GDT: #7 | FLYERS (A) vs. Devils (H) | Tuesday, Jan. 26, 2021 | 7:00 pm ET | MSG+, NBCSP

[Curufinwe]

I am as positive about Ghost returning into the lineup as many here. The team is in need for something to change because they know that they have been outplayed in more or less all of the games so far. May it be „preseason“ or not. Ghost‘s skillset should be welcome.

BUT: We need the Ghost from a couple of seasons ago to return. The one of the more recent past might not turn things around.

Before he got sick, he said he was feeling much better about his body.

Gostisbehere Entering Season with ‘Clean Slate,’ Hoping to Help Flyers

“I’ve dealt through injuries a pretty good part of my career and obviously, when you sprinkle some trade rumors on top of that and not playing and you can’t get in the line-up, it’s definitely tough mentally,” Gostisbehere said. “I think for myself, this break, not summer, I just worked on doing what is in my control. I can’t control what is going to happen. I can’t control where I am going to go. The only thing I can control is getting healthy and becoming the best player I can be.

“I switched it up training aspect wise. I did it for more of a body development and doing what I can do. I can’t do things I used to do when I was younger, but I think for myself, I’m in a very good place mentally because I am healthy. That goes a long way with my play. I don’t have to worry about certain movements on the ice where maybe it will hurt or not. I just worry about the game itself. When you’re healthy, it’s a lot easier on the mind when you’re out there.”

 

[KrazyKat]

I like Josh Manson. I wish we could have targeted him.

 

[Deadpool8812]

Gotta be honest, hes never said anything. Hes such a bandwagon fan it disgusting.

So he's probably a fan

 

[deadhead]

Before he got sick, he said he was feeling much better about his body.

Gostisbehere Entering Season with ‘Clean Slate,’ Hoping to Help Flyers

“I switched it up training aspect wise. I did it for more of a body development and doing what I can do. I can’t do things I used to do when I was younger, but I think for myself, I’m in a very good place mentally because I am healthy. That goes a long way with my play. I don’t have to worry about certain movements on the ice where maybe it will hurt or not. I just worry about the game itself. When you’re healthy, it’s a lot easier on the mind when you’re out there.”

This is a key element of player development as they age, understanding that things they got away with 4-5 years ago don't work, and they have to be more fundamentally sound and disciplined as they can no longer out skate their mistakes. If Ghost has realized that he can still be a solid D-man, more conservative, more careful to pick his spots and less inclined to push his luck.

 

[KrazyKat]

I wish he had Kase over here with Philly. I liked his game.

 

[KrazyKat]

He should be in the mix next year right?

 

[Larry44]

This is a key element of player development as they age, understanding that things they got away with 4-5 years ago don't work, and they have to be more fundamentally sound and disciplined as they can no longer out skate their mistakes. If Ghost has realized that he can still be a solid D-man, more conservative, more careful to pick his spots and less inclined to push his luck.

I thought he meant that he couldn't drink beer and eat pizza all summer like he used to.

 

[deadhead]

I thought he meant that he couldn't drink beer and eat pizza all summer like he used to.

That too. And no nookie before games, it weakens the legs. Though some swear it helps them relax.

 

[Ghosts Beer]

Before he got sick, he said he was feeling much better about his body.

Gostisbehere Entering Season with ‘Clean Slate,’ Hoping to Help Flyers

“I’ve dealt through injuries a pretty good part of my career and obviously, when you sprinkle some trade rumors on top of that and not playing and you can’t get in the line-up, it’s definitely tough mentally,” Gostisbehere said. “I think for myself, this break, not summer, I just worked on doing what is in my control. I can’t control what is going to happen. I can’t control where I am going to go. The only thing I can control is getting healthy and becoming the best player I can be.

“I switched it up training aspect wise. I did it for more of a body development and doing what I can do. I can’t do things I used to do when I was younger, but I think for myself, I’m in a very good place mentally because I am healthy. That goes a long way with my play. I don’t have to worry about certain movements on the ice where maybe it will hurt or not. I just worry about the game itself. When you’re healthy, it’s a lot easier on the mind when you’re out there.”

How many times now has Ghost claimed he was injured but is finally healthy? Or that he’s feeling better about himself? Seems like we hear it every year now.

Hey, I hope he’s right. They could use him on D.

 

[Remarkablr]

Provorov is a 3D at best.

Please tell me that he would be a number 1 or 2 on teams such as San Jose, Tampa, Columbus or Nashville.

Provorov is fortunate that he plays on a team with defencemen such as Haag, Gus and Braun. He looks like Bobby Orr in comparison to these guys.

 

[deadhead]

I wish he had Kase over here with Philly. I liked his game.

Kase is on the AHL roster.

 

[deadhead]

Please tell me that he would be a number 1 or 2 on teams such as San Jose, Tampa, Columbus or Nashville.

Provorov is fortunate that he plays on a team with defencemen such as Haag, Gus and Braun. He looks like Bobby Orr in comparison to these guys.

He would be, he'd be paired with their top offensive defenseman, like Burns or Karlsson on San Jose.

Our problem with depth on the defensive core is just a matter of time, we have young D-men coming out of the woodwork, in April the Phantoms could roll out Hogberg, Zamula, Wylie, Millman, York, St Ivany and Attard.

 

[FlyerFaithful17]

Please tell me that he would be a number 1 or 2 on teams such as San Jose, Tampa, Columbus or Nashville.

Provorov is fortunate that he plays on a team with defencemen such as Haag, Gus and Braun. He looks like Bobby Orr in comparison to these guys.

Naming a few teams with 2 D better than him doesn’t make him a 3D. By definition, saying he’s a 3D best would mean there are at least 62 guys better than him.

 

[AdamParrot]

Im curious who is that second defenseman on Tampa who should be better than Provorov? Sergachev who plays sheltered minutes meanwhile Provorov has the thoughest minutes in the NHL among all defensemen?

 

[LegionOfDoom91]

Top 60+ defensemen is a pretty large number & things can certainly fluctuate from year to year. If you’re talking the last three years yeah Provorov is in the top 60 defensemen amongst the league (Sanheim too).

You want to say top 20-30 than things can get interesting.

 

[phil162888]

Top 60+ defensemen is a pretty large number & things can certainly fluctuate from year to year. If you’re talking the last three years yeah Provorov is in the top 60 defensemen amongst the league (Sanheim too).

You want to say top 20-30 than things can get interesting.

Ranked 10th heading into the season for top dman on Fansided site

Well, here’s how he scored:
TOI: 92% (13th overall)
TOI vs. Elite: 92% (3rd overall)
Points: 48% (14th overall)
Corsi For %: 57% (11th overall)
(+/-): 63% (seventh overall)
Blocks: 55% (seventh overall)
Hits: 40% (seventh overall)
Overall score: 64%
Flyers fans surely knew Provorov was “the guy” last year. When it came to minutes against elite competition, Provorov was among the league leaders. And he checks all the other boxes. He posted good (but not great) point production, and the team is better when he is on the ice.
Last season was a big defensive turnaround for Philly. Alain Vigneault and Carter Hart were certainly instrumental. But it was Provorov shouldering the heavy load on the blue line. And at just 23 years of age, there is an improvement on the horizon.
And Provorov managed to get two fifth-place Norris votes this year. That means there are at least two PHWA members who think he should be that much higher than 10th.
Given his age, I suspect that’s going to change. I think we’re going to be hearing a lot more about Provorov in the seasons to come.

 

[CapnZin]

I like Josh Manson. I wish we could have targeted him.

I like Manson as well, but someone who I really like is Brayden McNabb. He’s always impressed me and his underlying metrics have generally been good. Unfortunately, how would likely have a bottom pair role on this team which would be a waste

 

[LegionOfDoom91]

Is that like a fantasy hockey site/article?

 

[phil162888]

Is that like a fantasy hockey site/article?

No top Dmen in the NHL heading into 2021.

 

[LegionOfDoom91]

No top Dmen in the NHL heading into 2021.

Ok well they don’t really make a convincing argument. They use statistics & mostly raw ones but also irrelevant stats like hits, blocks, plus/minus, etc.

 

[phil162888]

Ok well they don’t really make a convincing argument. They use statistics & mostly raw ones but also irrelevant stats like hits, blocks, plus/minus, etc.

Overall he's a fantastic dman. Is he an elite PP QB.... no. Is he one of the best goal scoring dman.. yes. Is he a work horse... yes. Does he play tough... yes The best of Provy is yet to come and its going to happen when we find him a quality partner. Just think how good he was with Niskanen. Myers might be that guy or will have to find it elsewhere but it will happen again

 

[Striiker]

TOI, +/-, blocks, and hits... none of those things have anything to do with the quality of a player. Those are Carchidi metrics.

If we want to look at some numbers to see how Provorov ranked last year among defensemen in relevant statistics...

Out of 154 guys with 750 min at 5v5:

Points/60: 125th
Goals/60: 43rd
Assists/60: 145th
iCF/60: 101st
iHDCF/60: 36th
ixG/60: 47th
CF%rel: 66th
xGF%rel: 35th
HDCF%rel: 44th

 

[deadhead]

Hmm, now I always use adjust 5x5 (adjusted for score and venue, more accurate):

CF% 54th, CFrel +1.28
xGF% 47th, xGFrel +2.91
now rel stats aren't that meaningful leaguewide, rather, they're a measure of whether a raw CF, xGF score is biased by being on a better or worse team, i.e., a high CF with a negative rel is probably inflated.

Of course, there's this Flyer defenseman from last season:
CF% 68th, CFrel -0.88
xGF% 72nd, xGFrel -0.30
pp/60 - 34th

 

[Fight4yourRight]

I’m kind of curious where the same guys who bash on Provorov regularly, would place Ghost in the overall scheme of things in terms of d-men? Realistically, apart from one or two seasons, Ghost is a bottom pairing or heavily sheltered minutes dman on most teams. Yet, I somehow have a feeling there would be a few here who would place him ahead of Provy and closer to the elite, top 30 dman category. Talk about objectivity..

 

[Striiker]

The fact that calling Provorov a top pair defensemen is considered “bashing” really shows how crazy people’s views of him are.