Here are 5 Observations From Flyers Prospect Camp

Hockey in July should come with a warning.

While prospect camp is the first chance to take a look at this year’s draft picks, it’s not a big enough sample size — nor is it enough good competition — to project if a player can make the team, let alone to project a pro career.

With those observations tempered, there are five takeaways from Flyers prospect camp.

1. Provorov’s raw skill

Flyers coach Dave Hakstol and general manager Ron Hextall both said that the week of camp and drills was not for evaluation. That will come in September when training camp commences.

But the first look at No. 7-overall pick Ivan Provorov, who vowed he thinks he’s NHL ready from the moment the Flyers took him, says he’ll have a shot.

“I’m gonna try to make the team this year,” Provorov said. “I’m gonna work hard this summer and see what happens in September and if I don’t make the team, go back to Brandon and we’ll have a good team there.”

In Brandon, Manitoba is his Western Hockey League team, the Wheat Kings. They are said to be one of the favorites to win the league championship next season. It’s one of the reasons why head coach Kelly McCrimmon opted to stay instead of taking a job with the Toronto Maple Leafs.

McCrimmon would love to have Provorov back for a second season in Brandon.

“Our training camp and preseason covers three weeks and by the time we got to our opening weekend, it was clear that he was going to be having a lot of responsibility on our team and from Day 1, he was on our power play,” McCrimmon said of Provorov. “He was on our top pair. One of the aspects of his game that is really impressive, especially for a young defenseman, is his consistency. His game night-in and night-out is the same all the time. You know what you’re getting. There’s not a lot of ups and downs to his game.”

In drills this past week — and remember, they’re just drills — Provorov’s skating was silky smooth and he had the puck on a string showing why he was a high first-round pick. His real test will come Sept. 17 when the Flyers begin the real camp.

(Listen to Flyers insider Dave Isaac on the Sports Bash discuss the teams prospect Camp)