Ron Hextall said before Flyers training even began that he didn’t believe in the CBA’s nine-game tryout before you send a kid back to junior.
The Flyers general manager felt if a guy was good enough in camp to make the team, he deserved to be there.
“If you need nine games to make that decision, then he doesn’t belong here,… Hextall said back then.
Monday afternoon, Hextall announced that both of his 19-year-old phenoms, defenseman Ivan Provorov and forward Travis Konecny had made the roster. All year – not nine games.
“Travis has been a nice fit there and Ivan has been a good fit on the back end,… Hextall said. “Those kids they made this team on their own.
“They are not on the team because anyone felt like [it was] politically or anything else. These kids made the team on merit. The plan right now is to keep them the whole year.…
The last time the Flyers had two 19-year-old rookies who made the roster and stuck around the entire season was 1984-85 -- Derrick Smith and Peter Zezel.
There was little doubt even before camp began that Provorov was going to make the team. He was so much farther ahead than any other young prospect, it was hard not to watch him every day and think to yourself you were looking at a player who had been in the NHL already and not an untested teenager.
“He sets his own pace,… Jakub Voracek said of Provorov. “Not everybody can do that. Only a few forwards and defense in the league can do that. A 19-year-old is pretty impressive … His poise with the puck is impressive.…
Both players had some anxious moments on Sunday when Hextall sent them each a text saying he wanted to meet with them at Skate Zone.
“Getting the text was pretty nerve-wracking,… Konecny admitted. “Me and Provy were nervous walking over here, then getting into the meeting and sitting down. He congratulated me right away, so I had a good feeling about the meeting.…
Provorov admitted he had a feeling he was on the roster just by the way he had played in camp. He was easily the Flyers best defenseman.
“He has what you can’t teach,… said Flyer analyst Bill Clement. “He was a man by the time he was 17, in a lot of ways, with his strength and his balance. You can work on your strength.
“Skating is such as unique mode of transportation that you can’t create stability on skates to the degree Provorov has at his age. You can’t create it or teach it.…
Provorov begins the season with Mark Streit. Konecny will play left wing on Sean Couturier’s line with Voracek.
“There seem to be a good fit and a little bit of chemistry that’s developing between the three of them,… said coach Dave Hakstol.
It’s just the beginning, too.
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