandon, Manitoba.
Provorov was named the WHL’s top defenseman, averaging a respectable 1.18 points per game, second among defensemen to another Philadelphia Flyers prospect, Travis Sanheim of the Calgary Hitmen (note: Sanheim was sent to the Philadelphia Flyers’ affiliate Lehigh Valley Phantoms at the tail end of the American Hockey League season.) Making up those 1.18 points per game were 21 goals and 52 assists in only 62 games. His most impressive stat from the season, however, was his remarkable 64+/- rating for the season.
Originally hailing from Yaroslavl, Russia, Provorov has quickly risen through the ranks in the hockey world. The 2013-14 season was his first in North America as he played for the Cedar Rapids RoughRiders of the United States Hockey League.
After just one season in the continent, he was selected by the Brandon Wheat kings, 30th overall in the CHL import draft. Again, after just one season in Canada, Provorov was selected 7th overall in the 2015 NHL Entry Draft by the Philadelphia Flyers and signed an entry-level contract on July 3rd of that year.
Provorov has had great success on the International scene as well, representing Russia and earning silver medals in both the 2015 and 2016 World Junior Championships.
Another shining element of the young blueliner is his winning attitude. When asked in an interview about his chance of making the jump to hockey’s biggest stage at such a young age, Provorov had this to say: “If you work hard and are willing to sacrifice and do everything you can to make the team and get better every day, I think you can make the transition at any age.”
Next: Where do the Flyers Stand this Offseason?
Flyers’ General Manager Ron Hextall is known for his patience and hesitance to promote a young player to the NHL too early but expect to see Provorov wearing the orange and black in the 2015-2016 season. He will likely start out with limited minutes, much like Gostisbehere this past season, but with his combination defensive prowess and ability to move the puck on offense, he will be a valuable ace in the hole for the Philadelphia Flyers in the coming season.