“Winning, winning, is the difference from this year to last year,” a Flyers star defenceman in Ivan Provorov said to me in terms of his game in late December-early January. Provorov is a star already, and he’s only just 23-years-old. This young star is making his 6-year $40.50 million deal ($6.75 Million AAV) look like a bargain at this rate. Provorov elevated his game this season, and he contributes that to ‘Winning.’
This young stud in Provorov is quickly becoming the face of the franchise for years to come. Proof in the pudding came after a game on November 2, 2017, against the St. Louis Blues. The orange and black defeated the Blues 2-0, as Provorov played nearly half the game amassing 27:11 in ice time. This marked his fourth consecutive game that he was above 27 minutes in ice time. Even more impressive, Provorov was a human shield by blocking a whopping 10 shots. His nine blocked shots through two periods were a franchise record, a record that has stood since 1997.
The former Wheat King product, in Provorov, has registered 43 goals, and registered 90 apples for a total of 133 points in 315 games played for his NHL career. Provorov has earned this new/fair contract, especially after playing with one arm in Game 6 of the 2018 playoff series against the Pittsburgh Penguins.
Provorov averaged 24:51 in TOI (Time on Ice), per night this season. He plays against top line night after night, along with his partner Matt Niskanen, “He’s a great player, with tons of experience,” Provorov said of Niskanen, “He does everything right out there. He’s very steady, and makes the right plays all the time. It’s fun to play with him.” Moreover, Phase 2 (Re-opening of facilities) starts Monday June 8, 2020, and you can bet your bottom dollar that this workaholic in Provorov will be the first one at the Flyers Skate Zone in Voorhees, NJ on Monday.
Provorov has a Jaromir Jagr like work mentality. He works his butt off just like Jagr did, and I’m sure Provorov will be given the keys to the Skate Zone on Monday like Jagr was given in 2011-12. One can bet he will be there for 15 hours a day skating, lifting, and getting back in game shape. In addition, Provorov is getting ready to play approximately 40 minutes per night in the playoffs (Sarcasm, but he will play close to 30 minutes a game). Head Coach Alain Vigneault might have some difficulty pulling this kid off the ice, he’s just that darn good. Plus, with all this time off it only bodes well for Provorov and the Flyers.
This star defenceman in Provorov also contributed his improved play this season to Alain Vigneault and the coaching staff. The Flyers and Provorov are just a match made in heaven, and the City of Philadelphia is finally blessed with a defenceman that could wind up becoming a great player.
I could not tell you how happy I was when GM Ray Shero of the NJ Devils picked Pavel Zacha with the 6th pick in the 2015 first round of the NHL Draft. I knew that meant Ro Hextall was going to get the next heart and soul of the Philadelphia Flyers, Ivan Provorov, with pick 7. I called my son to make sure he was watching when Hextall announced Provorov’s name in the next ten minutes. Hextall did just that and we had our 2nd “blue chip” defenseman in two years with Ron Hextall as our new GM. Of course; Hextall went for Travis Sanheim the year before. Hextall’s draft picks now are the class of the NHL and Provorov is the team’s true leader. Bob Clarke is who he reminds me of. A player who speaks with his actions on and off of the ice, not vocally. He does not have to say a word. It’s obvious he is a man on a mission. I love what Provorov brings to the Flyers and Philadelphia. It’s that lunch pail spirit, hard work and honesty. Thank you Ivan Provorov and a nod of gratitude to Ron Hextall to, maybe the best, or 2nd best GM in Flyer’s history(No disrespect to Keith Allen here). Gregg Lorenz