How is Ivan Provorov Handling Flyers Camp?

PHILADELPHIA — It almost seems as though the more attention young prospects get, the more hesitant Flyers general manager Ron Hextall is to let them stick around.

He doesn’t want them to develop egos or feel as though they didn’t have to earn a spot. And he may or may not be trying to get them to embrace their inner “Nuke” LaLoosh, the pitcher from the movie “Bull Durham” where the aspiring pitcher spoke in clichés to avoid saying much.

“One day at a time,” is a phrase that’s been thrown around the Flyers’ locker room quite a bit lately.

Last year’s case study, defenseman Shayne Gostisbehere, worked out just fine. He was a Calder Trophy finalist as the best rookie in the league and he’s been about as grounded as a 23 year old can be.

But Ivan Provorov is 19. He’s the latest defenseman that’s projected to be a stud and make the roster.

“I try to not read too much media,” Provorov said with a smile. “For me it’s just trying to take it one day at a time and get better every day.”

He had an assist in the Flyers’ 4-3 shootout loss to the Boston Bruins Saturday night. The defenseman made a stretch pass from his own blueline across the neutral zone to Jordan Weal, who scored on a breakaway.

“I thought I played well,” Provorov said. “I try to do everything I can to help the team win every time I go on the ice. We’re still getting to know each other, the players. It’s definitely new. We’ll be better next game.”

In this particular contest he was paired mostly with Andrew MacDonald, a pair that might stick if Provorov were to make the squad out of training camp. Provorov began the game on the left side, where he’s more comfortable, with fellow rookie hopeful Phil Myers on the right. Halfway through the game he was on the right side with MacDonald, then they switched sides again.