I’m personally offended
- YuenglingJagr

Fite me.

Man I was just going to say that. To put it another way, Provorov might not be the best Dman on his team (Ghost) where Barzal might have been the best player on his team (beating Tavares).
- Giroux_Is_God

Provorov > Ghost

Provorov > Ghost
- Scoob

It's certainly not a hot take either way, but the 3rd season is typically an important year for promising young players. One where they really start coming into their own. Hopefully he does that, improves on last year, and cements himself as better than not just ghost but plenty of other top pair dmen in the NHL.

Proxy cried when the flyers lost the playoff series against the pens!! That is the guy I want on my team!!
He put everything he had into it and I thought that was incredible to see. That is a future captain right there. I take Provy all day over barzal
He took the loss personally and I think he is going to come back even stronger next season. Just my opinion
- sILKAsSINASALO

A lot of fans complain and bicker about 1st round exists...yeah losing sucks, but any playoff experience is great for the younger players such as Provy, TK, Patrick, Lindblom, Hagg, Sanheim and even Ghost. Even if some of these guys had a quiet or poor series against Pitt, it’s all a learning experience still. But you could tell based on Provy’s interviews he got his first taste and wants the next time to be a longer run. As he grows with this team, I really hope teammates follow his offseason work ethic. I too think he will come back stronger next year. There was no such thing as a sophomore slump for Provy last year.

Provorov > Ghost
- Scoob

At best you can say he's equally important in different ways. The fact is Provorov's game took off with Ghost too, and they each made each other better exhibiting insane chemistry. Provorov wasn't exactly lighting it up away from Ghost, and it changed his performance too. I get it though: Provorov HAS to be better because he does the traditional stuff in his own end. But his partner only had almost 70 points while seeing the same competition. I guess Provorov PK'ed, but I'm not sure that's something you want to hang your hat on given the PK's success. I'd be far from surprised that if Ghost was put on the PK with him it would improve too. Heresy!

At best you can say he's equally important in different ways. The fact is Provorov's game took off with Ghost too, and they each made each other better exhibiting insane chemistry. Provorov wasn't exactly lighting it up away from Ghost, and it changed his performance too. I get it though: Provorov HAS to be better because he does the traditional stuff in his own end. But his partner only had almost 70 points while seeing the same competition. I guess Provorov PK'ed, but I'm not sure that's something you want to hang your hat on given the PK's success. I'd be far from surprised that if Ghost was put on the PK with him it would improve too. Heresy!
- Mononoke

I would be very surprised at that. You're right about Gostisbhere's value and impact for the team but to be completely objective, you also have to admit his weaknesses. Coverage down low and around the net as well as shot blocking are not his strengths. His physical disadvantage is not suited for the PK either. One of his biggest strengths as a defender, reading and defending rushes is also minimized due to the shortage in man power.

At best you can say he's equally important in different ways. The fact is Provorov's game took off with Ghost too, and they each made each other better exhibiting insane chemistry. Provorov wasn't exactly lighting it up away from Ghost, and it changed his performance too. I get it though: Provorov HAS to be better because he does the traditional stuff in his own end. But his partner only had almost 70 points while seeing the same competition. I guess Provorov PK'ed, but I'm not sure that's something you want to hang your hat on given the PK's success. I'd be far from surprised that if Ghost was put on the PK with him it would improve too. Heresy!
- Mononoke

I think equally important is a fair assessment for where they are right now. Ghost is a few years older and it probably in his prime right now, whereas Provorov at age 21, has yet to reach his prime level. I think Provorov has the potential to be a better all around player than Ghost, but, until he takes that next step, they are pretty equivalent players when it comes to their importance to the team.

I would be very surprised at that. You're right about Gostisbhere's value and impact for the team but to be completely objective, you also have to admit his weaknesses. Coverage down low and around the net as well as shot blocking are not his strengths. His physical disadvantage is not suited for the PK either. One of his biggest strengths as a defender, reading and defending rushes is also minimized due to the shortage in man power.
- MJL

Ghost is not a guy I'd put on the ice to start a PK considering it will always start with a D zone faceoff. However, if you are changing on the fly and the puck has been dumped into the other team's zone, I'd have no problem giving him a shot on the PK in that situation. He is very good at breaking up plays at the blue line and, if he gets the puck on his stick, would probably excel at making a stretch pass to send one of the forwards off on a shorthanded breakaway.

Ghost is not a guy I'd put on the ice to start a PK considering it will always start with a D zone faceoff. However, if you are changing on the fly and the puck has been dumped into the other team's zone, I'd have no problem giving him a shot on the PK in that situation. He is very good at breaking up plays at the blue line and, if he gets the puck on his stick, would probably excel at making a stretch pass to send one of the forwards off on a shorthanded breakaway.
- BiggE

I wouldn't. I wouldn't waste some of his minutes putting him in a situation that he's not suited for. I'd rather he play all of his minutes at his strength of 5 on 5, 4 on 4, and obviously the PP.
If I was the opposition and he was on the PK, I'd be looking to dump the puck to his side.

I wouldn't. I wouldn't waste some of his minutes putting him in a situation that he's not suited for. I'd rather he play all of his minutes at his strength of 5 on 5, 4 on 4, and obviously the PP.
If I was the opposition and he was on the PK, I'd be looking to dump the puck to his side.
- MJL

I'd let another team dump it into our zone on the PK 10 times out of 10

I'd let another team dump it into our zone on the PK 10 times out of 10
- YuenglingJagr

Sure but you know that isn't going to happen. It was said with the understanding that if a team was executing a dump in play, they'd look to throw it to his side.

i'm confused as to who they lost that makes them worse. you're saying because maybe laughton plays 3c and we lost filppula that the team is worse?
- Ftown19125

I didn't say they were WORSE, just not better. The forwards are a push, the goalies are the same and defense is a little less good.

I think equally important is a fair assessment for where they are right now. Ghost is a few years older and it probably in his prime right now, whereas Provorov at age 21, has yet to reach his prime level. I think Provorov has the potential to be a better all around player than Ghost, but, until he takes that next step, they are pretty equivalent players when it comes to their importance to the team.
- BiggE

Provorov won't take the next step as long as he is paired with Ghost.

Provorov > Ghost
- Scoob

Provorov >> Ghost

Going off potential, choosing between a 50 pt, 15 goal all situations dman (I know he's not going to get much PP time between Ghost and Sanhiem but he's certainly capable of playing PP on most NHL teams) and a 90 point center is a damn tough decision in today's NHL.

I don't think it's a slam dunk like some people do. In a vacuum I take the high octane offense every time (Barzal) but in the Flyers' case already having Giroux and Voracek with Patrick and Coots down the middle I'd go with Provorov.
- Giroux_Is_God

With Barzal, what you see is what you get. With Provy, there is a ton of untapped upside. If he is managed correctly, he is a future Norris.

You seem to heavily rely on what's written about the Flyers in hockey periodicals as if the opinions offered are factual!
The Flyers last year were a strong defensive team. They added a 35 goal scorer in Van Riemsdyke. There is tons of room for internal growth of the young players. I agree the Flyers are a couple of years away but they have the potential to be a solid team now and to make some noise.
- MJL

If you take stats like raw goal differential that are padded by the blowout wins they had, then sure. But the real mark of defense are close games and how you perform in the closer, playoff hockey. Teams that have elite defense win them. The Flyers were .452 (19th). The Flyers were 26th in the NHL in winning percentage when winning after 1 period, and 22nd in wins after leading after two periods. These are known as the blow a lead stats. The Flyers excelled which is not an offensive stat. In the playoffs, the Flyers led the league in goals against per game. because of their great defense...

Provorov won't take the next step as long as he is paired with Ghost.
- hockeyal

Provorov's partner is not going to stop his ascension as a player regardless of who that player is. To think so is to not understand Provorov as a player. I'd like to see them split up if possible to increase the quality of the defense but having them as a pairing gives the Flyers the best pairing they can put on the ice.

If you take stats like raw goal differential that are padded by the blowout wins they had, then sure. But the real mark of defense are close games and how you perform in the closer, playoff hockey. Teams that have elite defense win them. The Flyers were .452 (19th). The Flyers were 26th in the NHL in winning percentage when winning after 1 period, and 22nd in wins after leading after two periods. These are known as the blow a lead stats. The Flyers excelled which is not an offensive stat. In the playoffs, the Flyers led the league in goals against per game. because of their great defense...
- hockeyal

I'm reading another hockeyal invention here. The blow a lead stat. The fact is that last year in the regular season at 5 on 5 play, the Flyers were a top 10 team defensively. Their issue is on the PK, where they gave up the 8th most goals in the league.

We all know the Flyers didn't play up to their ability in the the playoff series against the more proven playoff team in the Pens. That's a small sample size and is not an uncommon occurrence with teams with a lot of young players.

With Barzal, what you see is what you get. With Provy, there is a ton of untapped upside. If he is managed correctly, he is a future Norris.
- hockeyal

We'll have to see. I believe he has the ability to get there in the future but its often based on point totals and it will be difficult for Provorov to improve his point totals without PP1 time.

I didn't say they were WORSE, just not better. The forwards are a push, the goalies are the same and defense is a little less good.
- hockeyal

So the forwards are a push with the addition a 35 goal scorer in JVR, the possible improvement from a healthy Simmonds as well as the continued growth of young players such as Patrick, Konecny, and Lindblom? Interesting.

The defense can also get substantial better with the continued growth of Provorov and Gostisbehere. Sanheim could also take big steps forward this season.