Prospect Info: Round 1, Pick 7: Ivan Provorov, D, Brandon (WHL)

[TCTC]

Sticking with my Suter comparison.

If he gets a permanent spot on PP1 then he could reach 50 points in a season.

Yep, he's the best comparable. Suter's production has been between 30 and 50 the last 10 years. I think that's roughly what we can expect from Provorov as well.
Both are smart defensemen, not very flashy, but can play and excel in every situation and eat a lot of minutes.

I think building your D around a Suter type defenseman is the best case scenario. Especially when you have players like Ghost to complement him.

 

[Captain Dave Poulin]

Haven't had the chance of watching him for a while. But I guess he still looks like a 30 year old vet?

I see his ceiling up there in 55'ish points. When you add his defensive game and smarts, he's a true #1D.

He looks more like he's from the future.

 

[04' hockey]

Provorov should stay on the PK.

After watching him play and his skill level why wouldn't you want to see him on the PP more.....the ONLY way to do that is to take away PK time, NO?

 

[Cyborg LeClair]

After watching him play and his skill level why wouldn't you want to see him on the PP more.....the ONLY way to do that is to take away PK time, NO?

No, he can play number 1 on both units. Thats the luxory of an elite #1 Dman. Its something we will come to understand as a fanbase, in time.

 

[Rebels57]

After watching him play and his skill level why wouldn't you want to see him on the PP more.....the ONLY way to do that is to take away PK time, NO?

No, he can play number 1 on both units. Thats the luxory of an elite #1 Dman. Its something we will come to understand as a fanbase, in time.

Yep. An elite 1D can handle both PP1 and PK1. I have no doubt Provy will be able to in time. Whether we need him to is another story. Sanheim and Ghost would make a pretty lethal PP1 point tandem as well.

 

[StoneHands]

After watching him play and his skill level why wouldn't you want to see him on the PP more.....the ONLY way to do that is to take away PK time, NO?

No, he's not an overly aggressive player and he doesn't seem to exert a ton of energy when skating so I see no reason who he won't be a guy that plays 24-26 minutes in the next couple seasons if he keeps progressing the way we hope.

ES: 19:00-19:30
PP: 3:00-3:30
PK: 2:30-3:00
TOI: 24:30-26:00

Though I would probably rather see him QB the 2nd PP since it's been so horrible for years and let Ghost and Sanheim run PP1. That would cut his PP time down to maybe 2:00-2:30 and allow him to play another minute of ES. In 2-3 years we could see (Insert center, maybe Rubtsov), Konecny, Lindblom, Provorov, and Myers on the 2nd PP which could be pretty lethal behind the first unit.

 

[denominator]

Hindsight time:

Provorov was my favourite defenceman in the 2015 draft. I knew he wasn't likely to be the top defenceman drafted, but to me he was the best bet for a top-6 career player.

I knew at the time that Hanifin would go first, and had Provorov/Werenski as the second defenceman picked. That being said, the 2015 draft is looking great for defencemen, as other first-rounders include Chabot, Carlo, and Juulsen.

For all the lols, in my 2015 mock, I had the Devils taking Provorov at 6th just ahead of the Flyers. I couldn't believe they passed on him to take Zacha, who had (and still has) big-bust potential. I had the Flyers (foolishly) taking Lawson Crouse at 7 - which I am sure everyone in Philadelphia would have immediately hated. In hindsight, I think had the Devils actually taken Provorov, the Flyers would have taken Werenski. Which wouldn't be too bad, but he's no Provorov.

 

[whitstifier]

Hindsight time:

Provorov was my favourite defenceman in the 2015 draft. I knew he wasn't likely to be the top defenceman drafted, but to me he was the best bet for a top-6 career player.

I knew at the time that Hanifin would go first, and had Provorov/Werenski as the second defenceman picked. That being said, the 2015 draft is looking great for defencemen, as other first-rounders include Chabot, Carlo, and Juulsen.

For all the lols, in my 2015 mock, I had the Devils taking Provorov at 6th just ahead of the Flyers. I couldn't believe they passed on him to take Zacha, who had (and still has) big-bust potential. I had the Flyers (foolishly) taking Lawson Crouse at 7 - which I am sure everyone in Philadelphia would have immediately hated. In hindsight, I think had the Devils actually taken Provorov, the Flyers would have taken Werenski. Which wouldn't be too bad, but he's no Provorov.

Was that last like tongue-in-cheek, or do you think there's some separation between Werenski and Provorov?

 

[denominator]

Was that last like tongue-in-cheek, or do you think there's some separation between Werenski and Provorov?

First, I will admit to being biased - I have seen a lot more of Provorov than Werenski.

I do see some separation between the two. I think Provorov is a much more dynamic player, and I think he anchors a team in a way that Werenski doesn't. Provorov can completely control the pace of the game with his puck control and passing. Contrast that to Werenski, where he doesn't seem to control the pace of the game at the same level, and really seems to be more of a powerplay specialist.

It's really early, and hard to judge based on 1 season of NHL play, which is where I think my bias comes in. I think Provorov has a much higher ceiling, and plays a style of game that can allow him to log huge minutes for a long time, because he controls the pace of the game so well rather than matching it. I could really see Werenski's game dropping off after a few seasons (see: Dion Phaneuf) where he ends up still being a top-4 NHL defenceman, but isn't at the same elite level he's showing this season. I don't see that drop off in Provorov's future.

 

[Cyborg LeClair]

Werenski is like Dougie Hamilton
Provorov is like Drew Doughty

I know which one I'd rather have

 

[Rebels57]

I fully expect Provorov to emerge as the clear-cut more valuable defensemen than Werenski within 2 years.

His defensive awareness is off the charts for his age.

Provorov only has 3 less even-strength points than Werenski despite the fact that Columbus has scored 46 more even-strength goals than the Flyers.

Sanheim/Werenski might be a more accurate comparable within a few years.

 

[Hiesenberg]

Provorov is going to score 30 pts on a team that struggled to score for the better part of the year and didn't get much power play time. And was 19 and also played first pairing minutes and also played with MacDonald.

Werenski is a really good player. Provorov has had a really good season.

 

[1865]

Provorov is going to end as being the best Flyers defenseman of all time. I'm THAT high on him.

 

[DrinkFightFlyers]

Where does Hanifin fit into the Provolone-Werenski debate? Seems like he's been jumped by these two.

 

[MacDonald4MVP]

Where does Hanifin fit into the Provolone-Werenski debate? Seems like he's been jumped by these two.

Yes.

 

[Rebels57]

Where does Hanifin fit into the Provolone-Werenski debate? Seems like he's been jumped by these two.

He's behind Slavin on Carolina as their best dman under 24 years old. He's going to be a good top 4 dman for a long time but I don't see him ever being "the guy" on his team like Provorov and Werenski.

 

[DrinkFightFlyers]

Did they bring him along too quickly or he just is not as good as advertised?

 

[Captain Dave Poulin]

Did they bring him along too quickly or he just is not as good as advertised?

He's not the finished article yet - there's no way we can tell at this point, I think.
Provy's ... everything at this age is super uncommon.

 

[Rebels57]

Did they bring him along too quickly or he just is not as good as advertised?

As Captain said, just not a finished product. The majority of defense prospects need to cook slowly. Slavin is 2 years older than Hanifin which makes a big difference. Provy and Werenski are exceptions to the rule.

 

[DrinkFightFlyers]

Good deal

 

[Hiesenberg]

Provorov having this high of a hockey IQ and being physically capable at 19/20 is very unheard of.

We got lucky at 7

 

[Hockeypete49]

Provorov having this high of a hockey IQ and being physically capable at 19/20 is very unheard of.

We got lucky at 7

What a game he played last night! Just a horse. I enjoy just watching him play every shift. Like you said, his hockey IQ is off the charts.

 

[Hiesenberg]

I mean, like I said, he might get 30 pts this year with a horse corpse of a partner, very little power play time and getting a very tough minute usage. As he becomes more accustomed to the league and with a better partner, I can see him as a 45-50 pt player.

 

[WIP CALLER]

I think the most impressive thing provy has done is be able to play at such a high level despite being paired with a guy that doesn't cover his man, can't pass, and makes horrible turnovers night after night. he was basically thrown to the wolves being paired with AMac and he's single handily made that pairing respectable. he not only is playing his own game at a high level making smart plays but he also saves amacs ass multiple times a night as well. just wait until provy has a real partner to play with... the top pair is going to be a force with him as the leader.

 

[YEM]

His season is not up there with the greatest rookie seasons in Flyers history [in no particular order, #88, Propp, Renberg, Peeters, Hexy, Renberg, and maybe even Ghost] but he's not too far away from those guys and this is the start of a special career