Are These Ivan Provorov’s Last Games as a Flyer?

Ivan Provorov may very well be playing his last games as a member of the Philadelphia Flyers.

With just three games left to play in the 2022-23 Philadelphia Flyers season, Ivan Provorov’s tenure as a Flyer seems to be coming to an end.

Drafted seventh overall in the 2015 NHL Entry Draft, Flyers fans had Norris Trophy hopes for Provorov almost immediately. Even the Philadelphia Inquirer seemed to think Provorov could have been “the best homegrown talent in the franchises history”.

Wow. Talk about high expectations.

And yet here we are with just three games remaining. Provorov’s time in Philadelphia is coming to an end.

Early Career

During his first two seasons as a Flyer, Provorov would somewhat live up to the early hype as he would amass 23 goals and 48 assists while playing in all 164 games through the 2016-2018 seasons. Provorov would even pot 3 assists during the Flyers first-round playoff exit to Pittsburgh. A series in which Provorov suffered a Grade 3 AC separation, meaning he basically played with one arm.

Provorov would develop a reputation for his toughness, having never missed a game due to injury through his entire time in Philadelphia. You might recall Provorov missing three games during the 2021-22 season. Those were due to the NHL’s COVID Protocols.

2018-2021

Much like teammate Travis Sanheim’s career, Provorov’s statistics from year-to-year are inconsistent. Rising one season and then falling back again the next. His play and preparation up till the end of the 2021 season however, were not.

Provorov had arguably his best season as a Flyer in 2019-20, the year the Flyers acquired Matt Niskanen. He looked as comfortable as he’d ever been and helped lead the Flyers to within a point of first place in the Metro Division before the season was cut short.

Provorov would help the Flyers advance into the second round of the playoffs for the first time since 2011-12. During the playoffs Provorov would rack up eight points, including three goals. One of those was an overtime game-winner against the Islanders. Perhaps the biggest goal he’d score as a Flyer.

2021-2023

It sounded crazy to say a couple years ago and still sounds weird to say now but back in the 2021 season, Provorov’s name began to come up in trade rumors. Rumors Provorov didn’t want to be in Philadelphia any more began to swirl.

Who could blame him? The Flyers have been a laughing stock basically his entire tenure here from the top on down.

At just 26 years old one would assume Provorov would net the Flyers something in return. I’m tempering my expectations as the Arizona Coyotes failed to bring back anything worth mentioning for Jake Chychrun aside from a top 5 protected 2023 first round pick.

This season could arguably be Provorov’s worst yet. He seems to be mentally checked out and makes ghastly turnovers on an almost nightly basis now. You can clearly see the focus and desire to keep playing is not there.

Landing Spots

I have a few teams in mind but I’ll give my two best.

The Los Angeles Kings have been rumored to be red hot for Ivan Provorov for a couple seasons now. The would love to pair him alongside an aging Drew Doughty. The Kings would also be my ideal landing destination for Provorov as they have a handful of players I wouldn’t mind in a return.

Dennis Bernstein of The Fourth Period talked about the Kings potentially trading for Provorov over the off-season.

Listen to the episode below.

The St. Louis Blues are another team who have been connected to Provorov in trade rumors going back to last seasons NHL Trade Deadline. The Blues are rumored to be willing to move one of their late 2023 first round picks for a proven NHL player, such as Ivan Provorov.

So as Provorov’s career as a Philadelphia Flyer comes to a sputtering end, Flyers fans can do nothing but look ahead and hope to draft the next potential “best home grown defensive prospect in their history”.

Jim Iacovone is the Founder and Site Manager for HW Hockey
Photo: Matt Slocum/Associated Press
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