Former Flyer Rick Tocchet Feels This This Defenceman Could Be One of The Best In The League

Back in December 2019, when Tocchet was head coach of the Arizona Coyotes, he extolled the maturation of Provorov, who was still only 22 years old at the time and had already become a solid young player.

"I think he's one of the best young defensemen in the league,"�Tocchet said.

Unfortunately Provorov hasn't hit his stride the past two seasons partly to do with injuries, while others reasons such as not having the proper line mate. Provorov has had numerous linemate pairings, not to mention the Flyers have been just God awful the past few years.

Last season Provorov had his worse season earning a -20 rating Provorov only had one power play goal last season, when in the 2019-20 season Provorov led the NHL defensemen in power play goals.

However Tocchet believes despite Provorov's setbacks Tocchet still believes the 25 year-old can still become a top guy in Philadelphia.

"Absolutely,"�Tocchet said on this week's edition of�NBC Sports Philadelphia's Flyers Talk podcast. "His arrow has trended down the last year and a half or two for whatever reason; I don't know what's going on in the dressing room. But he's got the skill, he's got the hockey IQ, he's proved it.

"Like I said a couple of years ago, I loved that guy. I wouldn't have traded that guy for nobody. I think this guy right now gets a summer off to refresh, gets a new coaching staff, a new defensive coach. I think he can just kind of relax going into this year and don't put so much pressure on him."

Provorov will get a chance to work with new assistant coaches�Brad Shaw (penalty kill/defensemen)�and�Rocky Thompson (power play/forwards).

"I've watched him walk the blue line on the power play and it seemed like from two years ago, he had a shot mentality," Tocchet said. "It seems like he's over passing; that's just from my bird's-eye view, from being on your guys' side, the media side. So I'd like to see him take more control of the power play, be the top guy.

"But all around, his breakouts and things like that are great from what I've seen, he's got the capability to be a top defenseman in this league."

Alongside steady veteran Matt Niskanen in 2019-20, Provorov was a consistent and happy customer.

"Ivan certainly isn't a�polarizing�figure within our group," Flyers general manager Chuck Fletcher said at his end-of-the-season press conference in May. "We really respect and appreciate what he does. He plays close to 25 minutes a night, he goes back for every puck, he's fearless, he blocks every shot, he competes in front of the net, he has a big shot, he moves the puck.

"At times he holds on to it a little bit too much. I think as we get him the right partner, like we had in '19-20 for him, I thought he was much more effective in that regard. He gets every top matchup, he gets every defensive zone faceoff basically, first PK.

"We ask a lot out of Ivan Provorov and I think he gives us a lot. As the talent around him improves, like every player, he'll be better, but he's already a pretty good player."