Not gonna make a big deal out of it but Skjei over Provorov was simply not the right choice IMO.
Laine-Matthews-Nylander
Tkachuk-Point-Marner
Rantanen-Aho-Guentzel
Buchnevich-Brown-Mantha
Wood-Gourde-Bjorkstrand
Provorov-Werenski
Skjei-Zaitsev
Benning-Montour
Stecher-Theodore
Murray
Saros
Brossoit
nylander
Probably need to squeeze Morrissey in on the third pairing.
Skjei was a beast in the playoffs though. That's the difference.
Not gonna make a big deal out of it but Skjei over Provorov was simply not the right choice IMO.
He became the Flyers 1D like 2 months into his rookie season at 19, led them in ice time, was the only rookie to lead his team in ice time, had 30 points despite not playing on PP1, and won the Barry Ashbee Trophy for Most Outstanding Defensemen on the Flyers all while dragging around Andrew ****ing MacDonald
Congrats to Skjei and the rest though.
I haven't checked previous All Rookie Teams, however I wonder if Skjei got selected because the Rangers did make the playoffs. Looking at the players on there this year with the exception of Laine who you couldn't leave off, everyone else's team also made the playoffs this season.Shea is a ridiculous skater with size and developed his offensive game out of nowhere. Projects to be a #2 dman. One of only 2 good defenders on a playoff Ranger team which was steamrolling people when Ivan Provorov was becoming the Flyers 1D. Shea got 39 pts on a Ranger team that made the playoffs and hung on in the mighty metro all while battling Alain Vignault for ice time. Vignault is notorious for ****ing over rookies even when they play well. Ask any rookie this year not named Vesey.