The Philadelphia Flyers traded Ivan Provorov, shooting the defenseman who interrupted the team’s Pride Night in a three-team deal that included the Columbus Blue Jackets and Los Angeles Kings.
The seventh pick in the 2015 draft, the 26-year-old Provorov lands in Columbus and is expected to enter the fifth season on a six-year, $40.5 million contract. He was pivotal in Tuesday’s first major move under newcomer Flyers.
There were a lot of moving parts in the three-team contract.
- Philadelphia traded Provorov and forward Hayden Hodgson to Los Angeles in exchange for goaltender Cal Petersen, defenseman Shaun Walker, defenseman Helge Grans, and the Kings’ second-round pick of 2024. The Kings lost in the first round of the playoffs.
- Columbus acquired defenseman Kevin Connaughton from Philadelphia in exchange for a 2023 first-round pick (22nd overall) and a conditional second-round pick in 2024 or 2025.
The Flyers already hold the seventh pick in the draft this season and now have the 23rd pick as they begin to be a key asset for long-term success in what should be a deep draft pick.
Flyers general manager Danny Brier said no player was untouchable after the Flyers missed the playoffs for the third straight season and got to work with the Stanley Cup Finals still in the works. The Flyers picked announcer Keith Jones as the headliner last month and he’s still working on the finale for TNT. But clearly a belated rebuilding process is underway for a franchise that hasn’t won a Stanley Cup in 48 years.
“We felt the choices and the direction we wanted to take were very tempting and exciting,” Brier said. “We have a chance to really start building the team the way we wanted to. The right way.”
Brier said the Flyers were “open for business” this summer and that included listening to offers from No. 1 goaltender Carter Hart. Coach John Tortorella, Brier and Jones lowered expectations for any fans looking for a quick fix. The trio all insist that the pilots have a coherent plan for the future.
Provorov scored 65 goals and 217 points in 532 games with the Flyers. The Russian was widely criticized in January when he cited his Russian Orthodox faith as a reason for skipping pre-game practice as the Flyers wore Pride jerseys and used Rainbow Pride sticks wrapped in tape.
“I respect everyone’s choices,” Provorov said after the match. “My choice is to remain true to myself and my religion.”
Now it circulates during Pride Month.
Brier said the Pride Night backlash had nothing to do with Provorov’s deliberations.
The Blue Jackets, who missed the playoffs this season, were on the verge of what seemed like a defensive player with many years to come.
“Improving our blue line has been a priority for us and the acquisition of Ivan gives us an established left fielder who is still a young player with his best season ahead of him,” said Jarmo Kikalainen, Blue Jackets general manager. “Il améliore immédiatement our group defends itself because it is solid, it is a beaucoup d’adresse, it is patine bien, it is a finesse, and a tir précis, and it can be effective for the deux côtes de ice cream.
Provorov said at the end of the season that he was not necessarily happy that the Flyers were considering rebuilding but that he understood the decision. Brier declined to say whether Provorov wanted to leave Philadelphia.
“I wouldn’t say it’s the most positive news you’ll ever hear, but there is a bright future here and a lot of great players who can continue to grow,” Provorov said in April. “Obviously it depends on how quickly everyone improves and how quickly the team improves. I think that is what determines the length of the rebuilding period.”
It turns out that the Flyers’ potential run success for Provorov could determine how long it takes to rebuild.
