Twas the night before Christmas, when all through the house. Not a Creature was stirring, but something else was – Hockey season. The Flyers kickstart their 2019 in Prague on Friday and this season is extremely important for a million reasons. For Ivan Provorov, it’s all about making a statement.
The former Wheat King signed a six-year contract with the Flyers this offseason. It was a large commitment from the team who drafted him with the 7th overall pick in 2015, especially after a wobbly 2018 that saw Provy’s production drop massively. He still managed 25:07 TOI, but had just 26 total points in comparison to the 41 mustered one year prior.
But with a new year comes a new start. The Flyers have gone through a mini-rebuild and transformed the front office. But now there is some pressure on the shoulders of Ivan Provorov, who has to prove he’s worth the investment as he did in 2017.
“Last year we started off well by winning the first game and after that it all went really inconsistent.” The blueliner said after practice on Thursday. “We want to start the season on a winning streak.”
After spending the offseason refining his craft, Provy will be joined by a new linemate heading into tomorrow. It could be a dynamic to watch as the season progresses, but at least in practice, newcomer Justin Braun looked to be the perfect pairing.
The duo looked in-sync from the minute they hit the ice and were extremely consistent throughout. Poke-checks were clean, positioning was solid, and they bounced on each other reliably.
“There’s a lot of good D. No matter who you’re paired up with, you should be able to play well together.” Provy explained. “It might take a few games to get used to each other, but we have to go out and win. “
It’s been great so far. There’s a lot of new faces both on the team and coaching the team. Everyone’s been great so far. It’s been fun and everyone’s bought into the changes that we made.”
A new contract, a new Head Coach, a new pairing, a new chapter. The title has been written. It’s down to the 22-year old to fill the pages.
Mandatory Credit: Eric Hartline-USA TODAY Sports
