Provorov would be somewhere in the middle. He is NOT currently a projected franchise defenseman (more of a 2-3, but that would be quite OK) but, who knows? It's possible.

Seth Jones has the luxury of being able to develop behind Shea Weber and Roman Josi. He still had a rough rookie year and a better second season. It's also a MUCH lower-pressure environment in Nashville than Philly. What do you think Flyers fans will do if Provorov has an identical rookie year (25 points, minus-23 at even strength in 72 games) to Jones? Think they will be patient and understanding or do you think they will get all over him as he's navigating the steep learning curve that even the most talented of young D men have to go through?

Ekblad is a rare case, and not the rule.

Victor Hedman struggled plenty as a young D. He's overcome it, but people were starting to wonder if he'd blossom. He really didn't benefit from having so much thrown on him so quickly in Tampa; rather, he overcame it.

It takes a lot of time and patience to develop defensemen. I would rather see Provorov be "too good" for the WHL for another year than do OK for 20 games or so for the Flyers and then hit the wall.... which is what happens more often than not even with the very best young D who make fast-tracked arrivals.
- bmeltzer

Slightly confused here? Thought Buttons and all of these prognosticators were calling him better than Hanafin and most likely to be a #1 D from this draft class?

Slightly confused here? Thought Buttons and all of these prognosticators were calling him better than Hanafin and most likely to be a #1 D from this draft class?
- section32

Some feel he's the most complete D-man and NHL-ready in the draft. Button is the only one who stuck his neck out in calling him a potential franchise D-man. The general consensus is a two or a three but his offensive game levels off about where it is now (personally, I find that notion ridiculous for an 18-year-old player who seems to get better and better every year).

FWIW, Button also thinks Sanheim will be a bonafide top-pairing NHL defenseman.

The Flyers will gladly take one of the two developing along those lines. Having both do it would be an absolute franchise changer.

The worst thing that ever happened to Luke Schenn was THN dubbing him "the next Adam Foote", being drafted into the ultra-high pressure Toronto market, being immediately placed into the NHL lineup and then being expected to live up to the hype of becoming an elite shutdown D in quick order.
- bmeltzer

Luke Schenn has never had Adam Foote's first step. Adam Foote, in his prime, would've skated circles around Luke Schenn but it's not my job to evaluate players.

Some feel he's the most complete D-man and NHL-ready in the draft. Button is the only one who stuck his neck out in calling him a potential franchise D-man. The general consensus is a two or a three but his offensive game levels off about where it is now (personally, I find that notion ridiculous for an 18-year-old player who seems to get better and better every year).

FWIW, Button also thinks Sanheim will be a bonafide top-pairing NHL defenseman.

The Flyers will gladly take one of the two developing along those lines. Having both do it would be an absolute franchise changer.
- bmeltzer

Even the Kings only hit 1 out of 2 (Hickey/Doughty) in consecutive drafts so expectations should be tempered that they both make it.

Luke Schenn has never had Adam Foote's first step. Adam Foote, in his prime, would've skated circles around Luke Schenn but it's not my job to evaluate players.
- Flyers_01

I agree with you. But when The Hockey News draft preview uses such a comparison and has a stand-alone feature on a player, it raises the expectations bar very high.

Even the Kings only hit 1 out of 2 (Hickey/Doughty) in consecutive drafts so expectations should be tempered that they both make it.
- Flyers_01

Yes, but Hickey was a surprise pick in that spot. Karl Alzner, followed by Keaton Ellerby, was the general consensus top D available.

Sometimes an early first-round "reach" pays off (the ultimate case being Peter Forsberg). Sometimes it doesn't (ala Hickey).

Kinda think this team will look like a poop show on the ice like last year

Let's give him one more year in chl. Would rather not burn a year off the elc already.

The early signing is very curious

Some feel he's the most complete D-man and NHL-ready in the draft. Button is the only one who stuck his neck out in calling him a potential franchise D-man. The general consensus is a two or a three but his offensive game levels off about where it is now (personally, I find that notion ridiculous for an 18-year-old player who seems to get better and better every year).

FWIW, Button also thinks Sanheim will be a bonafide top-pairing NHL defenseman.

The Flyers will gladly take one of the two developing along those lines. Having both do it would be an absolute franchise changer.
- bmeltzer

From a historical perspective, I can't think of another time where the organization had this many defensive prospects who could be legitimate NHL contributors in the future.

I do believe Hakstol was in part (probably pretty significant) for his ability to teach players and get them to improve. Certainly the NHL is a different animal then college, training camp is going to be very interesting.

I agree with you. But when The Hockey News draft preview uses such a comparison and has a stand-alone feature on a player, it raises the expectations bar very high.
- bmeltzer

It does, and that comparison did not do Luke Schenn any favors.

Do you think Holmgren traded for Schenn solely based on his play and what his eyes were telling him or also on expectations placed on him from the draft?

I still wonder if Steve Eminger had been a 3rd round pick with the caps instead of a 1st round pick if the Flyers would've given up a 1st to acquire him as what you saw on the ice with the caps was pretty much what you saw on the ice with the Flyers.

The worst thing that ever happened to Luke Schenn was THN dubbing him "the next Adam Foote", being drafted into the ultra-high pressure Toronto market, being immediately placed into the NHL lineup and then being expected to live up to the hype of becoming an elite shutdown D in quick order.
- bmeltzer

Schenn was put in a very position by the one and only Brian Burke. His face was plastered all over the city and the Air Canada Centre, he had special ticket promos under his name and the kid was just 18. It was a classic case or " rushing" a young player. The fans here bought it and really believed he would be a Pronger type player

I still wonder if Steve Eminger had been a 3rd round pick with the caps instead of a 1st round pick if the Flyers would've given up a 1st to acquire him as what you saw on the ice with the caps was pretty much what you saw on the ice with the Flyers.
- Flyers_01

we will never know but I would think the answer to that would have been no.

It's an interesting debate on Provorov, but I trust Hextall to make the right decision. If he's as advertised, he'll be up with the Flyers in the not too distant future.

Re: Provorov - the worst thing you could ever do is rush a kid that's not ready. There's plenty of time to establish himself; one more year of junior to physically and mentally mature would best serve him and the team long term.

Rushing kids can be such a career killer...I don't want to see that happen with him.

Some feel he's the most complete D-man and NHL-ready in the draft. Button is the only one who stuck his neck out in calling him a potential franchise D-man. The general consensus is a two or a three but his offensive game levels off about where it is now (personally, I find that notion ridiculous for an 18-year-old player who seems to get better and better every year).

FWIW, Button also thinks Sanheim will be a bonafide top-pairing NHL defenseman.

The Flyers will gladly take one of the two developing along those lines. Having both do it would be an absolute franchise changer.
- bmeltzer

Oddly enough, we were (and still are) hoping Morin and Ghost can be significant impact D men prior to Sanheim and Provorov coming into the picture. It's a great problem to have, but it seems we have a log jam in front of them anyway. Can you think of another organization that currently is this well stocked with D prospects like this? Pretty impressive to be done in 3 drafts over two years.

Poor Hagg, such an after-thought. I really hope he performs well and rises to the top of the prospect pool this upcoming season. That would be an even better problem to have.

Re: Provorov - the worst thing you could ever do is rush a kid that's not ready. There's plenty of time to establish himself; one more year of junior to physically and mentally mature would best serve him and the team long term.

Rushing kids can be such a career killer...I don't want to see that happen with him.
- Pacificgem

See... Luke Schenn

There's just no point to having Provorov up with the Flyers this coming season. Is he really likely to make the defense better over Streit, MDZ, Medvedev, Schultz, etc? Eventually he should be better than all of them, but his first year? And this could be another tough one for the Flyers, so why bring him in on that?

Kinda think this team will look like a poop show on the ice like last year

Let's give him one more year in chl. Would rather not burn a year off the elc already.

The early signing is very curious
- Just5

I think they've improved, but might still be on the outside looking in, in terms of playoffs. Other Metro teams look improved and it's doubtful Columbus will have the same wretched injury luck they had last season.

The Flyers will be prudent with Provorov. I imagine if he's one of the better D in camp he'll get the 9 game look, and if he remains one of the top 4 guys afterwards, then he may stick. But I expect the Flyers and Hextall to be patient.

There's just no point to having Provorov up with the Flyers this coming season. Is he really likely to make the defense better over Streit, MDZ, Medvedev, Schultz, etc? Eventually he should be better than all of them, but his first year? And this could be another tough one for the Flyers, so why bring him in on that?
- wolfhounds

I was really hoping the team would have improved via trade, to be more competitive, this year. Every other team in the division made some kind of improvement.
But I think you are right it could be a long season, unless the secondary scoring can improve by leaps and bounds.

Bill thank you once again for filling the void with great hockey talk. it helps ease the symptoms of my mid summer off season withdrawal.

I for one am wondering why they even went out and signed a guy like Medvedev, the last time they tried that ( Jiri Dopita was supposed to be the best player in the worked NOT in the NHL and we all saw how that worked out) .

I know nothing about this guy, except that I think I would prefer to see some of these guys who we have as D prospects now the last few years start to work their way into the lineup as opposed to a 33 year old rookie.

Poor Hagg, such an after-thought. I really hope he performs well and rises to the top of the prospect pool this upcoming season. That would be an even better problem to have.
- wolfhounds

He has the ability. Needs to be more competitive. That has to come from within.

If Provorov plays in the NHL this year I'll be comfortable with it because Hextall has a long track record of not rushing prospects, and no incentive to throw a kid in there for short term gain and the expense of long term pain.

He has the ability. Needs to be more competitive. That has to come from within.
- bmeltzer

Been his knock since his draft year. And the reason many said he fell.

Back to provorov. When hextall was asked about Hollands comment on being over ripe or whatever the exact term was hextall response was something about "that being accurate" to his own opinion on prospects. I like Provorov I'd like to see him in the nhl. But.. will it make the difference to us as a playoff team or bubble team if he's there or not ? No probably not going to put us over the edge. So ill leave the discussion as Pryor hextall hasktol will make the final say after watching the kid all summer and in positive it'll be the right decision for him

I was really hoping the team would have improved via trade, to be more competitive, this year. Every other team in the division made some kind of improvement.
But I think you are right it could be a long season, unless the secondary scoring can improve by leaps and bounds.
- 3flyerkids

I think the Flyers have a chance to be a good team this upcoming season - Mason stays healthy and performs as we know he can; Neuvirth is solid when he starts; the D, with the additions of Medvedev, Marti and Gudas, looks like it could be a decent bit better than last season's squad; the secondary scoring, as you said, has a lot of room to improve; and Dave Hakstol - but I still don't see the need to rush Provorov.

Either way, it will be interesting to see how things develop. And as Bill said, Flyers have a good problem with all these kids competing for and eventually winning spots on the team.

There's just no point to having Provorov up with the Flyers this coming season. Is he really likely to make the defense better over Streit, MDZ, Medvedev, Schultz, etc? Eventually he should be better than all of them, but his first year? And this could be another tough one for the Flyers, so why bring him in on that?
- wolfhounds

If Provorov makes the team I expect them to move LSchenn.

Schultz-Streit
MDZ-Medvedev
Provorov-MacDonald
Gudas