FLYERS SIGN PROVOROV TO ENTRY-LEVEL CONTRACT
The Flyers signed their first pick of the 2015 NHL Draft, defenseman
Ivan Provorov, to an entry-level contract on Friday. Drafted seventh overall, the highly touted Russian defenseman received the rookie maximum of $925,000 plus bonuses.
The quick signing is certainly interesting. The Flyers' latter first-round pick,
Travis Konecny, will likely be signed over a more relaxed time frame. A year ago, 2014 first-round pick
Travis Sanheim received his entry-level contract on September 25th; a temporary parting gift of sorts on the same day he was reassigned to the Western Hockey League's Calgary Hitmen. In 2013, the Flyers signed
Samuel Morin on Sept. 17 after making him the 11th overall pick of the draft.
It is far from a guarantee that Provorov -- who has yet to experience his first NHL development camp, rookie camp, full NHL camp or preseason game -- will earn an immediate spot in the Flyers' lineup. Flyers general manager
Ron Hextall is very conservative about player development timetables, and would rather err on the side of bringing even top prospects along slowly rather than rushing them into NHL duty. Provorov would be under immediate pressure to deliver if he plays in the NHL.
Nevertheless, Provorov may be the exception. He is already physically mature and polished in his game and is close to being NHL ready. Actually, that is is why some critics question how much further he can continue to improve from his present level (a ludicrous notion because, if that was the case for any 18-year-old player, gaining experience, and having access to coaching and mentoring would be meaningless to his development).
Provorov will certainly get a long look in camp from new head coach
Dave Hakstol. But so will Sanheim, Morin and
Shayne Gostibehere. If Provorov shines to the point where he markedly outplays both veterans and older prospects, he will make the NHL team. Anything short of that and the odds of jumping right into the NHL decrease markedly.
It also should not be assumed that the very westernized Provorov will be installed as a defense partner with soon-to-be 33-year-old recent import
Evgeny Medvedev simply because the two players are Russian.
Medvedev himself is going to need to undergo an adjustment period. He has spent his entire career and life in Russia, so he has to get acclimated to the culture, language and the small-rink game as well as the NHL pacing. He is not currently in position to mentor Provorov when he is in a new environment at a rather advanced stage of his career. If anything, during training camp, it will be Provorov doing any necessary translation and filling in his older teammate on life in North America.
Medvedev had a couple of North American teammates while played for Ak Bars Kazan and is well-traveled for international tournaments, but this is still new turf for him. A pairing with an experienced NHL player such as
Nick Schultz might make for a quicker on-ice transition rather than one with a teenage rookie. Schultz has worked with dozens of different blueline partners at the NHL level and is an outstanding communicator.
Of course, the purpose of training camp is to try out different combinations in practice and game conditions. Provorov will be paired with a variety of partners, including Medvedev.
In most ways, the Flyers are in an enviable position in having five bonafide NHL defense prospects in the system: the aforementioned four plus
Robert Hägg. However, it also creates a challenge for giving everyone sufficient ice time, finding the right chemistry and letting each develop on his own timetable while also keeping the bigger-picture goals in mind.
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DEL ZOTTO FILES FOR ARBITRATION
Flyers defenseman
Michael Del Zotto filed for salary arbitration on Friday. This is a procedural issue and does not preclude the two sides from coming to an agreement. It does mean there is still work to do, because there is likely a significant gap between the dollars and term that the Del Zotto camp has in mind and what the Flyers are offering.
Del Zotto can become an unrestricted free agent next summer, which drives up the price tag for any multi-year arrangement. A year ago, when Del Zotto was cast aside by both the New York Rangers and Nashville Predators and then sat unsigned on the unrestricted free agent market until August, he had no leverage. He signed a discount (one year, $1.3 million) "prove yourself" contract with the Flyers.
The player had a generally good 2014-15 season. He was strong in October to mid-November. After a backslide and a lengthy stint as a healthy scratch in late November to early December, he played well for most of the remaining season. In particular, Del Zotto re-established himself as a threat joining the rush up the left side as well as a strong breakout passer. Defensively, he was adequate and more physical than many expected.
Throughout recent weeks, Hextall has characterized talks with Del Zotto's agent,
Don Meehan, as "cordial." Meehan is one of the NHL's most seasoned agents, having represented hundreds of players and a few dozen Flyers over the years. While a strong advocate for his clients, Meehan is not usually one to get into very contentious negotiations even if the two sides are not close in terms. It's usually very businesslike.
Hextall has also been through a heap of difficult contract negotiations from both sides of the table. He knows hockey is a business first and foremost.
During his first playing stint with the Flyers, Hextall hired the controversial
Ritch Winter as his agent. Shortly thereafter, he staged a holdout from the Flyers while still under contract. The same thing nearly happened the following year -- and Hextall was on the brink of being traded -- until he fired Winter and hired
Steve Mountain to represent him.
In the summer of 1996, during Hextall's second stint as a Flyer, he and the Flyers were far apart on contract terms after what arguably was the second-best season of his NHL career. Hextall filed for arbitration and a hearing date was set. On the day of the hearing, the Flyers and agent Mountain met in a last-ditch effort to come to terms. Roughly an hour before the scheduled start time, the two sides reached an agreement.
As a general manager, Hextall knows what his budget is. He knows what his short-term and long-term plans are for his roster. He knows how long of a contract (two years, in my opinion) would be fair to both sides and give his team some flexibility. No doubt the Flyers' current offer to Del Zotto will increase as arbitration draws nearer.
Even if the case winds up in arbitration -- where a one-year award is the norm but a two-year award is possible -- the Flyers and the Del Zotto camp will likely deal with whatever the outcome is and move on to next season. Arbitration is never ideal because the team has to present a case for why the player is not worth the money his agent seeks. If the player is present, it can be upsetting and demoralizing.
However, not every NHL general manager is a frothing-at-the-mouth attack dog ala
Mike Milbury reducing his starting goalie,
Tommy Salo, to tears at an arbitration hearing. Oddly enough, Salo went on to become a hockey general manager in Sweden.
Was the quick signing of Provorov intended to send a message to the Del Zotto camp that the team may have other viable options if they are unwilling to compromise? To some degree, yes. But this isn't Meehan's first rodeo. He already knows where his client stands in the Flyers' plans and is anticipating their strategy just as Hextall realizes where the other camp is heading.
In reality, the two could almost even switch roles and argue the other side's case. That is why savvy player agents such as
Ray Shero and
Bill Zito seamlessly switched sides from agents to team management. It's how former players who experienced contract squabbles with teams during their playing days can go on to be the ones trying to hold the budgetary line.
A final anecdote about Hextall's own contract history during his playing days. Before his final season as a player (1998-99), his game was in decline and he was slated to be the backup to recently signed
John Vanbiesbrouck.
In this era, the CBA still allowed for players and teams to restructure existing contracts. That was how Hextall, years earlier, got his deal restructured after replacing Winter with Mountain. Now, he had little leverage, and both he and Flyers general manager
Bob Clarke knew it. Clarke informed Hextall he had two choices: pay cut or waiver wire.
Hextall was not happy, of course, but choose the first option. The next year, after his retirement, the Flyers hired him to begin the long path through scouting and player personnel that eventually led to him becoming the Flyers' general manager after a lengthy stint in Los Angeles.
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MCDONALD SIGNS, JONES DEPARTS
The Flyers made a depth signing on Friday, signing former New York Islanders winger
Colin McDonald to a one-year, two-way contract. McDonald is a lunchpail type of forward; a big, grinding winger who plays a responsible game and is a solid citizen in the dressing room.
On the same day the Flyers signed McDonald, they waved goodbye to a player they signed last summer: center/winger
Blair Jones, who signed a one-year contract with the Vancouver Canucks. Jones made the Flyers opening night roster in 2014-15 but was soon sent to the AHL's Lehigh Valley Phantoms, where he want through an injury-riddled season.
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FLYERS MAKE DILLABAUGH HIRING OFFICIAL
Although widely known for over a week, the Flyers finally made official the hiring of
Kim Dillabaugh as their new goaltending coach. The team issued a press release on Friday to confirm Dillabaugh's addition to the coaching staff.
Shortly thereafter, Hextall issued a brief statement on the hiring.
"Kim is a highly dedicated and intelligent goalie coach who has a proven track record. We are very pleased to add him to our staff," said Hextall.
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TODAY IN FLYERS HISTORY FROM FlyersAlumni.org
With July 4th being Independence Day in the United States, the Flyers have rarely made transactions on that date. Here's a look at the Flyers' transaction history on July 4:
2001: The Flyers complete a two-year contract agreement with veteran Czech center
Jiri Dopita. The fourth NHL organization to hold Dopita's rights, the Flyers were the first to finally convince the reluctant Czech Extraliga and international tournament star to come to North America. Unfortunately, he was already 32 years old by the time he joined the Flyers and struggled to make the transition to the NHL.
2006: The Flyers sign
Randy Robitaille as a free agent.
2013: The Flyers re-sign
Adam Hall to a one-year contract extension.
2014: The Flyers re-sign
Chris VandeVelde to a one-year contract extension.
FLYERS ALUMNI BIRTHDAY
Two-stint power forward
Mike Knuble was born July 4, 1972. Despite being an American citizen raised in Michigan, he was born in Toronto to Latvian-born parents.
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