Observations:

May 2017 – Ivan Provorov has won the Barry Ashbee award, which is given annually to the Flyers’ top rearguard. He is just the third rookie defenseman to win the honorable disctinction in team history. He quickly became the top prospect in the team’s system and it is easy to understand why when you watch him play. The future is only getting brighter for the Flyers. Remember him on draft day, with how deep this year’s deep crop of promising rookies he is easier for fantasy owners to forget than he should be. Edric Joseph

February 2017 – Ivan Provorov will look to finish his first tenure in the NHL strong after a quiet February. The number of games involving 20+ minutes of ice-time per game are catching up to him. Even so, Hakstol remains confident in him. As deep as this year’s crop of rookies has been, it still shouldn’t surprise you if Provorov gets mentioned in the conversation for the Calder trophy. Edric Joseph

January 2017 – Ivan Provorov is quietly finding his offensive game, and it shows with a pleasing 20 points through 46 games. He leads all Flyers rearguards including last year's rookie sensation Shayne Gostisbehere. Edric Joseph

December 2016 – Ivan Provorov's composure and assertiveness have improved as the season has progressed. He is a plus-eight in his last 25 games after a tough minus-nine rating in his first 11 games. The Flyers have quite the ensemble of promising rearguards but Provorov has to be number one with a bullet. Edric Joseph

June 2016 – What more can we say of the young Russian defender? We could rattle off his 21 goals, 73 points and +64 in 61 games – the latter two topping the charts for all WHL defensemen. You could get a glimpse at his trophy case, which has added a WHL and CHL Defenseman of the Year award, a WJC Silver Medal and WHL Championship this season. We can tell you this is the Flyers' top prospect with a bullet, but we don't need to do that; it's plain to see. Provorov, with his pin point outlet passes and efficient, smooth defensive plays is heading to the NHL this fall. The former seventh overall pick in 2015 is a creative and proficient power play quarterback and should get an opportunity on the second unit right out of camp. There will be some growing pains, as there always will be when 20-year-olds learn how to defend against the very best, but this is a player who will be making a mark in fantasy hockey for many years to come. Cam Robinson

February 2016  – Provorov is enjoying an increase in production in his second season with the Brandon Wheat Kings. With 51 points through 47 games, Provorov is on pace to surpass his already-impressive rookie season. He is also sporting an incredible plus-44, showing his strength at both ends of the ice. The sublime skater has shown he can control a game and should become quite an offensive force with fellow Flyers' prospect Shayne Gostisbehere on the Philadelphia blueline for years to come. Lee Rayson

February 2015 – Russian defenseman Ivan Provorov has been honing his skills in North America for a handful of seasons now as he pursues his lifelong goal of playing in the NHL. As a result, Provorov doesn’t come with the risk of fleeing back to the motherland that many Russian prospects do. An offensively gifted defenseman with elite hockey sense, Provorov offers some tantalizing upside but he’s far from a one-dimensional blueliner. Great mobility, keen on-ice awareness and timely anticipation abilities are just a few of his high-end qualities that prove beneficial in both the offensive and defensive zones. As good as he is offensively, Provorov is arguably better in the defensive zone, despite lacking ideal size. His ability to read the play and stifle attacks with suffocating gap control are truly amazing. Offensively, he operates well as a puck mover where he quickly identifies soft spots in coverage and exploits them in a timely fashion. Teams searching for a two-way defensive stalwart will be targeting Provorov very early. Brendan Ross

Fantasy Outlook A-

It’s rare to come across a gifted offensive defenseman who excels equally as well in his own end but Provorov is exactly that. His impressive skating allows him to recover after offensive chances and his smart stick breaks up plays with ease. He projects to be a more offensively gifted Alex Pietrangelo.

Footage:

Provorov dangles his way to a beautiful end-to-end goal:

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Ivan Provorov shift by shift (with commentary):

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