Flyers Future Bright with Konecny & Provorov

Koenecny (Right) & Provorov (Left): Images Courtesy of Philly.com

• The Philadelphia Flyers begin their 2016-17 campaign tonight on the road against the Los Angeles Kings with the future looking bright!  The Flyers have decided to bring up two 19 Year-old's, Left Winger Travis Konecny and Defenseman Ivan Provorov, to start the season for the first time since 1984(Peter Zezel and Derrick Smith). Konecny and Provorov are only two of a group of sought-after Flyers prospects drafted by Former Flyers Goalie and current General Manager Ron Hextall that have the city excited for the future of this team.  Even though the Flyers made the playoffs last year after a horrific start this team is still in the middle of a rebuild.  

• Travis Konecny will be joining the likes of Veteran Forwards Claude Giroux, Wayne Simmonds, Jakub Voracek, and Brayden Schenn.  There is definitely a good amount of talent spread throughout the Flyers front line's, but they do not have that constant scorer who they can rely on.  For example Captain Claude Giroux, who a couple years ago was regarded as one of the best players in the world, can do almost everything as he is a great all-around player but when it comes to scoring it is hard to rely on him as he is very streaky when it comes to putting the puck in the back of the net.  The hope here is that Konecny will provide a scoring youth movement for this team and give players such as Giroux a chance to thrive and see their potential.

• In 183 Games over 3 seasons in the OHL (Ontario Hockey League) for the Ottawa 67's and Sarnia Sting, Travis Konecny scored 85 Goals and tallied 154 Assists totaling 239 Points.

• Ivan Provorov is actually joining, what in my opinion is the bright spot of the team, the Defense.  Provorov will be bringing star power to a unit that already has a star in last year's Rookie Phenom Defenseman Shayne Gostisbehere who brought on the beginning of the rebuild and the youth movement.  Gostisbehere and Provorov are somewhat of a new kind of Defenseman that is forming in the NHL, hybrid defensive scorers.  Provorov almost plays the position as if he were a Forward, who can score goals and can stick-handle the puck with the best of them.  To really get a good grasp for the kind of game Provorov plays just go on Youtube and look up Provorov's highlights and you will understand!

• In Two seasons (122 games), with the Brandon Wheat Kings of the WHL (Western Hockey League) Ivan Provorov scored 36 Goals and 98 Assists tallying 134 Points. 

• There is still talent that needs to grow and work its way up to the big time, as the Flyers still need to find another legitimate scorer and solidify the Goaltender position, but with all of that being said the future looks as bright as it did during the beginning of the Lindros era!  The Flyers organization has a lot to look forward to for the future and two of the biggest pieces will be getting prime time action tonight in Los Angeles.  Even though the game will be starting at 10:30 PM local time it is a must watch if you are a fan of this team!  

Below are highlight videos for Provorov and Konecny!

Ivan Provorov #9 Brandon Wheat Kings Highlights

Travis Konecny - Highlights 2013/14/15/16