November 04, 2015
A couple of days ago, Hockey’s Future released a Top-50 Prospect List, and the Flyers were represented twice: Ivan Provorov (12th) and Travis Sanheim (21st). I will let you click on the link to see what they had to say about Sanheim, but here is part of the write-up on Provorov:
It has been a little while since we have seen a defenseman come in and take away time and space so well and so comfortably as a teenager like Ivan Provorov does. The Brandon Wheat Kings' star was a point-per-game player last season as a rookie and has returned there for the 2015-16 season. Provorov is a wonderful lateral skater with great first-step quickness.
Hockey's Future came out with their top 50 prospect list: pic.twitter.com/VVvLATHvuw
— Garret Hohl (@GarretHohl) November 3, 2015
Since chatting with ESPN prospect guru Corey Pronman three weeks ago, we have neglected the Baby Flyers. Let’s check in on how the Top-4 defensemen and Travis Konecny are doing.
Stats: 16 games played, 6 goals, 14 assists (20 points), 0 +/-
Sanheim, leading all Western Hockey League defensemen at over a point-per-game pace, puts together a shift here that showcases some ridiculous and admittedly reckless skating. Calgary is not one of the better offensive teams in the WHL, so Sanheim apparently needs to take some chances and create offense from the blue line. It looks like he is playing 3-on-3, even though it is in fact 5-on-5.
Stats: 16 games played, 2 goals, 13 assists (15 points), +17
Unlike Sanheim, Provorov plays for a juggernaut that has outscored opponents, 66-42. So while he hasn’t been quite as prolific offensively, it’s because he doesn’t have to be. The Flyers’ top prospect suffered an injury scare after taking this hit last week, but the good news is he was able to return to the game.
Ivan Provorov fell awkwardly on his arm at the end of the second period. He came up hunched over, holding his arm. pic.twitter.com/fRHUBXZVsA
— Sons of Penn (@SonsofPenn) October 28, 2015
Stats: 15 games played, 5 goals, 20 assists (25 points), +3
Konecny, who really turned some heads (well, at least mine) in Philly during training camp, has continued his fine form back in juniors. The slightly undersized forward is tied for first in the Ontario Hockey League in scoring. This is a pretty insane pass, and it kind of reminds me of something Steph Curry would pull in the NBA:
Philadelphia Flyers' prospect Travis Konecny with an absolute beauty of assist in the OHL yesterday... pic.twitter.com/ln3GDdvOdt
— Robert Söderlind (@HockeyWebCast) November 2, 2015
Stats: 9 games played, 1 goal, 4 assists (5 points), -2
Gostisbehere started kind of slow, but he recently scored his first professional goal on a strong shot from the point, something else we saw a couple of times with the big club in the preseason. Teammate Samuel Morin has one assist and an even plus-minus. Here is video of Ghost’s goal:
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